Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed
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THE MOTOR GIRLS
ON CRYSTAL BAY
Or
The Secret of the Red Oar
By
MARGARET PENROSE
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Copyright, 1914, by
Cupples & Leon Company
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. A Worried Girl 1
II. Freda'S Story 15
III. Crystal Bay 26
IV. The Red Oar 36
V. Two Men 47
VI. The "Chelton" 55
VII. In The Motely Mote 67
VIII. Frights Or Fancies 76
IX. A Merry Time 83
X. Too Much Joy 93
XI. The Rescue 102
XII. The Calm 109
XIII. Suspicion 120
XIV. An Angry Druggist 129
XV. An Alarm 141
XVI. A Bad Case Of Nerves 156
XVII. A Little Race 164
XVIII. More Suspicions 171
XIX. Odd Talk 176
XX. The Night Plot 184
XXI. The Breakdown 196
XXII. At The Cabin 202
XXIII. Unexpected Help 208
XXIV. Denny'S Soliloquy 214
XXV. The Plotters Arrive 220
XXVI. Cora'S Brave Resolve 227
XXVII. The Red Oar Again 235
XXVIII. The Discovery--Conclusion 241
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THE MOTOR GIRLS ON CRYSTAL BAY
CHAPTER I
A WORRIED GIRL
Four girls sat on four chairs, in four different corners of the room.
They sat on the chairs because they were really too tired to stand
longer, and the reason for the occupancy of the corners of the
apartment was self-evident. There was no other available space. For
the center of the chamber was littered to overflowing with trunks,
suitcases and valises, in various stages of being packed, and from
them overflowed a variety of garments and other accessories of a
journey.
"Oh, dear!" sighed Cora Kimball, as she gazed helplessly about, "will
we ever be finished, Bess?"
"I don't know," was the equally discouraging reply. "It doesn't seem
so; does it?"
"I'm sure I can't get another thing in my suitcase," spoke the
smallest girl of all, who seemed to shrink back rather timidly into
her corner, as though she feared she might be put into a trunk by
mistake.
"Oh, Marita! You simply must get more in your suitcase!" exclaimed
Cora, starting up. "Why, your trunk won't begin to hold all the rest
of your things unless you crowd more into the case."
"The only trouble, Cora," sighed Marita, "is that the sides and top
aren't made of rubber."
"There's an idea!" cried a plump girl, in the corner nearest the
piano. "A rubber suitcase! What a boon it would be for week-ends, when
one starts off with a Spartan resolution to take only one extra gown,
and ends up with slipping two party dresses and the 'fixings' into
one's trunk. Oh, for a rubber suitcase!"
"What's the sense in sighing after the impossible?" asked the girl
opposite the plump one. "Why don't you finish packing, Bess?"
"Why don't you?" and the plump one rather glared at her more frail
questioner.
"Now, sisters!" cautioned Cora, as she gazed at the Robinson twins,
"don't get on one another's nerves. Let's have another try at it. I'm
sure if we go at it with some sort of system we'll be able to get all
the things in. And really we must hurry!" she exclaimed, looking at
the clock on the mantel, which pointed to the hour of four. "I
promised to have all the baggage ready for the man at five. That only
gives us an hour----"
"Cora Kimball!"
"Only an hour!"
"Why didn't you tell us?"
Thus the three girls exclaimed in startled tones as they fairly leaped
from their chairs in their respective corners, and caught up various
garments.
Then, as the apparent hopelessness of the situation overcame them
again, they looked at one another, at the trunks and suitcases that
already held their fair share of articles, at the accumulation on the
floor, and then they sighed in concert.
"It's no use," spoke Bess Robinson. "I'm not going at all--at least
not now. I'm going to take another day to sort out the things I really
don't need."
"You can't!" exclaimed Cora. "Our tickets are bought, the bungalow is
engaged, and we leave for Crystal Bay on the morning train, if we have
to ship this whole room by freight--just as it is!"
"Perhaps that would be the easiest way," suggested timid Marita
Osborne.
"It certainly would create a sensation in Chelton," murmured Belle, as
she looked at her plump sister. "But come, we really must help you,
Cora. It's too bad we took advantage of your good nature, and brought
our things here to pack. We might better have done it at our own
homes."
"No, I think you'll find my way best in the end," said Cora, with a
smile, as she looked about for a place in which to pack her sweater.
"By doing this we won't duplicate on the extras. Now, girls, try once
more. Marita, let's begin on your suitcase, for that seems to be the
smallest. Oh, dear, Bess, what are you doing now?" she called, as she
noted an unusual activity on the part of the plump girl.
"I'm just seeing if I'm heavy enough to close the lid of my trunk,"
was the answer. "No, I'm not," she exclaimed, as she hopped on and
hopped off again.
"Look out!" called Belle. "You nearly stepped on my veil-box, Bess."
"Sorry, Sis, but you shouldn't leave it on the floor."
The plump one stood looking at the bulging trunk, and then drew a long
breath.
"Girls!" she cried, "I'm losing weight."
"How do you know?" asked her sister promptly.
"Couldn't close my trunk lid. That's the way I can always tell.
Problem: Given a trunk, which requires a force of one hundred and
thirty-five pounds to close down the lid, and a girl of one hundred
and fifteen, how many chocolates must the said girl eat before she is
heavy enough to close the lid? Answer--one pound, and here's for a
starter," saying which pretty, plump Bess rummaged in a pile of her
belongings until she found what she was after. Then, sinking down in a
heap of silk petticoats she began munching bonbons with a contented
air.
"Bess Robinson!" gasped Cora. "You're never going to do that; are
you?"
"Do what?" came with an innocent air.
"Sit there and eat chocolates until you're heavy enough to close down
the lid of your trunk."
"I might as well. I can't check it open that way, and I can't close it
at my present weight. I need everything I've squeezed into it; and so
what else can I do?"
"If we could only get someone to help us," said Marita, innocently,
seeming to take Bess literally. "One of the boys----"
She was interrupted by the laughter of the others, for Marita was a
newcomer in Chelton, and though Cora and her chums had taken her up,
attracted by her nice ways, Marita did not yet appreciate her new
friends.
"Don't mind what Bess says, my dear," spoke Cora, as she saw that
Marita was a little hurt at the laughter. "As for the boys, please
don't suggest such a thing. If they came in now, we'd never get
through packing. I hope----"
"All hope abandon, ye who enter here!" declaimed a voice in the
doorway, and the faces of two young men peered in.
"Too late!" exclaimed Cora, as she saw her brother Jack and his chum,
Walter Pennington. "The boys are here! Any more of you, Jack?" she
asked, as she crowded some feminine finery out of sight behind her
back.
"No. Why?"
"Because I'm going to give general orders for you to depart at once,
and I want to include everyone. Begone!"
"Heartless one!" murmured Walter, sliding into the room under Jack's
arm. "Just when we came to help you, too!"
"Here!" called Bess, from her position, Turkish fashion, amid a
billowy pile of garments, "Help me up first, Wallie, my dear, and then
sit on my trunk."
"Why, is that the throne seat?" he asked, as he extended his hand, and
pretended to find it extremely difficult to lift Bess to her feet.
"No, but the lid needs closing, and I can't do it. Sit on it, that's a
good fellow," and she extended to him a chocolate from the tips of her
fingers, which fingers Walter pretended to bite.
"Now you really must go," said Cora, seriously, when Walter had
managed to close the trunk. "Come, Jack, we have to get through by
five o'clock," and she glanced at her brother, who was in earnest
conversation with Marita in her corner.
Jack paid no attention to his sister, and Walter was somewhat
surprised to see Bess, after looking with satisfaction at the trunk he
had closed for her, open it again.
"Well, I like that!" he exclaimed, with pretended indignation, "after
me nearly breaking my back to close that lid----"
"I just wanted the things compressed, Walter dear," said Bess,
sweetly. "I've got a lot more to put in, and I couldn't squeeze in
another piece until they had been crowded down a bit. Now run along,
little boy."
"Come on, Jack!" called Walter, as he turned to go. "We have been
insulted!"
"They can't insult me," murmured Jack, never turning to look at his
chum. "Don't be so thin-skinned, Wal. I'm having a good time."
Cora's girl chums looked at her.
"Jack, you must go!" she insisted. "Please do. I should think you boys
would have lots to do to get ready, too."
"All done, Sis," murmured Jack. "We always travel in light marching
order, and sleep on our arms," and he bent closer to the blushing
Marita.
Cora bit her lip. Really she was provoked at Jack this time. She and
her chums were in the midst of packing for their annual Summer trip,
and to be interrupted this way, at the last critical moment, was
provoking.
"Jack!" she began. "I shall tell mother----"
"What's he been doing now?" asked a new voice, and with a gesture of
despair Cora turned to see another young man in the doorway.
"Come on in, Ed," called Jack. "Didn't know you were in town. You're
just in time to assist."
"What's it all about?" asked the newcomer. "Are you going or coming?"
he inquired, as he looked at the partially-filled suitcases and
trunks.
"Both," answered Walter. "You're coming and they're going."
"Good!" was the comment. "Hello, Cora--Bess--Belle----" He paused as
he nodded to each of the girls, and looked questioningly at Marita in
the corner with Jack.
"Oh, excuse me," murmured Cora. "Miss Osborne, let me present to you
Mr. Edward Foster--just plain Ed, mostly."
"The plainer the better," observed the newcomer, as he bowed to
Marita. "But what's it all about, Jack?--No, there's no use asking
him," he murmured as he noted Cora's brother resuming his interrupted
conversation with the little girl. "Will someone please enlighten me?"
"It's our annual flitting," sighed Cora. "And really half the pleasure
is taken away with this packing. Well, as long as you boys are here
you might as well make yourselves useful, as well as ornamental."
"Delighted!" cried Walter, looking about. "Where shall I put this?"
and he caught up a box from the floor.
"Be careful!" cried Belle. "You'll spill it!"
"Candy?" he asked questioningly, as he rattled the contents.
"My manicure set, and you'll have it all upset. Give it here!" went on
the owner, and Walter surrendered it.
"No, but seriously, what's it all about?" he asked. "I've just come
home."
"We girls have taken a bungalow at Crystal Bay," explained Cora.
"We're due there to-morrow, leaving on the early morning train. The
boys, that is, Jack and Walter, are to have a tent near us, and
they're supposed to go with us in the morning. But unless they're
further along with their packing than we are----"
Cora shrugged her pretty shoulders.
"Don't worry, Sis, we are!" Jack threw at her, without turning his
head.
"Camping at Crystal Bay--that sounds good," murmured Ed, who liked
life in the open.
"Can't you come along, old man?" asked Walter. "We've got plenty of
room, and we were counting on you later, when you got back from your
trip. Now, as long as you're here, can't you come with us?"
"I don't know but what I could. Yes, I will. I haven't anything on.
I'll go home and pack up right away. You leave in the morning? I guess
I can make it."
"Well, when you go, please take them with you," and Cora indicated her
brother and Walter. "Then we'll be able to go on with our packing.
Really, Jack," and she spoke most seriously this time, "you must go!"
"All right, Sis!" he agreed. "Don't forget," he added, to Marita, as
he rose.
"What nonsense has he been telling you now?" asked Belle with a laugh.
"Don't believe him, Marita."
"Don't tell!" cautioned Jack. "It's a secret!"
Somehow the boys were gotten out of the room, and somehow the girls
managed to get through with their packing in time for the expressman.
From the Kimball home driveway the expressman drove with the baggage,
and soon the trunks were rattling down the main street of Chelton,
that pretty New England town, nestling in a bend of the Chelton River.
"Well, that's over, thank goodness!" sighed Cora, as she saw the
baggage safely off. "Now to get ourselves ready for morning. You girls
will take supper with me."
"Oh, that's too much," protested Belle.
"No, really it isn't. I've told mamma, and she is counting on you. But
I'm too excited to eat much."
"So am I," chorused the others.
"And I'm so anxious to see our new motor boat!" added Bess, for the
girls had purchased one that had been sent on ahead to Crystal Bay.
"I do hope Ed can go," murmured Belle. "He's such good company."
"Yes, I like him, too," confessed Marita, with a blush, at which the
others laughed.
The boys came over to the Kimball home that evening, Jack having dined
with Walter Pennington. Ed came also, to say that he could go, and
then the young people talked over plans for Summer fun, until the
chiming of the clock warned the girls, at least, that they must
separate if they were to get up early the next morning.
"Lottie Weaver will meet us at the station," said Cora, referring to
another of the party, who had not assisted at the packing.
"That's good. If we had had her trunk over here, with all our things,
we'd never have gotten the baggage off," said Bess, with a sigh.
"And now, after it's all over," said Cora to her mother that night, "I
think I would not again have all the packing done in one place. I
thought it would save time for the girls to bring their things here,
especially as the Robinsons are so upset with building that addition
to the parlor. But it was a lot of work!"
"Oh, well," said Mrs. Kimball, "you meant it for the best, my dear.
I'm sure you will have a pleasant Summer."
They met at the station the next morning--the girls and boys. Lottie
Weaver was there, in the glory of a new maroon sweater, and Ed Foster
was also on time.
The express for Crystal Bay was late, and as Cora and her motor girl
chums marched up and down the platform, nervously waiting, Cora saw a
girl coming from the waiting room.
"Why, Freda Lewis!" she exclaimed, hurrying up and putting her arms
about her. "What are you doing here? I thought you were going back to
Bar Harbor for the Summer."
"So we were! Oh, Cora! I'm so glad to see you. I had to change cars
here--I got on the wrong train, it seems. I've been traveling all
night."
"You look it, my dear! Oh, if I had only known you were here----"
"I haven't been waiting long. I'm to take the Shore Express."
"That's our train. But, Freda, you don't look at all well--not a bit
as you did at school," for Freda was a chum Cora had made much of a
year or so before, but had not seen of late.
"I'm not well, Cora," said Freda, earnestly.
"What is the trouble?"
"Anxiety, mostly. Oh, Cora, we've had such a dreadful time, mother and
I!"
Her voice trembled pitifully.
"Freda, dear, what is the matter?" asked Cora in sympathetic tones,
for she saw tears in the other's eyes.
"Oh, it's money matters. You know we own--or at least we thought we
did--a large tract of land at Crystal Bay."
"Crystal Bay!" exclaimed Cora, in surprise.
"Yes. It was Grandfather Lewis's homestead. Well, most of our income
has come from that since father's death, and now--Oh, I don't know all
the details, but some land speculators--land sharks, mother calls
them--are disputing our title.
"Mother has just worried herself sick over it, and I'm afraid she is
going into nervous prostration. I've been to see some distant
relatives about the matter, but I can't do anything. I'm so sorry for
dear little mother. If she should break down----"
Poor, worried Freda could not go on. Cora held her close and the
thought came to her that Freda herself was on the verge of a nervous
breakdown. The girl had changed very much from the happy, laughing
chum of a year before.
"Freda, dear, tell me more about it," murmured Cora. "Perhaps I can
help--I have friends--Jack and I----"
"Here comes the train!" interrupted Jack. "Come on, Cora!"
"I must see you again, Freda," said Cora, hastily. "I'll look for you
on the train. I've got to get my party together. Don't forget--I'll
see you again!" and, wondering what was the cause of her friend's
worry, Cora hastened up the platform, toward her companions, while the
train steamed noisily in.