, we'll let you in on it," declared Allen
Washburn.

"Aren't they condescending, though," mocked Mollie. "As if we didn't
have secrets ourselves!"

"Shall we tell them?" asked Grace.

"Let's hear theirs first," suggested Betty.

"What's the matter, Percy, has your wrist watch stopped?" asked Roy
Anderson, with a chuckle, for the "johnny" was anxiously holding the
timepiece to his ear.

"I--I believe I quite forgot to wind it," was the answer.

"Serious calamity!" murmured Allen, not taking much pains to keep his
voice from Percy. That was one thing about the well-dressed youth; he
never knew when fun was being poked at him.

"No, it's going all right," Percy spoke, after a silent pause. "It's
just five," he added, with a meaning look at Betty.

She choose to ignore it, however, and at a nod from Mollie at once
plunged into the matter she and her chums had been discussing when the
boys interrupted them.

"We have taken a fine cottage at the shore--Ocean View," said Betty,
"and we girls are going to spend the summer there. Don't you boys wish
you were us?"

For a moment the young men looked at one another. Then smiles broke over
their faces, which were beginning to take on the tan that would be
deepened as the summer days approached.

"That sort of takes the edge off our news," spoke Allen. "But we'll tell
you, just the same. One of my clients," he began, "has----"

"Hark to him, would you!" broke in Will. "As if he had more than _one_
client."

"Oh, Will, can't you be quiet!" rebuked his sister. "Let Allen tell it."

"Yes," urged Roy. "Go on, old man."

"As I was saying, when interrupted by this individual," resumed Allen,
"one of my clients, who owns a large motor boat, has decided not to use
it this summer. He has offered it to me, and we boys have made up a
party to go on a cruise along the New England shore--Martha's Vineyard,
Block Island and all that, you know!"

"The New England shore!" cried Betty. "Why, that's where Ocean View
is--in New England. If you boys motor along there, can't you come to see
us?"

"Of course we can!" exclaimed Allen, quickly. "But we hoped you might be
able to take a cruise with us."

"Not a very long one, though we might go for a day or so," went on
Betty. "You see, the girls are to be my guests. We were just arranging
it when you came in. But we're awfully glad you will be down that way."

"So are we!" exclaimed Roy. "It's a dandy boat Allen has the use of.
Sle