are dining out," Ed put in, "and it's only fair that you
should take the provender home. We want to wash our little faces, you
know. We dine with ladies."

"Oh, we will pay it all back," declared Clem, who was scooping up
empty boxes in the hope of being agreeably disappointed in their
contents as compared with their weight.

"Yes--you--will!" mocked Jack, "when we can skate on the sand of the
desert. But hustle. There's not another scrap around. Land that oil
can, Ted. It's empty."

After considerable urging, ordering and coaxing, the Couldn'ts rid
themselves of their uninvited guests, and were once again in
possession of their own tents.

"Did the girls invite us?" asked Dray. "I hate to intrude."

"They did not," replied Jack, "and we are not going to intrude. We are
just going over to thank Mrs. Lewis for saving this camp from
destruction. She hammered down those stakes. Look at them!" he
ordered. "Ed, did you ever wield a hammer as truthfully as that?"

CHAPTER XIII

SUSPICION

"Of course we can get supper for everyone," declared Mrs. Lewis,
cordially, when Cora spoke of the determination of the boys to come
down upon the Mote for tea. "We have plenty of food."

"You are a wonder, Mrs. Lewis," declared Cora. "You always have a full
larder. I don't see where it comes from, for you don't even use up the
budget."

"It's a matter of experience," answered Mrs. Lewis. "When one has to
do things, my dear, one learns how. I am so glad we have macaroni
cooked. Boys love big, steaming dishes."

Cora gave a sigh of relief. What a blessing Mrs. Lewis had proven to
be! After finding themselves shut out of their house by a trick of the
land agents she and her daughter had taken up a permanent residence in
the girls' camp. Freda, in spite of all opposition, had installed
herself as "maid." She insisted on waiting on the table, and attending
to rooms, and helping her mother generally, although the girls wanted
her to be one of them. Everyone declared that her mother, with her
wonderful management and activity, more than made up for Freda being a
visitor at the Mote.

Freda seemed happier now than when she shared the little cottage with
her mother, but this was easily understood. Under the new arrangement
Mrs. Lewis was earning an honest and comfortable living, and Freda was
more than willing to assist her in every way possible. Before, they
had lived in constant dread of the land agents putting them out of