pebble,
tossed it in Mollie's direction.

Straight and true it went, alighting on the sleeper's nose, which, in
spite of the assurance of her friends, Mollie felt was always likely to
be classed as "slightly pug."

"Score one for me!" laughed Grace, still lazily, as Mollie sat up with a
start. There was nothing slow about Mollie, waking or sleeping.

"What is it? Oh, you! Did you throw that?" she asked, rubbing her nose,
on which a little red spot had been raised. Feeling a sting there Mollie
opened her bag and gave a hasty glance at the little mirror hidden in
one flap.

"You mean thing!" she cried. "And you know how sensitive my skin is!" By
this time Mollie had glanced around her, something which Grace had not
yet done.

"Why--why," Mollie exclaimed. "Where is Betty--and Amy?"

"Oh, probably off somewhere indulging in athletic stunts for fear
they'll lose their figures on account of eating so much lunch," remarked
Grace, reaching out her hand toward a box that had held some chocolate
almonds.

"But they're not in sight!" declared Mollie. She rose to her feet, and
glanced rapidly up and down the beach. "I can't see them anywhere," she
went on. "They--could they have gone back and left us sleeping here?"

"Well, we certainly _were_ sleeping," admitted Grace, with a smile that
was lazy--like her drawling words.

"Oh, do be sensible--for once!" exclaimed Mollie, and her tones had a
snap to them that made Grace sit up and fairly gasp.

"Why, whatever is the matter, Billy?" she asked in aggrieved accents.
"I haven't done anything. And just because Betty and Amy aren't
here----"

"That's just it--where are they?" asked Mollie, sharply.

"How should I know?" returned Grace, determined not to be conciliated so
easily. "They went off for a walk while we were asleep, I suppose."

"Yes, but unless they went a long distance we ought to be able to see
them," Mollie went on. "And they're not in sight--you can see for
yourself."

"If they're not in sight I _can't_ see, Mollie dear," spoke Grace, this
time soothingly.

"Oh, do be sensible!" snapped the other. "Stop eating that silly candy,
and help me gather up some of these things. I--I wonder what could have
happened?"

The manner in which Mollie said this startled Grace as perhaps nothing
else could have done.

"Help me up," she begged. "This skirt is so narrow. Oh, Mollie, do you
think----" and she paused with frightened eyes, gazing into the more
determi