et, and one I really have no right to know. I believe that
Lieutenant Lawton leaves for Washington within a few days. He has
finished the model of that old torpedo-boat destroyer that everybody is
making such a fuss about. It is a great secret, so don't let any one
know that I have told you. Lieutenant Jimmy came to see Father to-day
and had a long talk with him. Afterward I overheard Father tell Mother
that things were O.K. with Jimmy Lawton, but she was not to mention
the subject to a soul."

Flora laughed. She did not in the least realize the importance of the
information she had just given. Yet she did know enough to understand
that she should never have repeated a word that she had heard within
her father's house that in any way referred to Government business.

"Oh, well, you needn't worry over having told me," assured Alfred
Thornton. "As I am a friend of Lawton's, naturally I am interested in
anything pertaining to his invention. He has been so very stiff and
close-mouthed about it, he would be rather surprised if he knew that
I'd found out something about it, after all."

"Don't you dare let him know that I told you anything!" exclaimed Flora
in alarm. "If you do, it will go straight to Father and then---- I wish
I hadn't told you," she concluded regretfully.

Flora's sudden change of mood caused Alfred Thornton to purposely look
offended and say haughtily, "I am sorry you have such a bad opinion of
my honor."

Flora, who had not intended to make the young man angry, tried
instantly to apologize, and after a certain amount of sulky hesitation
he condescended to accept her apology. If she had seen the expression
of triumph that gleamed in his eyes as he turned from her door and
strode down the walk, she would have been still more alarmed.

That night Alfred Thornton sent a telegram to his father. It was
written in a code that had been arranged between them. When the
messenger boy departed the young man went to his room in the hotel with
the air of one whose mission had been accomplished.

CHAPTER VII

AWARDING THE PRIZES

The boat race between the four girls and six men at the camping
grounds, which had begun as a joke, was really to take place.

The boys had desired to do something for the entertainment of their
friends on the houseboat at Old Point Comfort. So the day of the boat
race was to be turned into a long day of feasting and amusement.

The summer camp was about to break up, and th