like a conversation; at least they
were endeavoring to make their presence known to the other occupants of
that corner of the porch.

Thus establishing a general hum of voices, remarks from the young men
only floated in as the girls might pause, or giggle, or hesitate about
staying longer from the dance floor.

"So old Dick will be back before summer sundown?" they heard.

"Sure thing, you bet'cha," replied the second voice, "and we'll all be
here to give the cheers."

"But the Gordon place is rented. Wonder what Dick will do without all
his junk?"

"That's so. Well, we can bring him here. All the gang will be back by
that time."

"Heard when and where he comes in?"

"Depends upon the yachters, of course. But Dick said something about a
lady's good health or bad health, I forgot which."

A bevy of young ladies now discovered the youths who had been thus
enjoying a smoke and talk, and the boys were promptly carried off to the
ball room, where the strains of an alluring waltz were floating.

"Now Gracie, see what's going to happen?" exclaimed Louise, as soon as
talking thus was safe. "Your adorable Dick of the marine room is coming
back on a yacht, and he's going to miss his junk."

"And maybe he'll give us a sail on the millionaire's yacht!" suggested
Grace.

"See that it includes every True Tred. There, I believe the grown-ups
are breaking in on our evening," complained Mary. "Let's make a march
out of that waltz."

"Don't you have wonderful times here, Mary?" asked Grace, entering the
brilliant room again.

"Yes, but I can't say that I like it better than a simple home life,"
replied Mary. "We travel so much, and it's hotel all the time----"

"But you are going to spend next week with me," interrupted Cleo. "I
hardly realize it yet that you are my really truly coz," and she gave
the girl's long, brown braids a familiar twerk.

"Whatever did you do with old Reda?" asked Grace, referring to the
picturesque nurse who played so important a part in our second volume,
"The Girl Scouts of Bellaire."

"Daddy made her comfortable for life," replied Mary. "He considered she
had done everything that she know how to do for me, and mother's folks
decided she would be happier among her own people. But Aunt Constance
asked me to bring you up to her sitting room to-night, and as soon as
you have had enough of this, suppose we go up?"

It was well the sitting room was spacious, for the scouts numbered quite
a com