"I feel we would
all have gone astray but for him. We girls would never have known
enough--"
Then she stopped. She had no idea of telling the boys that they had
followed Jim Peters with the hope of finding the missing ones
whither he would lead them. Bess and Belle also had taken pains not
to betray their story to the boys, for, as Cora said, Jim Peters was
not a man to quarrel with, and the stolen boat was not a matter to
joke about.
"Here comes Nettie!" exclaimed Belle. "I wonder what's her hurry."
"You've got company, miss," the maid said as she came up to the
party walking toward the camp. "Miss Hasting and her brother have
been waiting all evening."
"Hazel and Paul!" exclaimed Cora, almost running to the bungalow.
"Oh, isn't that splendid!"
"And us in these!" wailed Walter. "Do you think Hazel will like me
in baby blue?"
The boys really did look funny in the girls' long coats, but it all
added to the merry-making. Paul Hastings was waiting outside the
bungalow. He stood where the porch light fell upon him, and the
girls all secretly agreed that he had grown handsomer since they had
last seen him. Hazel, too, looked very attractive in her plain blue
dress, with its turn-over collar and Windsor tie.
"What a pleasant surprise! We were afraid you would not come for
some days Hazel!" said Cora in greeting.
"Oh, Paul had to come up here.
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