rs.

"But here is Walter back. How quickly he got around! Looks as if
Walter is very keen on time--this time," and the tooting of the auto
horn outside drew them to the door.

"Walter's privilege," whispered Cora, just as Miss Robbins hurried to
the steps.

"Isn't this splendid," said the stranger, with polite gratitude.

"One would not mind getting shipwrecked often for an auto ride. And
such an evening! or night, I suppose it is now."

"I'll go along," said Cora, realizing that she ought to do so.

"Me, too," said Jack, thinking he should go with Cora.

Bess and Belle would then be alone with Ed. Of course, Nettie was
about, and they might sit on the porch until the others returned. Jack
jumped in with Walter, while Cora and Miss Robbins took the second
seat. The car was not Walter's runabout, but a larger machine from the
garage.

"I'll have to come down in the morning for my boat," said Miss Robbins.
"We've been living on soft clams lately, and I have to go out quite a
way to dig them."

"Do you dig them?" asked Cora.

"Of course, why not? It is muddy and dirty, but it's lots cheaper than
buying them, and then we are sure they are fresh."

"I'll go up in the boat when I fetch the robe back," said Walter, who,
it was plain to be seen, liked the excuse to visit the bungalow on the
rocks. "What time do you clam?"

"Well, I have to call at the fresh-air camp tomorrow. I'll be back
about eleven, and can then get some dug in time for lunch."

"We are bungalowing," spoke Jack. "Why can't we clam, Wallie?"

Walter poked his free elbow into Jack's ribs.

"You can, of course, what's to prevent you," and he gave him such
another hard jab that Jack grabbed the elbow. "But I wouldn't start
tomorrow--it's unlucky to clam on Wednesday," finished Walter.

The girls were too busy talking to notice the boys' conversation, if
the pokes and exclamations might be classified as such.

"Don't you ever sink?" called back Jack to Miss Robbins.

"Oh my, no! I can tell all the safe and unsafe places." And she
laughed merrily.

"It is late for us to bring you home," said Cora. "I hope your mother
won't be frightened at your absence."

"Oh, no, mother has absolute confidence in me," replied Miss Robbins.
"You see, mother and I are chums. We built the bungalow."

"Built it?" echoed Cora.

"Yes, indeed. You must come around in daylight and inspect it.
Poverty may not be a blessing, but it is a pace-sett