The Corner House Girls on a Houseboat

d Mr. Howbridge ran from the motor compartment in the lower hold of the boat. Mrs. MacCall raised her hands and began to murmur in her broadest Scotch so that no one knew wha

on up! C

have happened!

all right, thank go

saw Dot and Tess pointing down the towpath. Hank Dayton was, indeed, having trouble with the mules. And Te

Agnes, as the flying heels b

n was he ran down the stairs, out to the lower forward deck of the craft, and leaped acro

those on the Bluebird could

answer. "She hasn't had much work to do lately, and she'

. After she had kicked up her heels a few more times, just to show her contempt for the authority of the whiffle-tree and the traces,

asked Ruth, as Neale lea

Arabella have her kick out. She's all right now. Isn't this

glorious!" and Ag

rts of Milton by this time, and were approaching the open country through which the canal meandered before joining the riv

to let the tow-rope sink into the canal, so the other boat might pass over it. The mules

spend a vacation that ever could be th

all like it,

e perfect," said the olde

nterrupted her guardian. "Please don'

buy more. But mother's wedding ring can never be replaced nor, I fear, found. I

in just then. "Did you say Klondikers?" and it was

ere two men who the day before looked at the Stetson flat

f he knew them. I don't mean the robbers," he added quickly. "I mean the

rdly yet had a chance to tell you, Neale,

ut father?" asked

king for your father's last known address. But it may b

asked

here the circus will show in the next month. And one

again. He may know something of my father. I wonder if they have any new an

"But I thought you'd be glad to know

going to be better than I thought. N

take account of stock and see if we need anything. If we do, we ought to stop and get it at one of the places through which we pass, because we may

all the hairpins we nee

Ruth. "At least Mrs. Mac is busy in the k

were sitting down to a most delightful meal. Dot and Tess could hardly be induced to come down off

ked Dot, as she finished and took her "Alice-doll

ts what he needs, and Hank, as you call hi

call him Hank?" asked Te

nal calls him that. He's been a driver for years, before h

table. "Perhaps I ought to question Hank about the two Klondikers who inquired about t

, filling the r?le of housekeeper, thought she

yer. "The mules will be tethered on the towpath. It is warm now, and

taste of Ruth, and Mrs. MacCall was beginning to put her mind on the preparation of supper when Dot, who had com

ed the little girl.

who was writing a letter

toreroom, which was at the stern of the

h. "Well, that's very possible. M

ody that belongs to us. It's somebody else! He's in the

" exclaimed Agnes, who was just passing

k's mules hee-hawing," said Ru

ze!" declared Dot

admit the tr

lasping her sister's hand, she led he

Mr. Howbridge, comi

heard some unusual n

goat and it smells like a goat, too. Smell it!" she cried, vigorously sniffing

eze, followed by the unmistakable bleating of a goat,