THE TREASURER IS PLEASED
Larry was so surprised that about all he could say was "Great glory,"
though when the Riddle Club explained in chorus that Ella was very
hungry, he hurriedly brought out the buns and crackers he had so
carefully put away.
"Great glory!" he ejaculated for the twentieth time, watching the
famished Ella greedily eating the crackers. "It's a mercy there wasn't
a rain storm--the exposure might have given you pneumonia."
"I'm all right," Ella said sunnily. "The Riddle Club found me. But how
can we get home, if your boat is broken down?"
Before Larry could answer this question, he had to hear how Ella came
to be on Rattlesnake Island and how long she had been there. As soon as
she told him about the spring, he declared that he must fill his barrel.
"Then we'll go," he promised. "I reckon there's some folks back at
Sunrise Beach will be kind of glad to see this party coming in."
"Yes, won't Ella's father be surprised?" Artie said eagerly.
"Guess your own father will be glad to see you, too," chuckled Larry.
"Well, who's coming to help me fill these two pails with water? I can
find the spring all right if one of you comes along to show me where
you found Ella."
The three boys volunteered to accompany Larry and the girls stayed with
Ella. Larry located the spring without trouble, and on the way back he
explained that he had repaired his engine.
"It was the spark plug after all," he said. "Fouled. I didn't look at
it before, because I'd just cleaned it. Soon as I scraped it with my
knife, everything was all right. Turned the flywheel, threw in the
clutch, and she began her song like a lady."
"Then we really can go home?" Ward asked.
"Just as soon as I sign up the crew," replied Larry, grinning. "We
ought to be home for lunch, according to my way of figuring, though my
watch stopped after we came ashore."
No one felt like lingering on Rattlesnake Island a moment longer than
was necessary, and at a word from Larry the girls and Artie and Ward
took their places in the boat while he and Fred pushed off. Almost
breathlessly they watched while Larry spun the wheel, touched the
clutch, and then--put-put-put--sounded the engine and a spontaneous
cheer went up.
"Isn't it lovely!" cried Margy, her face glowing. "Isn't it too lovely
to be going home!"
Ella forgot her tattered dress and her blistered heel in her delight at
being found. She asked about her pony--whether it had been found.
"I never leave him tied long," she explained. "And all that night while
I was drifting on the ocean, I wondered whether Duke would be fed and
bedded down."
"What are you thinking about, Fred," Polly asked curiously.
Fred sat silent, and she could tell from the expression on his face
that he had something he was turning over in his mind.
"Why," he said now, looking up, "I was thinking--Larry, if you could
meet a boat with a wireless, or put in at a town with telephones, we
could send word on ahead. Even if we make good time, the news would get
there ahead of us and save an hour or two of worry, perhaps."
"For a boy, you sure have a level head," Larry declared approvingly.
"I know I wouldn't want to be waiting much longer, after a night of
wondering and hoping. Let's see--'tisn't likely we'll meet a ship with
wireless, it's too early in the morning for the coastwise boats and
we're too far in for the ocean-going vessels. Better to telegraph,
anyway, Fred. Quicker. You write out a message and I'll see it gets
sent."
Fred complained that he couldn't think in a hurry, so Polly and Jess
helped him write a message on the back of an envelope Larry handed him.
"All safe. Coming home," ran the telegram. "Bringing Ella Mooney with
us."
"Better send it to your folks, Fred," Larry advised. "Captain Mooney is
likely to be anywhere up and down the coast, hunting. Somebody will be
at Meeker's Cottage."
So Fred addressed the message to his father and Larry sent the boat
spinning close to a long fishing pier that ran out far from land.
"Hi!" he called up to the faces bending down to peer at them. "This
is North Beach, isn't it? Will some of you send a mighty important
telegram for us?"
Half a dozen promised to send the telegram, and it was the work of a
minute for Larry to fasten the message and a dollar bill to one of
the fish hooks lowered to him on a long line. Then the boat sped on,
without waiting to hear the shouts of the fishermen, some of whom had
heard of Captain Mooney's missing daughter.
Put-put-put went the little boat, and once it sputtered as though it
was going to stop. Larry looked worried and the boys and girls held
their breaths, but nothing happened and the evenly timed put-put
sounded again. Pretty soon they began to recognize the shore towns.
Then they passed Glen Haven.
"There's the Sunrise Beach pier!" cried Fred.
"I see the bungalows!" Artie shouted.
"There's the hotel!" this from Margy.
"Don't go to the wharf, Larry," Ella begged. "I'm a sight. I'd hate to
have people see me looking like this."
"Can't get through the surf, anyway," said Larry. "That wind yesterday
kicked up a heavy sea. I'll have to run for the inlet."
That he would do so, must have been surmised by the little group of
people standing on the right-hand bank as the _Clara_ shot into the
inlet waters and stopped at the floating wharf.
"Daddy!" cried Ella, almost leaping into the water as she tried to
spring from the boat. "Oh, Daddy! Daddy! Did you worry about me?"
She was in her father's arms before she could finish her sentence. And
tumbling from the boat with all her eagerness, the Riddle Club members
found themselves held tightly in a circle of weeping mothers and of
fathers who laughed as the safest way to keep from crying.
"Thought you'd play Robinson Crusoe, did you?" said Mr. Marley, lifting
Artie to his shoulder. "Well, Larry, I'm afraid you've had more than
you bargained for."
"How did you know we were on an island, Daddy?" asked Polly curiously.
"Didn't. Just made a guess at the Robinson Crusoe part," he answered
her. "But we can't stand here--the whole town will be upon us. Come,
Captain, we'll go up to the cottage and listen to the whole story. The
children look as though they needed something hot to eat and then a
good nap."
Captain Mooney was persuaded not to drive Ella home until she had had
a good hot lunch, and Larry, too, was persuaded to go to the cottage.
Every one talked very fast for an hour, for the fathers and mothers
were anxious to hear everything that had happened.
Ella Mooney did not go home that night, for the little girl fell asleep
in the midst of the story Larry told and Mrs. Marley put her to bed
herself.
"While I never want to go through it again," concluded Larry, "I want
to say this: I never saw a braver bunch of kids, or a bunch of better
sports. They didn't one of 'em grunt or complain, and if they were
afraid, they kept it pretty well to themselves. I'm proud to have had
the Riddle Club on board the _Clara_ and I hope to take 'em sailing
many a day to come."
The telephone bell in the house next door began to ring that afternoon,
and it rang till nearly midnight. All Sunrise Beach was asking for
news--had the missing children really come home safe? Those who did not
telephone came to see for themselves, and Carrie Pepper, Mattie Helms,
Joe Anderson and Albert Holmes were among these.
"How funny you look!" said Carrie to Polly. "As if you were sleepy. But
I'm awfully glad you weren't drowned," she added, and kissed her.
"I'm going to bed in a minute--we couldn't sleep much last night,"
Polly explained. "Ella is already asleep and so is Margy."
"Where did you find Ella?" asked Carrie, and nothing would do but she
must have all the details.
"H'm--she ought not to be going around in boats by herself," Carrie
commented at the end. "Say, you must have left awfully early yesterday.
Mattie and I came down to see you off and you'd already gone."
Polly looked everywhere but at Fred, and was saved an answer by Mrs.
Marley, who came in to insist that Polly must go to bed and rest.
In the morning--the Riddle Club members and Ella slept seventeen long
blissful hours without waking--Captain Mooney drove up in his big car
with an outfit of clothes for Ella. Fred was already dressed and down,
and the Captain suggested that while he waited for his daughter he and
Fred "take a turn on the beach."
"How queer Fred acts," said Polly to Jess, watching the two coming up
the walk half an hour later.
In the excitement of saying good-by to Ella, Polly thought no more
of Fred's behavior. He had had an air of suppressed excitement, she
thought, "the way he acts on Christmas," Polly expressed it.
As no one felt up to any very strenuous form of exercise, Mrs. Marley
suggested that they hold a session of the Riddle Club on the front
porch.
"Before the callers descend," she added laughingly. "You're sure to
have a good many to-day, friends who want to see for themselves that
you are safe."
Polly called the meeting to order and was about to proceed by calling
on Margy for a riddle when Fred interrupted.
"I have an announcement to make, as treasurer," he stated.
"No dues!" Ward warned him. "This is an--an informal meeting."
"This is once when I don't care a snap about dues," said Fred, his
voice rising as it always did when he was excited. "Look at that--you
fellows who squawk when I ask you for ten cents!"
He laid a slip of green paper in Polly's lap and the others crowded
about her.
"A hundred dollars!" cried Polly, in amazement. "A check for a hundred
dollars, payable to the Riddle Club. Why, Fred!"
"Captain Mooney gave it to me this morning and made me promise not to
tell till he'd gone," Fred said. "It's the reward for the information
about Ella, you know. He said he'd asked our fathers, and it's all
right for us to have it. And, gee, won't the teller in the River Bend
Bank open his eyes when he sees that!"
"Now I don't care if Mother wouldn't let me take the ring money,"
declared Margy contentedly. "This is lots nicer."
Jess rushed into the house to bring the three mothers out to admire the
check. In the midst of their talk a small, barefoot boy came up the
walk.
"I found this in the water this morning, and Larry opened it," he said
shyly. "He says it's yours."
He handed the tin box to Fred, who jerked the cover off.
"It's the box we floated the night we had the beach party!" he
chuckled. "Here's the messages, just as we wrote them. 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?"
THE END
THE BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS
For Little Men and Women
By LAURA LEE HOPE
Author of "The Bunny Brown Series," Etc.
Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding. Every Volume
Complete in Itself.
These books for boys and girls between the ages of three and ten stands
among children and their parents of this generation where the books of
Louisa May Alcott stood in former days. The haps and mishaps of this
inimitable pair of twins, their many adventures and experiences are a
source of keen delight to imaginative children everywhere.
THE BOBBSEY TWINS
THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE
THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOAT
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOK
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOME
THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN A GREAT CITY
THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON BLUEBERRY ISLAND
THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON THE DEEP BLUE SEA
THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE GREAT WEST
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT CEDAR CAMP
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE COUNTY FAIR
THE BOBBSEY TWINS CAMPING OUT
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AND BABY MAY
Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES
By LAURA LEE HOPE
Author of the Popular "Bobbsey Twins" Books, Etc.
Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding. Every Volume
Complete in Itself.
These stories by the author of the "Bobbsey Twins". Books are eagerly
welcomed by the little folks from about five to ten years of age. Their
eyes fairly dance with delight at the lively doings of inquisitive
little Bunny Brown and his cunning, trustful sister Sue.
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON GRANDPA'S FARM
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE PLAYING CIRCUS
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CAMP REST-A-WHILE
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT AUNT LU'S CITY HOME
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE BIG WOODS
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON AN AUTO TOUR
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR SHETLAND PONY
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE GIVING A SHOW
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CHRISTMAS TREE COVE
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE SUNNY SOUTH
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE KEEPING STORE
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR TRICK DOG
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT A SUGAR CAMP
Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS SERIES
By LAURA LEE HOPE
Author of The Bobbsey Twins Books, The Bunny Brown Series, The
Make-Believe Series, Etc.
Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding. Every Volume
Complete in Itself.
Delightful stories for little boys and girls which sprung into
immediate popularity. To know the six little Bunkers is to take them
at once to your heart, they are so intensely human, so full of fun and
cute sayings. Each story has a little plot of its own--one that can be
easily followed--and all are written in Miss Hope's most entertaining
manner. Clean, wholesome volumes which ought to be on the bookshelf of
every child in the land.
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDMA BELL'S
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT AUNT JO'S
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COUSIN TOM'S
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDPA FORD'S
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT UNCLE FRED'S
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT CAPTAIN BEN'S
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COWBOY JACK'S
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT MAMMY JUNE'S
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT FARMER JOEL'S
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT MILLER NED'S
Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
LITTLE JOURNEYS TO HAPPYLAND
(Trademark Registered)
By DAVID CORY
Individual Colored Wrappers. Profusely Illustrated
Printed in large type--easy to read. For children from 4 to 8 years.
A new series of exciting adventures by the author of LITTLE JACK RABBIT
books.
The Happyland is reached by various routes: If you should happen to
miss the Iceberg Express maybe you can take the Magic Soap Bubble, or
in case that has already left, the Noah's Ark may be waiting for you.
This series is unique in that it deals with unusual and exciting
adventures on land and sea and in the air.
The Cruise of the Noah's Ark
This is a good rainy day story. On just such a day Mr. Noah invites
Marjorie to go for a trip in the Noah's Ark. She gets aboard just in
time and away it floats out into the big wide world.
The Magic Soap Bubble
The king of the gnomes has a magic pipe with which he blows a wonderful
bubble and taking Ed. with him they both have a delightful time in
Gnomeland.
The Iceberg Express
The Mermaid's magic comb changes little Mary Louise into a mermaid. The
Polar Bear Porter on the iceberg Express invites her to take a trip
with him and away they go on a little journey to Happyland.
Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
THE MAKE-BELIEVE STORIES
(Trademark Registered.)
By LAURA LEE HOPE
Author of THE BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS, Etc.
Colored Wrappers and Illustrations by HARRY L. SMITH
In this fascinating line of books Miss Hope has the various toys come
to life "when nobody is looking" and she puts them through a series of
adventures as interesting as can possibly be imagined.
THE STORY OF A SAWDUST DOLL
How the toys held a party at the Toy Counter; how the Sawdust Doll was
taken to the home of a nice little girl, and what happened to her there.
THE STORY OF A WHITE ROCKING HORSE
He was a bold charger and a man purchased him for his son's birthday.
Once the Horse had to go to the Toy Hospital, and my! what sights he
saw there.
THE STORY OF A LAMB ON WHEELS
She was a dainty creature and a sailor bought her and took her to a
little girl relative and she had a great time.
THE STORY OF A BOLD TIN SOLDIER
He was Captain of the Company and marched up and down in the store at
night. Then he went to live with a little boy and had the time of his
life.
THE STORY OF A CANDY RABBIT
He was continually in danger of losing his life by being eaten up.
But he had plenty of fun, and often saw his many friends from the Toy
Counter.
THE STORY OF A MONKEY ON A STICK
He was mighty lively and could do many tricks. The boy who owned him
gave a show, and many of the Monkey's friends were among the actors.
THE STORY OF A CALICO CLOWN
He was a truly comical chap and all the other toys loved him greatly.
THE STORY OF A NODDING DONKEY
He made happy the life of a little lame boy and did lots of other good
deeds.
THE STORY OF A CHINA CAT
The China Cat had many adventures, but enjoyed herself most of the time.
THE STORY OF A PLUSH BEAR
This fellow came from the North Pole, stopped for a while at the toy
store, and was then taken to the seashore by his little master.
THE STORY OF A STUFFED ELEPHANT
He was a wise looking animal and had a great variety of adventures.
Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
LITTLE JACK RABBIT BOOKS
(Trademark Registered)
By DAVID CORY
Author of LITTLE JOURNEYS TO HAPPYLAND
Colored Wrappers With Text Illustrations
A new and unique series about the furred and feathered little people of
the wood and meadow.
Children will eagerly follow the doings of little Jack Rabbit, who,
every morning as soon as he has polished the front door knob and fed
the canary, sets out from his little house in the bramble patch to meet
his friends in the Shady Forest and Sunny Meadow. And the clever way he
escapes from his three enemies, Danny Fox, Mr. Wicked Weasel and Hungry
Hawk will delight the youngsters.
LITTLE JACK RABBIT'S ADVENTURES
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND DANNY FOX
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE SQUIRREL BROTHERS
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND CHIPPY CHIPMUNK
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE BIG BROWN BEAR
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND UNCLE JOHN HARE
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND PROFESSOR CROW
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND OLD MAN WEASEL
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND MR. WICKED WOLF
LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND HUNGRY HAWK
Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York