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"Next some boys, out clamming, saw her," said Jack, "and they said 'peach." "Either of which would have done nicely," declared Ed. "Peach would have been the very name after the girls " "Chelton is dignified and appropriate," interposed Cora; "besides, if we should stray off to Holland they would know along the Dikes that we belonged in Chelton."
He increased his speed, and came alongside the Chelton. "We seem to be some distance from the point," he said, with a smile. "Don't you want a little race? You can call it off before we get near the danger spot." Cora was rather taken aback by the proposal.
Speculation was rife, and opinion was equally divided on the question of whether it had been lost or stolen, or both, for that it might have been stolen after it was lost was possible. Ed consulted some business friends, but they could give him little help. He was advised to hire private detectives, and said he would do so, in case the police of New City or Chelton could do nothing.
Bess and the others understood. "And now," went on Jack, "we'll proceed to find out why the Dixie won't mote. We want her in shape to-night." "That's right," assented Dray. "I think it's the carbureter. I'll get a man from the garage to look it over." "We'll want a fast boat if the one those fellows have is as speedy as you girls say," remarked Walter. "Couldn't we take the Chelton?" asked Ed.
"I have to go to Chelton, or " Cora was looking very pretty. Excitement seems to put the match to the flickering taper of beauty, hidden behind the self-control of healthy maidenhood. Her cheeks were aflame and her eyes sparkled so like Jack's when he was sure of winning a hard contest. "Dear old Jack!" she thought. "Won't he be surprised to see me! That will be the best part of it.
The "push" sent the Chelton out in the water, but the motor failed to do its duty. Again Denny tried, but still no response. As this is not unusual with any motor, whether new or old, all hands waited patiently. "Oh, there's the Dixie!" called Lottie, jumping up and waving to an approaching boat. At that instant the Chelton started with a jerk, and there was a chorus of screams.
The Chelton seemed to have missed the guiding hand of its fair owner, for while the new piece of mechanism was being put in Cora had not been using the boat. "How different from the one we rode in this morning," Freda remarked. "I always feel as if something were going to explode when I sit near a noise such as that old engine made. I wonder that a big house like the Laurel can keep such a tub."
But the fact is, I am just baby enough to want to tell some one." He arranged the cushions in the big willow chair, and Cora sat down quite obediently. She liked Duncan there was something akin to bravery behind his careless manner. "What he wouldn't do for a friend!" she thought. "Your case?" asked Cora. "I am very ignorant on medical matters, but I should love to hear about the Chelton case.
"Trimmed!" exclaimed Lottie. "I don't see any frills on the Chelton." "You may later, if we win the race," said Bess. "But what Cora means is that the boat isn't properly balanced. There is too much weight on the starboard side." "Oh, then I'm on the starboard side," said Lottie. "Yes, or on the right, according to the new navy rules," agreed Cora. "But, really, someone must shift."
"I don't mind Tom hearing it, either." The chauffeur smiled in acknowledgment to the compliment. It had been a hard run, and the Chelton lawyer had only turned back at the last mile post. "Wonder where that motor-cycle officer is now?" remarked Cora. "I mean Constable Hanna." "Oh, he's out having a good time on what he earned this morning," answered Duncan.
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