will make some inquiries myself."

"And where will you leave the diamonds, meanwhile?"

"Down here, of course. I'm not going to carry them around with me--too
valuable," and Mr. Nelson patted his pocket.

"I'll take the box to my room, and lock it in my trunk," Betty said.

The evening wore on. It was one of beautiful moonlight, and the party
of young people went out on the beach to have a marshmallow roast over a
drift-wood fire.

"The sea sparkles--just like diamonds," said Mollie, as they turned to
go back to the cottage, when the little frolic had ended.

"Hush!" cautioned Betty. "Some one might hear you," and she looked out
over the bay as though she might catch a glimpse of the rough men in the
boat.

"You have diamonds on the brain," chided Grace.

The cottage became quiet. Only dim night lights burned. Betty had taken
to her room the queer box, which had given up part of its secret. Her
father had the diamonds with him.

It was Grace who gave the alarm. Awakening at she knew not what hour,
and feeling the need of a drink of water, she donned a dressing gown and
found her slippers. As she went through the hall to the bathroom, she
saw a dark figure, unmistakably that of a man, gliding down the
corridor. Under his arm was the black box, and in one hand was held a
tissue paper packet.

"The diamonds!" screamed Grace, her voice shrilling out in the night.
"Burglars are after the diamonds!"

CHAPTER XVI

ON THE BEACH

The whole house was roused in an instant. Lights gleamed in various
rooms, and from the quarter where the maids slept came shrill screams
that matched those of Grace herself. Hoarse shouts came from the rooms
of the boys.

But the affair had a most unexpected ending. For the man at whose back
Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his
face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the
countenance of the girl showed.

And then Grace noticed that the man was attired in a bath robe, the
pattern of which was strangely familiar to her. She noticed this even
before she looked at his face recognizingly, and beheld her host, Mr.
Nelson.

"Oh! Oh!" gasped Grace, weakly, and she had to lean against the wall for
support, for she was trembling.

"What--what's the matter?" asked Betty's father. "Are you ill, Grace?"

"No, but I--I thought you--oh, I thought----"

Out into the hall poured the others of Edgemere Cottage, attired in a
nondescr