"Here they come now," she reported, adding with a chuckle: "And there's
poor Teddy in the rear carrying two suitcases and something that looks
like a lunch box. Come on, let's go down."

And down they went, taking two steps at a time. Billie opened the door
just as the two girls and Teddy came up the steps. Chet, who had run out,
attracted by the noise, and was looking over Billie's shoulder, caught
sight of Teddy and the load he carried and emitted a whoop of joy.

"Hello, old moving van!" he called. "So they've got you doing it too,
have they?"

Teddie set his load down on the steps and mopped his perspiring brow.

"Yes. And you'd better get busy yourself," he retorted, adding as Chet
seemed about to protest: "I've got some good news. Get your duds and I'll
tell it to you on the way to the station."

That got Chet started in a hurry, and a few minutes later the young folks
had said a loving good-bye to Mr. and Mrs. Bradley, and were off, bag and
baggage, for the station.

The girls' trunks had been sent down the day before, so that all they had
to do was to check them at the station. Connie, of course, had had her
trunk checked right through to the station nearest their destination.

Chet clamored for Teddy's news, and excitedly Teddy showed him the letter
from Paul Martinson saying that the "old boat" would be ready to sail in
a few days.

"Whoop!" cried Chet joyfully, trying to wave a suitcase in the air and
nearly dropping it on his toe instead. "Say, girls, you may see us even
before you hoped to."

"Hoped to!" sniffed Laura. "Don't you hate yourself?"

"Oh, I'm so glad!" cried Billie, her eyes shining. "It will be a lark to
have you boys drop in on us some morning when we don't expect you. Oh,
it's just grand! We'll be sure to be watching for all of you."

The rejoicing was cut short by the arrival of the train a few minutes
later. The girls scurried excitedly on board, the boys handing in their
suitcases after them.

As the train started to move Teddy ran along the platform with it and
suddenly thrust something into Billie's hand.

"Look out for those currents," he said. "They're awfully dangerous."

As he dropped back to join Chet, Billie looked down at the thing in her
hand. It was a package of chocolate.

CHAPTER XIII

PLEASURE DRAWS NEAR

As she looked, a flush stole over Billie's face and she tried hastily to
hide the cho