cept your invitation to go to
Blueberry Island next Wednesday."

"Oh," said Nyoda, lowering her bug light and laughing, "that's
very good news indeed. The girls will be glad to hear it. I
must tell them right away!"

Sherry thought to himself that the news might keep awhile, as he
had several other topics of conversation which would have
beguiled the way up to the tents, but Nyoda called out to the
girls and they came running back and swarmed all over her, and
there was no chance for the poor man to say a word. After
standing around for a few minutes he took his leave and paddled
back to Mountain Lake Camp, looking rather drenched and forlorn.

The girls spent the next day in preparation for the picnic, full
of joyous anticipation, but Gladys was filled with secret
trepidation. She knew Ed Roberts would be there, and would try
to force himself upon her, and she was afraid her pleasure would
be spoiled. She said nothing about it, however, for she feared
Nyoda would take some decisive action which might result in none
of the boys being allowed to go.

Migwan came along in the midst of the preparation and announced
that her red middy tie had disappeared. The words were hardly
out of her mouth when Hinpoha came in declaring that her bathing
cap must have evaporated, for it was gone from the tent ropes
where she had left it. The girls looked at one another with
consternation in their faces. If some one wasn't playing a joke
there must be a thief in camp! That one of the Winnebagos should
be taking the other girls' things was inconceivable. They were
bound to each other by bonds stronger than sisterhood; they knew
each other's very thoughts, almost, and to suspect one of their
number of stealing hurt worse than a blow; and yet here were
their things disappearing almost under their hands! No, the
thing was impossible. What would one Winnebago gain by taking
the other girls' clothes? She could not wear them without
instant detection and they would be worth nothing if sold. A
scarf, a white skirt with a seam burst open, a tie with a spot of
ink in it, a half-worn bathing cap--what could induce any one to
take them? The thing became uncanny.

Nyoda wondered uncomfortably how long Sherry had been in camp the
previous night before he had made himself known, and Gladys
shuddered at the possibility of Ed Roberts having a hand in it.
Each time things had disappeared some one from Mountain Lake Camp
had been ove