Margaret Penrose

“ It was Cora who demanded this when, an hour or so later, Jack and Ed had been reunited to their party in the Mansion House at Fairport.
“Who was she?” and Cora looked appealingly at her brother, who smiled in a tantalizing fashion.
“We told you everything,” remarked Ed. “Over the wire, you know.”
“It’s very easy to tell things–over the wire,” remarked Belle, with a laugh. “One doesn’t have to–blush, you know.”
“And if one does, even the central operator can’t see it,” spoke Bess. “Oh, you boys have given us a big scare!”
“Scare? How?” demanded Jack, with a look at his sister. ”

“ Rosalie looked as though she would enjoy another plunge in the bay. Cora glanced over to where her friends awaited her in a group on the beach. Eline was looking at dripping Dick going up to get on dry garments.
“But there!” exclaimed Mr. Haley, “I mustn’t bother you with my troubles. I dare say you have enough of your own. But do come over and see us; won’t you?”
“Yes, do!” urged Rosalie.
“We will,” said Cora. “But now I must get back to my friends.”
“You had best take the boat and row over,” said the light keeper. “It’s shorter that way. You can leave her just where you found her. ”

“ Motor maids and motor boys went out on the bay in the two motor boats. The craft Jack and his chums had hired was not very elegant, and she seemed to be rather uncertain about starting, and when she did the engine appeared to be protesting most of the while. But the boat made good time, and though it did not really beat the Pet (much to the disappointment of boastful Jack) it kept well up with Cora’s speedy craft.
For a week or more the young people enjoyed to the utmost the life on the coast. More people came to the little summer resort, and several social affairs were arranged. ”

“ The boys and girls trudged down to the beach 181 through sand that clung to their feet. They could see the life-savers getting their apparatus in order, and near them were huddled some men–evidently sailors.
“Those are the men who were rescued from the ship,” said Rosalie. “There are more on board, and some passengers, I heard. Some women and children, too!”
“How terrible!” gasped Belle. “Oh, I don’t see how any one can take a long voyage. I am so afraid of the water.”
“I don’t blame you–not when it acts this way,” spoke Eline. “It makes me shudder!” ”

“ We’ll keep on a bit longer, and see where we come out.”
“Can’t you get a bit nearer in shore?” asked Norton.
“It’s risky,” said Jack. “It’s low tide now, and while this old tub doesn’t draw much there are a lot of rocks here and there, sticking almost up at low water. If we hit on one of them we’ll be in the pot for fair. The only thing to do is to stand out, and trust to luck. Once around the point we’ll be all right.”
“They’re coming in,” said Walter, nodding toward Cora and the others.
“Keep out! Keep out!” cried Jack. “It’s dangerous.”
“But the girls want to land!” cried his sister. ”

“ Out all alone–all night–on the ocean on that raft,” remarked Cora.
“I should have died!” sighed Belle.
“Oh, human nature can stand more than we think,” spoke the doctor. “Well, I must be going. I don’t know how I am to get around without my car.”
“Use mine!” offered Jack, quickly. “I shan’t need it. The old Get There needs running to keep her in good humor.” ”

“ She was followed by the other girls.
“Oh, see the smoke!” cried Eline. “That must be gasoline burning!”
“It is,” assented Belle. “Oh, do hurry–somebody!”
Cora came running out of the house, carrying long tin extinguishers, one in each hand, and one under her right arm. She had just bought a new lot, and had intended hanging them in the garage, but had forgotten it.
“These will be just the thing!” she cried. “Don’t be frightened! There’s not much gasoline in the barn. If we can get out the cars―”
“Something must be the matter!” cried Bess. “The boys–they are in there yet–they may be overcome!” ”

“ That’s why I’m in a part of the country I have never visited before.”
“I see,” remarked Jack. “It is sometimes good to do things on an impulse. I know how tiresome the dull routine and grind must be.”
“He never worked a day in his life!” exclaimed Ed.
“No knocking, old man!” laughed Jack. “I think I’d like to be in an office myself,” he added. Mentally he decided that one where this girl was employed might not be a half-bad place.
“Yes, he’d want an office where the hours were from ten to twelve, with an hour for lunch,” grunted Ed, as the car went over a bump, jolting him. ”

“ Cora and the girls went on to the life-saving station not far from their bungalow. They were much interested in the method of launching the boat, and the captain explained how it would right itself if capsized, and also bail out the water that entered in a storm.
“What do you do when you can’t launch a boat?” asked Belle.
“Use the breeches buoy,” answered the grizzled old salt. He showed how by means of a mortar a line was fired aboard the wreck, and how, by a sort of pulley arrangement, the persons in danger could, one at a time, be pulled ashore, sitting in the “breeches buoy.” ”

“ WORRIES
“Where shall we leave our cars?” asked Belle.
“There’s a garage just around the corner from the hotel,” answered Cora. “We can have the man look the machines over, too, and see that there is plenty of gasoline and oil. Then we won’t have to worry.”
The three cars had drawn up in front of the Mansion House at Fairport, following a pleasant run after the sheep episode. Jack and Ed, of course, were not present, and of them more presently. They were having, as Jack might express it, “their own troubles.” ”

“ I think it must be lovely to live as you girls do, going about as you please.”
“And I think it must be so romantic to live in a lighthouse,” interposed Belle. “Do you ever tend the light?”
“Once in a while, when father is busy–that is, early in the evening. Father and the assistant, Harry Small, stand the night watches.”
“Do you ever have storms here?” asked Bess.
“Oh, often, yes; and bad ones too.”
“And are ships wrecked?” Eline queried.
“Occasionally.”
“Did your light ever save any?” asked Cora. ”

“ The sea was not a bit rough and even Belle’s fears were quelled. They went past the light, close enough to see Rosalie waving at them. High up in the tower they could note Mr. Haley and his helper cleaning the great lantern and lens.
They reached the other bay in due time, but the gathering clouds grew more menacing, and Cora was for putting back.
“No,” urged Jack. “Let’s stay and eat our lunch. If it gets too rough we can leave our boats here and walk back over the point. It isn’t far.”
So the girls consented. The clouds continued to gather. ”

“ Fordam. “It will be all right. Your car is so big that I’m really afraid of it.”
So it was arranged, and when a few other forgotten matters had been settled, Cora gave the last instructions to the care-taker of the Kimball home, and blew a blast on her auto horn as a signal to start.
“At last we are off!” sighed Eline, as she sat beside Cora. “It seems as if time moves slowest of all at the end.”
“It really does,” agreed Cora. “I’m glad we are able to start. When I saw that blaze in the garage–Oh, my dear, you’ve no idea how my heart sank. It almost stopped beating.” ”

“ As a usual thing the rudder is on the stern of the boat–necessarily so–but in this case the stern of the Pet was the bow, as far as motion was concerned, and Jack, clinging to the stem, was on the stern, so to speak. So, vigorously churning with his feet, as a swimmer might tread water, he threw himself to one side, as a rudder might have been turned.
The effect was immediate. The Pet veered to one side, and the startled owner of the sloop, toward which the motor boat was plunging, had 140 small use for the hook he had caught up in his excitement. ”

“ The Pet circled up to the float and came to a stop at its side, not a jar marring the landing.
“Well done!” said Rosalie to Cora. “There are not many girls who can run a motor boat like that.”
149“I have had some practice,” was the modest reply.
“Father will be glad to see you,” went on the mermaid, with a smile. “He has just been polishing the light, and I know he’ll be glad to show you through.”
She glanced meaningly at Cora, who returned the look.
“Welcome, ladies!” greeted Mr. Haley. “I’m real glad to see you. Visitors are always welcome. Are you good climbers?”
“Why?” asked Eline. ”

“ Fordam, after Jack and the boys had stopped to look after Norton’s car, had met young Dunn and his 109 companions out for a spin. Cora knew them at once, and the young men, delighted at the prospect of such charming partners at a dance they had almost elected to forgo, invited the motor girls to it. ”

“ Fordam, pointing to two that stood somewhat removed from a group of cottages. “Yes,” the chaperone went on, “I can see Aunt Susan in the door of one waving to us.”
“Me for Aunt Susan, then!” cried Jack. “I hope she has something to eat!”
“Eat!” gasped Belle. “Do you boys think that Aunt Susan is going to cook for you?”
“Yes, wasn’t that the arrangement?” inquired Jack, blankly.
“Indeed not!” was the quick answer. “You boys are to do your own providing.”
“Well, we can do it!” spoke Walter, quickly. “And, mind, don’t ask us for some of our pie and cake.” ”

“ Cora said good-bye to Rosalie, who was busy about her household duties, and waved to little Dick, who was playing on the beach. Then, getting into the Pet in which she had come to the lighthouse float, Cora turned the bow toward the little dock at the foot of the slope on which the bungalows were perched.
“Well, you were gone long enough!” complained Jack when she got back. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“What for?” she asked. “Has anything happened?”
“Nothing except that we fellows have heard of a motor boat we can hire cheap for the season, and we want to run over and look at it. ”

“ Vigorously Cora pushed off the boat, and managed to get in, though not without getting rather wet. Then, seizing one pair of oars, while Eline took the others, they rowed hastily out to the capsized craft. Other boats were now hastening to the scene of the accident, but Cora Kimball was the first to reach it. Jack and the other boys and girls had left their cars on the main road, and were racing down the beach.
“Oh, I’m so glad you came!” gasped the girl on the sail boat. “I’m holding him, but I can’t seem to pull him up here. He’s so heavy!” ”

“ These same boys might have been observed to be 99 receiving signals–in the way of nods and winks from Jack and his chums, from time to time.
“I am sure those boys are up to something!” exclaimed Cora to Eline, as they took their places.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean some trick.”
“How can you tell?”
“Why, Jack’s so anxious to get us off. He paid the hotel bill for me, bought me a magazine and some candy. He never does things like that unless there is something queer about to happen. Does anything seem wrong? Do I look all right?”
“Perfectly charming, Cora. That’s a stunning sweater you have.” ”

“ The rain was now pelting down, but unmindful of it, the girls drew nearer the burning barn, while Cora sped toward the house.
“Sand–pails?” asked Belle.
“Yes!” cried Bess. “There are some pails over there!” and she pointed toward a pile of gardening tools. “The watering can will be good, too. Scoop up the sand–use your hands!”
She rushed over and picked up one of the pails, an example followed by her sister and Eline.
“Oh, why don’t those boys come out!” cried the latter. “Maybe they are–burned!” she faltered.
“Perhaps they can’t get our car started,” said Bess. ”

“ Boys, you shouldn’t have done it!” but she laughed nevertheless, and Norton felt more relieved.
“It was only in fun,” he protested.
“A boy’s idea of fun, and a girl’s, often differ exceedingly,” spoke Mrs. Fordam. “I really think it had better be taken off.”
The crowd had been following along the sidewalk, tossing rice and showering congratulations on those in the “bridal-car.” Norton saw that Mrs. Fordam meant what she said. So he stopped the machine and got out to remove the placard, just as Cora was about to turn around to learn more of the cause of the merriment. ”

“ If I had thought that my light failed, I–I’d never want to live longer,” and his voice trembled.
“The steering gear got out of order,” said Cora. “Nancy told me that. They could not control the vessel in the storm.”
“That’s always bad. Well, if we can find my sister all will yet be well. I can’t thank you enough for bringing me this good news.”
“I am glad I had it to bring,” said Cora, brightly.
Nancy Ford continued to gain in strength, and the day came when she could go out. There was a little celebration and the boys wanted to get up an auto or a motor boat party, but Cora drew the line. ”

“ Some of the men ran out for more sand. The blaze was being well fought now. There was really no need for the fire department.
Above the place where the autos were stored were rooms formerly occupied by the coachman and his family, before Mrs. Kimball disposed of her horses. The stairs to these rooms were boxed in, a door leading directly to the path that went to the driveway.
“I can go up there and get another extinguisher!” cried Cora, indicating the stairway. “I know there’s one there.”
“No need to!” exclaimed Ed, who again had to get a breath of fresh air. ”

“ Nettie was assuring a new girl that thunder storms were never disastrous in Chelton, but the latter had suddenly become prayerful, and would not answer the simplest questions. Assuring herself that Nettie could take care of the girl and two newly hired men, who had assembled in the kitchen, Cora went back to the library.
“Well, that day,” continued the woman, “marked my life-doom. As I worked over my books, and counted the money, I saw two men standing in the door. A young girl clerk–Nancy Ford–was nearest to them. ”

“ You think you’ve got ’em just where you want ’em, when, all to once they break out, and if one goes the others follow.”
“Yes, I know!” Cora was genuinely distressed. “But we simply must get past!” she exclaimed. “Can’t you think of a way?” She looked ahead at the sheep. There were a hundred or more–quite a flock. The herder took off his cap and scratched his head reflectively–looking the while meditatively at his pipe.
“It might be done–it might,” he murmured.
Cora brought her car to a stop. ”

“ The Robinson twins were daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Perry Robinson, the father being a wealthy railroad man. He had given the girls a fine car–the Flyaway it had been christened–while Jack called his the Get There. Sometimes it did, and sometimes it didn’t. To go back to the girls. Belle, or Isabel, as she had been christened, was plump and rosy, and her sister Bess, tall, willowy and fair, her rather light hair contrasting with the brown locks of Belle.
Eline Carleton, from Chicago, a distant cousin of Cora had been invited to spend the summer with the Kimballs, and was to go to the Cove. ”