t be interrupted, "that they got some
news about the diamonds, and had to act on it quickly. I think that is
why they didn't wait to tell you girls. They knew if they didn't come
back that you would know enough to come home, or they may have planned
to return to you later."

"What had we better do?" asked Grace.

"Get back to Edgemere as soon as we can," was Allen's opinion. "We'll
probably find them waiting for us."

They piled into the motor boat, and used all speed in getting back. No
sooner had they reached the little dock, where Tin-Back tied his boats,
than Will Ford came racing down from the cottage.

"I thought you would never come back!" he cried, his face showing
excitement.

"Why, have you found them? Are they here?" asked his sister, wondering
why her brother had returned from Boston.

"Here? Of course they're here!" he answered. "Where else would they be.
And I've found them."

"I don't see how----" began Allen.

"Oh, it wasn't easy, I assure you. I had to work on a lot of clues. But
I came out all right. I've found out all about 'em. Those diamonds were
smuggled, and there's a good reward offered for the capture of the men,
as well as something due for turning the diamonds over to Uncle Sam."

"The diamonds!" cried Mollie.

"Yes. I've found out their secret!" Will said.

"We--we thought you meant you had found Betty and Amy," returned Grace,
in a strange voice. "They--they're lost! They're gone!"

CHAPTER XXIV

TO THE RESCUE

"What gone? Not the diamonds!" cried Will, hopping about, first on one
foot, and then the other. "Don't tell me those sparklers are gone, after
all the trouble I've had on this case--and it's my first, too! That's a
shame! How did it happen."

"Oh, you and your diamonds!" cried Allen. "It's the girls who are
missing! Don't you understand? The girls!"

"I don't understand," replied Will. "What's the game?"

"And Betty and Amy are not up at the cottage?" asked Mollie.

Will shook his head.

"I just came down from Boston," he said. "I was told you were all
out--the boys fishing and the girls on a picnic. I could hardly wait
until you came back to tell you the news. But you've knocked my feet
from under me."

"Oh, it's just terrible!" said Grace. "What will Mrs. Nelson say?"

"Now look here!" exclaimed Allen, taking charge of matters in the
masterful way he had. "We've got to do something in a hurry. Of course
Mrs. Nelson will have to be told, but it ma