aist and they were engaged in
what might be called a cross between a Virginia reel and an Indian war
dance.

When they were forced to stop from sheer lack of breath, the volcanic
Mollie flung herself upon the steps, and beamed upon them.

"And that's not all," Will said, and glanced instinctively toward his
sister.

Grace started, and leaned forward beseechingly.

"Will?" she breathed.

"Yes," he continued, answering her unspoken question, "we found Beauty."

The girl's eyes opened wide at this new disclosure, and Grace grasped
her brother's arm imploringly.

"Oh, Will, where?"

"He was found by one of the farmers near the town. Looked as though he'd
broken away from whoever'd had him. The farmer saw he was a
thoroughbred, and guessed at once that he had been stolen. Luckily for
us he was an honest man."

"Darling old Beauty," murmured Grace, tearfully. "Oh, wait till dad
hears!"

"I guess he'll get a welcome, all right," Will agreed gleefully. "Poor
old Beauty! I saw him myself this morning."

"Mr. Mendall says," Allen volunteered, "there are traces of a good many
other things from Deepdale. We'll probably have a triumphant home
coming. And they have captured the gypsies and put them in jail."

"Oh, oh, and to think we did it!" sighed Amy, contentedly.

So joyful were they at the outcome of their detective work, that the
long journey to Deepdale was almost forgotten. It was Mrs. Irving who
brought them to their senses.

"I'm afraid," she said, "that if we don't start pretty soon, Deepdale
won't see us until to-morrow morning, and that will never do. Come,
girls, get ready."

"Oh, I don't want to go home," wailed Amy, as they rose to follow
instructions.

"But just think what we will have to tell them when we get there!" said
Betty, and the thought lent wings to their feet.

Once more the Outdoor Girls and their comrades assembled on the wharf,
waiting for the ridiculous little ferryboat that had been the butt of
their jokes during the summer. Now that they were going away, however,
the sound of the shrill little whistle, as it panted up to them, seemed
somehow strangely typical of their life on the island, and they felt an
unexpected throb of home-sickness.

"We'll have to come back to it some time," Betty said. "I love the
place."

"I wonder if there are any more mysteries floating around loose," said
Roy, pausing for one last backward glance over his shoulder. "If there
are, I'm going back.