worthy lawyers here we will fetch our own down from Chelton. The
senior member of the firm would do anything reasonable for our family,
and when mother is away she leaves Jack and me full discretion. Let us
hurry back before the boys get out on the water. Bess, call Belle and
Lottie."

The look of relief that spread over the widow's face was a more
eloquent form of thanks than words could have been, so without further
delay they all hurried to the motor boat in which Mrs. Lewis and Freda
had come over. It was from a bay front hotel and had come over for the
eleven o'clock mail.

The boy at the wheel started up as soon as all were seated, and as the
launch was a good-sized one the trip across the bay was both
comfortable and enjoyable. Of course Belle and Lottie wanted to know
more than they could be told about the coming of Freda and Mrs. Lewis,
so they had to content themselves with a word and a look from Cora.

The boys were at the landing as the boat came in. This was exactly
what Cora had wished for.

CHAPTER XV

AN ALARM

"I will go to Lamberton this afternoon," declared Mrs. Lewis, after
having conferred with Cora and Jack. "I know a man there who was a
great friend of my husband. He told me to come to him any time I
needed advice, and he is a prominent lawyer. I have never troubled
him--had no good cause to until now."

"I think that would be a good plan," Jack agreed. "I fancy as soon as
we come down on those fellows good and hard, they will be forced to
show their hand."

So it was arranged that Mrs. Lewis should go to the town, some
twenty-five miles away.

"And Freda," she said, "don't worry if I am not back until the last
train, for if he should happen to be in New York I will wait for him."

"Be careful of that cut in the old road," Freda warned. "Mother, you
know it is always dark through there, even in broad daylight, and
after dark it is pitchy."

"I can't get any train until one o'clock," went on Mrs. Lewis, "so,
Freda, we will hurry back to the bungalow and leave everything ready
for tea. We can prepare things while the girls are lunching."

"Now, you needn't do anything of the kind," objected Cora, "we girls
can well enough take care of ourselves once in a while. Why, Mrs.
Lewis, you have us all spoiled. We are supposed to do most of our own
housekeeping in Summer camp, you know."

"Indeed, you do that now," returned Mrs. Lewis, who was more than
grateful for the opportunity