Alice Dale Hardy

“ Whichever way the cows turned, there were champing, snorting machines and noisy horns to distract them.
"I agree with Artie that cows should not be made nervous," said Mr. Williamson. "Ward, go around and ask every one please to stop blowing his horn. Fred and Artie, help me let down these bars. I think we can drive the cows in here."
"But that's an alfalfa field," Mr. Marley protested. "The cows will ruin it, won't they?"
"If the cows stay here much longer they'll be ruined," replied Mr. Williamson. "The choice is not a wide one." ”

“ Margy thought for a moment. Her face cleared.
"A bicycle!" said she.
"You can use a bicycle in machinery," Polly insisted. "Take it apart and use it for lots of things. Three guesses, Margy, because it isn't thinking weather, as Artie says. Try again."
Margy thought so long that her brother Fred began to shuffle his feet impatiently. Margy looked at him reproachfully.
"How can I think when you are so noisy?" she asked. "Is this right, Polly? A flywheel?"
Fred and Artie hooted, for this was too much for their mechanical minds.
"A flywheel is a part of machinery," Fred explained. ”

“ She guessed at once, from Artie's manner, that he was trying to conceal something.
"You haven't heard from Ella Mooney, have you?" she asked abruptly.
Artie shook his head.
"If Polly is going to be at home to-morrow, tell her Mattie and I will come over," Carrie said placidly.
This was dreadful and Artie floundered.
"She—she won't be at home," he stammered. "That is, I don't think she will be."
"Well, Jess or Margy will do," Carrie returned. "I want to ask them something."
"They won't be home, either," said Artie. "Nobody will be at home to-morrow." ”

“ Williamson. "Never. I am more shocked than grieved."
"What did he do?" clamored Ward and Jess, for the other car had shot on ahead. "What did Fred do?"
"He made a pun, and that is worse than a riddle," Mr. Williamson answered.
"He just did it for fun," said Polly, half-believing that Fred's father was displeased.
"I made a pun—just for fun," Fred chanted. "Gee, that's poetry."
"It was bum," sang Artie. "That makes more poetry."
"More truth than poetry, you mean," Margy put in. "'Bum' doesn't rhyme with 'pun.'"
"It does, too," Artie insisted. "Doesn't it, Polly?" ”

“ I wish I knew whether Joe meant to throw that firecracker at you."
"There wasn't any one else back of the barn except me," Ward declared. "Of course he was throwing it at me."
"Well, he might not have known that you were carrying fireworks," said Fred. "He might have been trying to scare you and tossed the firecracker before he noticed what you had in your arms."
"Yes, that must have been it," Polly chimed in, always ready to find an excuse for every one. ”

“ Polly was really a little frightened when she found that she could not raise her arms, but Artie rubbed one and Fred the other, while Margy and Jess rubbed her legs and ankles, and presently they began to feel better.
"I don't wonder you cried when your foot went to sleep, Jess," said Polly, managing a smile. "It's worse when you go to sleep all over." ”

“ It was a long pier and the end was black with people, all trying their luck with line and pole.
"Dad likes to fish from a boat," remarked Fred. "He said we could go with him, if he goes to-morrow."
"We can't go—I asked Mother," said Jess. "Just you boys, because girls don't go out. Ward says men have a better time fishing by themselves."
"Well, I should think they would," Polly declared. "I don't see any fun in catching fish, and Mother doesn't, either. So of course we wouldn't have a very good time."
"Fish are too smelly," said Margy, as though that settled the matter for her. ”

“ Marley jump, the music started, the merry-go-round began to move, and the blissful ride was well under way.
When the music stopped, Jess took another giraffe, on the outside of the platform this time, Ward deserted his lion for a friendly-looking bear and Fred and Polly tried the zebras. Artie stuck to his elephant and Margy refused to budge from her car, though the others urged her to ride an animal.
"It's lots more fun than that silly old car," said Fred, with brotherly disapproval. ”

“ She began to fondle and exhibit her snakes and the crowd pressed closer. Ward made all haste to get further away from the woman who had been frightened. He was afraid she might begin to scold again, but she was too interested in the snake charmer to remember her fright.
The Riddle Club stayed till the last snake had been put back in its box and then came out, the strong sunlight making their eyes blink after the darkness.
"Say, this is your unlucky day all right, Ward," said the grinning Fred. "First your pass is no good for peanuts and then you give the whole snake show a regular fit. ”

“ Ward said, scowling at the choppy sea.
Polly laughed and admitted that he "sounded right."
"But that isn't the answer," she declared firmly.
Fred turned around so that his back was to the wind.
"When it's on the rampage?" he inquired hopefully.
Larry chuckled at that, and said he thought there might be more than one answer to a riddle.
"Not more than one that really counts," Polly insisted.
"Well, tell us what it is," begged Margy. "I can't think how the ocean can possibly be like a horse."
Artie snickered and murmured that he had "read about sea horses in a book." ”

“ Marshall had put six beautiful rhubarb saucer pies in her box, two dozen sugar cookies and half a chocolate layer cake. As the three mothers had counted on hearty appetites, they had packed generous boxes, too, and Mr. Larue said that they could probably live the rest of the summer on what was left over. But, to everyone's surprise, there was very little left.
"We must all be poets," said Mr. Marley, pulling Artie over backward and tickling him. "For look what we have done to the party—the birds are lucky if they get a few crumbs." ”

“ Polly offered them to the tramp who thanked her and ate them with evident appetite. Then Jess toasted him several marshmallows, and though he said he wasn't "any great hand for sweet things," he ate them without further protest.
Fred put more wood on the fire, and as he leaned over to prod it into a better blaze, he saw Ella Mooney slip her hand into the gaping pocket of the shabby jacket the old man wore.
"I'll bet she gave him some money," ran Fred's swift thought. "She's that kind of a girl—while all Carrie can think of is that she may lose her silly sweater." ”

“ Fred suggested. "Nothing very improving about Indians and pirates, that I ever heard of."
"That's because you don't read 'em," announced Artie. "Ward and I have an invention most made now—a new kind of arrow. Any book is improving that teaches you something."
"Right you are, Artie," Mr. Williamson flung over his shoulder. "I daresay even arithmetic and spelling books would be 'improving,' if certain students should learn something from them."
They all laughed, for Fred "detested" spelling and Margy and Jess were none too strong in arithmetic. ”

“ Artie demanded, while Polly looked puzzled.
"It's a man, isn't it?" said Jess slowly.
"Yes. And you can't use a man in any machinery can you?" Margy pointed out. "Daddy told me the other night about a wheelwright."
"But he isn't a wheel," declared Fred. "That isn't the answer, is it, Polly? Anyway, you said it was just the thing for to-day, and I don't see what a wheelwright has to do with to-day."
"The real answer is a pin-wheel," Polly explained. "And it's only two days to Fourth of July, you know, so it fits." ”

“ So had Fred. But his common sense told him that when one lived almost across the street from the ocean, the beach was the place to construct a raft.
"Where did you get your hammer and nails, Artie?" he asked curiously. "And the boards? It must take heavy boards to build a raft."
"They're already nailed together," Artie informed him. "I only have to put on a couple of cross-pieces and it will be done."
"But I think you're an awful chump to build it in the barn," persisted Fred. "You can't see in that dark corner, either. And why get up in the middle of the night to build a raft?" ”

“ Carrie slipped her arm through Margy's as the Riddle Club resumed its tramp.
Carrie did most of the talking on that walk, and it did not seem to exhaust her at all. When the Riddle Club reached the town, she accompanied them to the post-office, and when Fred said something to Polly about going home another way, she declared that she would love to go.
"I like to walk; and, anyway, you'll have to take me home for I don't know my way," she said. "I'll tell you—let's go as far as your cottage and I'll see your folks and then you can walk back to the bungalow with me." ”

“ Don't aim to have a big brother come out of the clouds and walk through us."
The boys, by a desperate effort, managed to keep awake till three o'clock. Then, just as Artie was sure his eyes would not open again, they heard Polly stir uneasily.
"Fred?" she whispered. "Artie?"
"Right here," Fred said reassuringly. "What's the matter?"
"I can't get up," said Polly desperately. "I can't move. I feel as though I had turned to stone."
Fred tore off the blanket. Jess was asleep, her whole weight thrown against Polly, her head on her shoulder. Against the other arm slumbered Margy, resting heavily. ”

“ He still planned to win the race.
"Keep kicking your feet," he ordered Albert and, with a sudden backward sweep of his arm, he grabbed the astonished lad by his hair.
The crowd laughed and cheered, but Artie paid no attention. He knew what he meant to do, and with grim determination he forged ahead, swimming a queer, one-sided stroke and dragging Albert along by main force.
It is doubtful if Artie could have won, had not the other swimmers allowed their attention to be distracted by his performance. ”

“ So Polly, with the active help of the other members, tried to tell her something about the Riddle Club, and what they did and something of the experiences they had had.
"What nice times you have together!" said Ella wistfully.
"We have more fun in our Conundrum Club," Carrie declared. "We meet around at different houses, and it's more exciting. Besides, there are fourteen of us—seven boys and seven girls—and we can have better times with a crowd." ”

“ The band played patriotic airs, the Declaration of Independence was read, and there were one or two speeches, followed by community singing.
"I wish it would hurry and get dark," said Ward, as the six chums were walking home together after the singing. "It's such fun to have fireworks that we don't know ourselves."
"You mean we don't know what they are," Fred replied. "Wouldn't it be a joke if Mr. Kirby sent us candy fireworks or something like that?"
"He wouldn't," declared Polly. "He never plays that silly kind of jokes."
"Here comes Miss Allen," Artie said quickly. ”

“ They didn't get to China, after all."
"Who cares?" said Polly recklessly. "Ella Mooney isn't lost, and we don't have to live on Rattlesnake Island, and we have a hundred dollars to add to our club fund! What do we care whether the Chinese read our messages or not?"
"I'd like the box to play with," the boy announced, so they gave it to him just as another visitor turned in at their gravel path.
"I thought I'd come see how you are," said Carrie Pepper. "What makes you look so excited—somebody leave you a fortune?" ”

“ They had turned down another street and were now facing the great blue ocean that lay smoothly before them. It was as smooth as the Rocio River, except for the breakers that broke and ran up the beach and back again.
The children had seen the ocean, for they had gone on excursions several times from River Bend. This was the first summer they were to stay for any length of time near salt water, and they looked forward to many good times.
"Is this the unfashionable part of Sunrise Beach?" asked Margy, a little uncertainly.
"It is," her father laughed. "So I have been informed. ”

“ Artie mused.
"And all the dresses she wants." This from Margy.
"And she can go traveling and see California," said Polly.
"I wouldn't mind running that tractor," Fred declared.
"But I wouldn't want to live all alone and have no one to play with," objected Jess.
"She isn't all alone—she lives with her father," Ward declared.
"Well, fathers are all right, but you need a mother and some other people, too," Jess informed him, and Mr. Williamson laughed and said she was right.
"If she comes down to the beach and we see her, she can come to a meeting of the Riddle Club, can't she, Polly?" ”

“ Ever since we put our money in the bank, you all seem to think we have a fortune and don't need any more."
"Calm yourself, Fred," said his father. "As this is a special meeting, I'll pay the dues."
"No, we'll chip in," Mr. Marley suggested. "I'll pay twenty cents for Polly and Artie."
[Pg 72]
"Here is twenty for Jess and Ward," said Mr. Larue.
Mr. Williamson took the money and added another twenty cents for his two children, Margy and Fred.
"I'll be acting treasurer till the real treasurer gets to his trousers pockets," said Mr. Williamson. "Now then, let's carry out the program." ”

“ There was a neat little bus that ran from one end of the beach to the other and through the town. This passed Meeker Cottage on a side street, and the mothers voted to ride to the carnival grounds. As soon as the lunch dishes were out of the way, they started, and when Artie saw the bus coming toward them with a huge sign fastened on the front, reading "To The Carnival," he almost ran to meet it. Or so Fred declared.
"Here it is!" cried Artie, when they came in sight of the tents. "They have a band! I hear it!"
"A band does certainly affect Artie," Mrs. Larue declared. ”

“ Williamson and Mr. Marley were in River Bend, but they were expected back that night.
"Let the kids have their picnic on Blackberry Island without any grown-ups to tag along and bother them," said Mr. Larue. "I know this Larry—he is absolutely trustworthy and nothing can happen to them under his care. Blackberry Island is a pretty place and safe, too. Then, with the children out of the way, what is to hinder a motor trip and picnic for the rest of us? I'm not so old that I can't enjoy an all day picnic." ”

“ All three of the boys and Jess hurled themselves forward with offers of help, but Larry selected Fred.
"The rest of you keep from falling overboard," he directed grimly. "I cannot be rescuing you in the middle of the ocean with a dead motor on my hands. If you fall over you have to sink or float without any help from me." ”

“ Ward silently handed him the bag of peanuts, and he took a handful.
"I should think you'd like to travel around," said Artie. "It must be fun to see all the different places and people."
"Do you have to go to school?" Ward asked.
"Can't—I'm too fat," said the boy. "I'd break down all the benches. My mother teaches me. And let me tell you, it isn't such fun going around, especially in hot weather. I'd like to spend a summer at the beach and just have a good time."
"Why don't you?" Margy asked. ”

“ There were classes for beginners and for children under ten. There was a "novice" class for those who had never tried to swim a stroke. There was a class for fat swimmers. Artie suggested that Ward enter this.
"I'll bet it's a heap of fun," said Jess. "Lots of the swimming will be a joke and people just go in it for a good time and to make money for the life guards. I'll tell you what! Let's each one of us enter something. One of us ought to get some kind of prize."
"If six of us go in, we must surely win something for the Riddle Club," added Fred. ”

“ Margy sniffed and Artie Marley giggled.
"Oh, of course it's hot! But who cares?" said Polly Marley, the born peacemaker. "Think about the beach and the fun we'll have there. And just as soon as Ward comes, we'll hold our meeting."
"I don't know what can be keeping him." Jess spoke of her brother. "He can't run fast, because he is so fat, but he can hurry when he wants to. Perhaps he stayed to watch the boat come in."
It was a pleasant room in which the five children were gathered, even if it was a loft room of the Larue barn. ”