The Motor Girls on Cedar Lake The Hermit of Fern Island

running safely. Three very wet girls were thanking their good fortune that the water was their only damage-an

lle, when she had the cou

ed wrong,"

ut in the frightened girl. "I was si

way," replied Cora. "I tell you we had a close shave, but that makes our first trip all the more interes

Call to that boat over there, and let us

ra. "Why have they gone out without telling

eel as it slipped over the water

ike that! Where did you g

sper to the girls before replying to her brother. "I found my bo

oing to call he

d Cora, "that would go nicely wi

elle. "I should always feel

wo reasons. We bought it from Mr. Peters, and she can walk on the wate

r short," said Cora as now she allowed the boat t

eamer folks?" asked Ed. "Thought

us if your ears had on their long distance,"

tation," said Jack "and they

have come up-the Benny Blakeses. I like a lot of folks around here. It is ap

in Ed. "But say, Cor

e was in a blue bathi

r a canoe. "But I'll w

as a matter of fact,

Have you

asked the gi

it may be true. We think-

hey sold us on this first trip, w

you to take me out the first

oat, and start out without givin

hen you knew the boat had arr

It's a mysterious secret, and it is situated on Far

and we will get back all right. Wish you luck in whatever you are after," and she winked at Bess, who w

ys vee

, without being noticed, I think we will follow them. There must hav

er out on the lake," begge

and I can go out to the island. There was really nothing the matt

the, pretty blond Belle, as she tossed back some of her breeze

ed Bess archly. "Well

then go out. I want

asoline," and after starting the engine, she turned the boat toward the shore.

elle. There are Nettie and Mary an shore-two of the best maids

twin, rather confusedly.

nd those girls have not done a thing

areful, you two girls. A

. It is so much easier to handle than an auto. No gears, differentials or things like that. Good bye, B

two girls headed the craft for the little island a

said Bess, as she put her hand on the whee

glected me," said his sister. "I hope there is nothing rea

gested Bess. "It might be horribly lonely

e to judge of all that," replied Cora.

saw anything like it. Why some of th

since I have seen it I am just dying to explore it. They call it Fern Island, and the store man tells the mos

ecial 'exams.' I am sorry that girl is so ambi

ark some day, if she d

for her-on a flat sto

e up before the others

Hastings than on any

"Now Cora, Paul Hastings is acknowledged to be the most useful boy in all t

as she turned the Petrel toward land. "Well, this is Far Is

ut the shrill yodel known to all of the motor girls and mot

ked Bess. "We can see all this side of the island, but

and the other rocks. If the boys had come ash

a, just see that flock," and she pointed to a d

rdly tell the boys in that throng. Do

like some fleet," replied Bess. "Yes, see there is their club b

a. "But just see that old man in the rowboat towing t

e hire it out here? Why not

d shore. "At any rate if we are to find the boys we had better be at it, for I want to st

boat hook in the strong root of a tree and

enly, realizing that while she had expected the boys to be on t

ever felt so far away

so different from b

out," and Cora laugh

mistaken. The boys do

ck," pleaded Bess. "

ar them. You would think the frogs were tr

eclared Bess. "It sounds like a dead, dark

so quiet here they do not have to wait for nightfall.

ulled at her friend's skirt

he said, "that was no snake. It

"See, all the boats have gone the other way. And if anything happened

as but a few steps back to the boat. Cora loosened th

Ever since those gypsies took you, Cora, I am actually afraid of everyt

are to forget all abo

s, I have forgotten a

ally hear from Helka.

ss

confessed Bess, "for I

ppose the boys

. There! Didn't you hear a strange noise on the island? I decl

in our boat," and Bess breathed a sigh of relief. "I wo

never be satisfied until I find out," declared Cor

into the lake as they reached the camp to be welcomed by Belle. The story o