else smoking cigarettes, the chief thinks. We
found a half-emptied box."

In her room Nan heard the word "cigarettes" and she wondered if her
brother could be at fault, for she remembered he had told her how once
some boys had asked him to go off in secret and smoke.

Mr. Bobbsey was up early, for he wanted to see by daylight what damage
the fire had done, and he also wanted to see the insurance company
about the loss. The beautiful boathouse looked worse in the daylight
than it had at night, and the neat living room, where some of the
Bobbseys had spent many happy hours, while others of them were out in
the boats, was in ruins.

The fire chief came down while Mr. Bobbsey was there, and they talked
matters over. The chief said he would send one of his men around to
the different stores that sold cigarettes, to try and learn if boys had
purchased any that afternoon, for it was against the law to sell
cigarettes to anyone under sixteen years of age.

One afternoon Danny's father, Mr. Rugg, came home unexpectedly, and,
wanting something that was out in his barn went to get it. As he
entered the place he heard a scramble of feet, some excited whispers,
and then silence. He was sure that some one was in the place and had
run to hide.

"Who's there?" called Mr. Rugg sharply. There was no answer, but he
listened and was sure he heard some one in the little room where the
harness was kept.

He walked over to the door, and tried to open it. Some one on the
inside was holding it, but Mr. Rugg gave a strong pull, and the door
flew open. To the surprise of Mr. Rugg he saw his son Danny, and a
number of boys, hiding there, and the smell of cigarette smoke was very
strong.

"Danny!" exclaimed his father sternly, "what does this mean?"

"We--were--playing!" stammered Danny. "Playing hide and seek."

"And to play that is it necessary to smoke?" Mr. Rugg asked sharply.

"We--we aren't smoking," answered Danny.

"Not now, but you have been. I can smell it plainly. Go into the
house, Danny, and these other boys must go home. If I find them
smoking in my barn again I shall punish them. You might have set it on
fire."

Danny had nothing to say, indeed, there was little he could say. He
had been caught in the act.

The other boys slunk off, and Danny went into the house, his father
following.

"Danny, I am very sorry to learn this," said Mr. Rugg. "I did not know
that you smoked--a boy of your age!"

"Wel