ength they gave up the attempt to read and sat
talking in whispers over the dying fire. When there was nothing left but
ashes, Leslie suggested, with a shiver, that they go to bed, and they
withdrew to Leslie's room.

Needless to say they did _not_ go to bed at once, but sat long by the
side window, staring across at Curlew's Nest. And it was then that
Phyllis suddenly had her great idea.

"Now, see here, Leslie Crane, I have an idea and I'm going to do
something, and I don't want you to interfere with me. Do you understand?"

"What do you mean?" whispered Leslie, looking alarmed.

"I mean just this. You're going to stay right where you are, with Rags,
and keep watch. And I'm going to get out of the window and go over and
explore Curlew's Nest by myself!"

"Phyllis, are you crazy?" implored Leslie. "I think that is one of the
most dangerous things you could do!"

"Nothing of the sort. It's safer to-night than it would be almost any
other time. Because--can't you see?--some one has evidently been here all
the afternoon, when the coast was entirely clear, and no doubt they've
done all they wish to do there for _this_ day, anyhow! There couldn't
_be_ a better time than this very night, for there's not one chance in a
hundred that they'll be back again."

"But just suppose the hundredth chance did happen, what would you do?"
argued Leslie in despair.

"Do?--I'd shout like everything to you to turn Rags loose and call up the
village constable and Father. Or better yet, I'd blow this police whistle
which Father always insists on my carrying so that I can call them in to
meals when they're down on the beach. If you hear _that_--just start
things going. That's why I'm leaving you and Rags here on guard."

"Oh, I don't like it--I don't like it at all!" moaned Leslie. "It
wouldn't be so bad if you only met Eileen there--but you can't tell whom
you might encounter. I believe there's something more dangerous and
desperate about this affair than either of us have guessed. I don't know
why I think so--it's just come to me lately. It's a sort of--presentiment
I can't seem to shake off!"

"Nonsense!" declared Phyllis, not to be balked. "If I met any one there,
it could only be Eileen, and she's the one I'm crazy to encounter. After
the way she has treated us, I'd have a few things to say to that young
person for trespassing on Mrs. Danforth's property. Mrs. Danforth has
always asked that we keep an eye on these cottages of h