The Motor Girls on the Coast Part 23

"Mrs.--Mrs.----" Eline paused.

"Mrs. Margaret Raymond," supplied Cora.

"Yes, that was it. What of her?"

"Well, the light keeper has a sister who is missing. Her name is Margaret, too. She is the aunt of the girl in the red bathing suit."

"Does anything follow from that?"

"Suppose I told you that as soon as I saw Mr. Haley, the keeper of the light, I was sure I had seen his face before?"

"Ah!" Eline was quick to grasp at a suggestion.

"Of course I have never seen him before," went on Cora. "But his sister must bear some resemblance to him; don't you think, Eline?"

"I should say so--yes."

"Then take the name Margaret--the fact that his sister is named that--also that the strange woman who ran away from the office, and whom I found in our garage, was named the same--the fact that Mr. Haley's sister is strangely missing, and under some sort of a cloud--which would also cover Mrs. Raymond--and you see the coincidences; don't you?"

"Indeed I do!" declared Eline. "Oh, Cora, if it should turn out that they are the same person!"

"It would be remarkable. But even if it were so we could not help him.

We could give him no clue as to his sister's whereabouts now."

"Well, we must find out what his sister's last name is. He has invited us over there, and I think I can speak to him on the subject. It is worth trying, anyhow. Suppose we go and join the others."

"Shall you tell them?" asked Eline.

"Not yet."

They found the rest of the party down on the sh.o.r.e of the cove. The moon was up and the picture presented was an attractive one. Two points, jutting out into the ocean, came near enough together to make a sort of strait that led into the bay.

Opening out of the big bay was a smaller cove--called Sandy--from the fine extent of bathing beach it afforded. It was just back of this beach that several cottages had been put up, also the two bungalows occupied by our friends.

The point on which the lighthouse was built was somewhat in the shape of a shoe, and on the farthermost extremity were black rocks, extending, as I have said, out in a dangerous reef from which the flashing light warned vessels. The point was built up with fishermen's cottages, or modest houses, and around the bay was located the village of Sandy Point, a small settlement, but one that was gradually growing as the summer colonists found out its beauty.

"I hope the _Petrel_ is here, all right," remarked Jack, when they had talked of many other matters.

"We'll have to see the first thing in the morning," declared Ed.

"Yes, I am anxious to get her afloat," spoke Cora. "The water is lovely around here."

"Well, you ought to know," came from Walter, "you were out on it to-day."

"We'll have some fun bathing," said Norton. "You say that lighthouse girl has won swimming prizes, Cora?"

"Yes."

"Maybe we can get up some races," came from Bess. "Do you swim, Eline?"

"Some. That's what everyone says, I believe."

They talked and strolled, and strolled and talked, until the lateness of the hour sent them to their bungalows.

There was some little excitement about getting settled for the night, for it developed that one of the trunks containing some garments of the girls had not arrived. But they "doubled up," and were fairly comfortable. As for the boys, the sounds of merriment came from their quarters even at a late hour.

"I'm glad I don't have to chaperone them," remarked Aunt Susan.

Morning came, as it generally does. Jack and his chums got their own breakfast--in a more or less haphazard fashion--and then set off to the railroad depot to see about the motor boat.

It was safe in the freight office, and was eagerly inspected by the boys.

For, while Cora and her motor girl chums really owned the dainty little craft, the young men felt that they had almost a proprietary interest in it.

"How are we going to get it over to the Cove?" asked Ed.

"On a truck, of course," replied Jack. "Then we'll knock off the cradle----"

"Rocked in the cradle of the deep!" burst out Walter.

"Where's your permit to sing?" demanded Jack. "Stop it. Your swan song will come in handy when we launch the _Pet_."

"Well, I guess this part of the work is strictly up to us," remarked Norton, as he surveyed the boat. "And the sooner we get her into the water the sooner we can have a ride."

"Right--oh!" exclaimed Jack. "I'll ask the freight agent about a truck."

That official told the boys where they could hire one, a certain man at the Cove making a specialty of moving boats.

A little later the boys were perched on a big wagon, containing the boat, and moving toward a boat-repair dock whence most of the launchings were made.

The girls had word of the little ceremony that was to occur, and they gathered at the place while the boys, with the help of one or two men, arranged to slide the un-cradled boat into the water.

All went well until toward the end. Then the boat seemed to stick on the rollers.

"Shove her hard!" cried Jack. "You fellows aren't putting half enough beef into your shoves."

"All together now, boys!" cried Walter. "Here she goes!"

Just how it happened no one knew, but the _Pet_ suddenly shot down the ways, sliding over the rollers. Jack, who had hold of her amidships, kept his grip, and, as if not wanting to part company from the youth, or as if objecting to taking the plunge alone, the motor boat shot into deep water, carrying Jack with her. He clung to the gunwhale and shouted--not in alarm, for he could swim, but in startled surprise.

"Hold her, Jack, hold her!" shouted Walter. "Or she'll smash into that other boat," for the _Pet_, under the momentum of the slide, was going stern foremost straight toward an anch.o.r.ed sloop.

CHAPTER XVI

SUSPICIONS STRENGTHENED