ourts soon, and then good-bye to Mr. Cross!"

"I wonder how he knew where you were?" asked Eline.

"You forget that the rescue of Nancy was told of in the papers," spoke
Cora. "Doubtless he read of it, and came on. He, or some of his men, may
have been spying around and knew just when we went for a ride."

"And they followed us, that's one sure thing," added Jack. "Their car
passed us several times. They were just waiting for a good chance, and
they took the first opportunity."

"I should have known him at once, when they passed, but for his beard,"
said Nancy. "Oh, I feel so nervous and weak!" She was on the verge of
tears again.

"Come, we will go back to the bungalow," suggested Cora. "I must tell the
lawyer about it. He may wish to take some action."

A little later they were back in the summer cottage, where, to the
wonderment of the others, the strange story was told with all the details,
for when Cora's car developed the tire trouble the rest had continued
on, Jack and Ed remaining behind.

"Oh, I'm glad I was not along!" breathed Belle.

"And I wish I had been!" exclaimed Walter. "Jack, you and Ed had all the
fun."

"I didn't do anything," said Ed. "Jack was the hero."

"Only a near-hero," said Cora's brother. "I didn't get near enough to do
any damage."

Mr. Beacon, the lawyer, on hearing the account of what had happened, at
once took steps to expedite the matter of the removal of Mr. Cross as
guardian of Nancy Ford. He declared that the attempted abduction would
operate against the unprincipled man. The matter of the loss of the money,
for which Mrs. Raymond was once suspected, had been gone into, and the
indications pointed in many ways to Mr. Cross and his crony.

"But it doesn't seem as if Mrs. Raymond would ever be found," sighed Cora.
"Poor woman!"

"Yes, my sister must be having a hard time," said the keeper of the light.
"I wish she would come to me. I could give her a good home now. The
work is almost too much for Rosalie."

"Oh, I don't mind, Daddy!" exclaimed the little "mermaid."

Summer was wearing on. It had been a most glorious one and the bungalow
residents had enjoyed it thoroughly. They went off on several motoring
trips, but they were careful always to remain in one party, and even then
Nancy could not forbear a nervous glance about whenever another auto
approached.

But Mr. Cross appeared to have taken himself to parts unknown. Private
detectives who were looking for him,