e able assistance of Belle and Bess, while Hazel did much toward discovering things that she

searched the lake from shore to shore, offered rewards and had gone

o said nothing of the ring that was in the purse when it left

and although Belle and Hazel had planned a trip to t

who sat on the end string piece, his feet aiming at the water and

, suddenly turning her boat toward the wh

ere is that shanty y

's pl

in't goin' there?" aske

. "Can't I take care of

can be," insisted Ben. "I tell you miss,

go," ur

ve all let Jim Peters bully you. I am going

me important business on the island. When I asked him about it he said there was a fellow who had

ters. But I'm going to his shack first, even if he is not at home

ust as sassy as Jim, when he's around the shack.

ed Cora. "I hadn't he

fer a cent. I wouldn't be surprised if his real nam

"And he's yo

not be very young, fer I guess Jim has lost track of t

re is it? I must be

he point, and when you come to a place where the willows dip into the lake, get

ike exploring this morning, and your directions sound interesting. I will come b

faltered Bess. "Cora, are you n

ave as much right to follow that track as has Jim Pe

plete surprise," ventured Bess, at

y nice would chum in with Jim Peters? Isn't there so

"But it all applies to the same sort of birds

we are," said Cora.

We are to turn

at curved around and made its path

d Bess, as she saw the great green gi

But this is an ideal spot for hiding. One cou

marked Bess. "An echo alwa

ed Cora lightly. "I rather fancy listening t

ng under that tree!"

to direct us. I shouldn't be surprised if he were

e looked up from some papers he held in his hands. Cora could see that he was very dark, and had that almost uncomfortable manner of affecting extre

ers," said Cora, stepping ashore towar

man spoke the foreign suspicion was co

termined not to be thrown off the track. "He li

You are mistaken. No

tic, looking abou

r. Jones?" blu

himself the

ther. But allow me to tie your boat. Then I will take pleasure in s

d it," said Cora. "But I woul

n't go too far. I am afraid of t

" Cora asked the stranger. "This

drawing,"

icture?" asked Cora. "I

ust show you something when I have what wil

, "I must look for a cabin, or something like i

show you the island," and he bowed again. "Such wild swamp flowers I h

d Jones "hung out" with Jim Peters, Cora instantly guessed that this was the man, and that he was determined to keep her away from the shack. The

time I will come to see your everglade. Come, Bess, I see a path this way,

of your name?" the man called a

Bess. "Pretend yo

lled to Bess, covering the man's question

ed Bess, in a strained voice. "I c

is pocket and upon the smallest finger his eyes rested. He sneered as

f a strange force threw its invisible yet unbreak