," said Cora, and to this the
girls agreed. "Then we'll tell the boys, and see what they suggest.
But I almost know what Jack will say!"

"What?" asked Lottie. She was very much interested in Jack.

"Oh, he'll want to hide and capture the villains 'red-handed,' as he
calls it."

"And I don't know but what that's as good a plan as any," remarked
Belle. "I'd like to see them do it!"

Cora and her chums found Mrs. Lewis rather worried over their absence
from the bungalow. She had returned, unsuccessful, from seeing her
friends. Freda was recovering from the shock and fright of the day
before.

"Where have you been?" Mrs. Lewis asked Cora.

"Oh, just off on a little picnic," was the answer, and Cora motioned
to her chums to say nothing of what they had heard. They had agreed
that it would be better for the widow not to know, at least for the
present.

"Dinner will be ready soon," suggested Mrs. Lewis.

"We'll have it a little late to-day," replied Cora. "We have had some
tea, and I want to go over and see Jack. They haven't been around here
since we left; have they?"

"Oh, yes," answered Freda. "They were all here, wanting to know where
you'd gone; but of course I couldn't say. Then they went out in your
brother's boat, but they didn't get far before they had a breakdown."

"It's the _Lassie_'s day off again," laughed Belle.

"Why didn't they take the _Dixie_?" asked Bess.

"Something is the matter with her, too," replied Freda.

Cora and her chums exchanged meaning glances. The talk of the men was
confirmed. Evidently they had their own way of getting information.

"Well, we'll go over to Camp Couldn't," suggested Cora, after a pause.
"They're probably there now."

They found the boys grouped about, in and out of the tent.

"Here they come!"

"Where have you been, girls?"

"We've been lonesome for you!"

"How bright the day seems now, to what it was before!"

Thus chanted Jack, Walter, Ed and Dray Ward, as they saw the advancing
girls.

"Oh, stop that nonsense, Jack!" exclaimed Cora, as her brother waltzed
forward to do a two-step on the moss with timid Marita.

"Why, what is wrong?"

"Lots!" she exclaimed, and her manner must have impressed Jack, for he
grew grave at once.

"Has anything more happened since last night?" he asked.

"There has. We've discovered the meanest plot to harm Denny Shane.
Listen."

"We list!" recited Walter, but Cora quieted him with a look.

Then began the tel