now of!" chuckled the care-taker. "I've been
acquirin' it for a good many years and it hasn't hurt me yet. I expect
to keep right on with it, too. I hope you didn't lose your appetites on
the way."

"No danger," remarked Will. "Is everything all right?"

"Yes. All your stuff come; there's a lot of grub, plenty of wood, and
all you've got to do is to enjoy yourself."

"Has that fellow--Jallow--or any of his men made trouble?" Will asked,
when the girls had gone on ahead.

"Not much; no. I did catch one of 'em on our land the other day--on land
there's no question but what your father owns. I ordered him off."

"Did he go?"

"Yep."

"Peaceably?"

"Well, no, not exactly. I had to sort of--shove him off, and I'm afraid
he stumbled and bumped his nose," chuckled Mr. Franklin.

"That's the way!" cried Will, laughing.

The cabins to be occupied by the boys and girls were close together, and
that used by Mr. Franklin and his wife was not far off. All three were
near to the water, and back of them was a forest of big trees, gaunt
and bare now, their black limbs tossing restlessly in the wind.

Baggage was put away, a hasty survey was taken of the camp and the
cabins, and then, as it got dark soon, Mrs. Franklin, with whom all the
girls fell in love at first sight, suggested an early supper. And a most
bountiful one it was, though the dining room was rather taxed. But that
only made it the more merry.

"And now to get settled!" exclaimed Betty, as she and the girls went
over to their cabin.

"You'll find the bunks all made up!" called Mrs. Franklin, "and if you
haven't covers enough you'll find more in the big chest."

"That's good," agreed Grace. "I hate to be cold!"

"You want to get more flesh and you'll be warmer!" said Amy, who was
rather plump.

"Ugh! Flesh! Never!" declared the willowy Grace.

They began unpacking their trunks and suitcases, each one appropriating
part of the bureaus and wall space. From the cabin of the boys came
shouts and laughter.

"Cutting up--as usual," observed Grace. "Oh, I wonder if I left out that
big box of chocolates?" and frantically she began searching in her
trunk.

CHAPTER X

WARNED OFF

"Girls, it's gone!"

Thus cried Grace, as a further search of her possessions did not reveal
the box of candy.

"What is?" asked Mollie, who had not heard the first frantic cry.

"That lovely big box of chocolates father gave me! I'm sure I put it in
the tray of my