Chapter XIV: Settling Down

When Cora, leading by the hand dripping Dick Haley, met his father, the keeper of the light, she exclaimed impulsively:

"I'm sure I've seen you somewhere before!"

It was rather a strange greeting under the circumstances, considering that Cora had just helped little Dick from the water. But the lighthouse keeper did not seem to mind it.

"I'm sure I can't remember it, miss," he made answer, "and I'm counted on as having a pretty good memory. However, the loss is all mine, I do assure you. Now what mischief has my fat boy been getting into?"

"It was not his fault, I'm sure," spoke Eline.

"Indeed not," echoed Cora. "Your daughter's boat upset and we went out to help her. There she is!"

Cora pointed to a dripping figure, in a red bathing suit climbing up on a little pier that led to the beacon. Following the disclosure made to Cora, as Rosalie swam beside the boat, they had reached the shore. Mr. Haley had been off getting some supplies for the lighthouse and so had not witnessed the accident. The first intimation he had of it was when he saw his dripping son being led up by Cora and Eline.

"Upset; eh?" voiced the keeper of the light. "Well, it has happened before, and it'll happen again. I'm glad it was no worse, and I'm very much obliged to you, miss. But I don't ever remember seeing you before--either of you," and he glanced at Eline.

"Oh, I'm sure you never saw _me_!" she laughed "I'm from Chicago."

"Chicago!" he cried, quickly. "Why, I'm from there originally. I used to be a pilot on the lakes. But that's years ago. Me and my sister came from there. But Margaret--well, what's the use of talking of it?" and the worried frown on his face deepened, as he went down to meet his daughter, telling Dick to go up in the living quarters of the light to get on dry clothes.

Cora was sure she had seen the light keeper before, but, puzzle her brain over the matter as she might, she could not recall where it was. And the name Margaret seemed to be impressed on her memory, too. It was quite annoying not to be able to recall matters when you wanted to, she thought.

"But I'll just think no more about it," mused Cora. "Perhaps it will come to me when I least expect it."

The lighthouse maid and her father met, and in a few words she told of the accident. He sent a man to tow in the overturned boat.

"But you are wet, too!" he exclaimed to Cora, as he noted her damp skirts and soaked shoes.

"Oh, that's nothing!" said she. "I pushed off the boat. I don't know whose it is, by the way."

"It belongs to Hank Belton," said the keeper. "He won't mind you using it. Do you live around here?"

Cora told how they were coming to the bungalows for the summer.

"Ah, then I'll see you again, miss," spoke Mr. Haley. "I can't properly thank you now--I'm that flustered. This has upset me a little, though usually I don't worry about the children and the water, for they look after themselves. But I'm fair bothered about other matters."

"I told her, Daddy," broke in Rosalie. "About Aunt Margaret, you know."

"Did you? Well, I dare say it was all right. I can't see why she did it? I can't see! Going off that way, without notice, and those people to make such unkind insinuations. I can't understand it!"

He walked up and down in front of the little dock. Rosalie looked as though she would enjoy another plunge in the bay. Cora glanced over to where her friends awaited her in a group on the beach. Eline was looking at dripping Dick going up to get on dry garments.

"But there!" exclaimed Mr. Haley, "I mustn't bother you with my troubles. I dare say you have enough of your own. But do come over and see us; won't you?"

"Yes, do!" urged Rosalie.

"We will," said Cora. "But now I must get back to my friends."

"You had best take the boat and row over," said the light keeper. "It's shorter that way. You can leave her just where you found her. Hank won't mind."

"I'll row you over," offered Rosalie.

"No, indeed, thank you, we can do it," spoke Cora. "We are anxious to get settled in our bungalows, so I think we had better go now. We will see you again," and with a smile and a nod, she and Eline went down to the boat, which had been left at the lighthouse float, and got in. A little later they were with their friends.

"Well, Cora, you certainly did something that time!" remarked Jack.

"And you didn't lose any time," added Ed.

"Weren't you frightened?" Belle wanted to know.

"Not a bit--not even I," answered Eline, "and I don't know much about the water."

"Who was she? What happened? How did you get the boy out? Who keeps the light? Tell us all about it!"

Cora held up her hands to ward off the avalanche of questions, and told as much as was necessary. She did not mention having spoken about thinking she had met the keeper of the light before, nor about the insistence of the name Margaret. Nor did it enter into Eline's brief added description of the events of that strenuously-filled half-hour.

"Well, here comes Aunt Susan," remarked Mrs. Fordam. "I think she couldn't wait any longer to learn all about what happened, and I don't blame her. I'll soon turn you girls over to her charge."

"Oh, but you'll stay with us to-night!" exclaimed Cora.

"Yes, and I'll go back home in the morning on the train. Really I have enjoyed this trip very much, and I would like to stay longer, but I can't. Perhaps I may come down during the summer to see you."

"Please do," invited Cora.

Aunt Susan proved worthy of her name, a home-like lady, with an easy manner, that made one feel comfortable at once. She simply "oozed" good things to eat, as Jack said, and Jack ought to know. Some of the young people she knew, having met them at Cora's house. The others were presented to her.

"Well, the bungalows are all ready for you," she went on, after explanations had been made. "I expect you're tired and hungry and----"

"Wet," interrupted Jack, with a look at Cora. "But then you can't make rescues from the briny deep without getting at least damp."

"I should like to change," spoke Cora, glancing at her soaked shoes.

"Then come on," said Aunt Susan. "I guess you boys know where your quarters are," she added. "There is plenty to eat----"

"Hurray!" cried Jack, swinging his hat, and clapping Walter on the shoulder.

"Perhaps you'll all have supper together," suggested Mrs. Chester.

"If the girls let us," added Ed.

"Oh, I guess we will," assented Cora. "That is, if you get my car up. I didn't think, when I ran it down, that the sand was so deep."

"We'll look after it--don't worry, Sis," said Jack.

While the girls and the two ladies went on to the larger bungalow, the boys managed, not without some work, to get Cora's auto up to the road again. Then it was run along, with the others, to the big bungalow, where there was a shed that would serve as shelter for the machines.

The boys carried in the girls' trunks and suit cases, and transported their own to their quarters. Then began a general "primping" time, as the supper hour approached.

"Oh, girls, isn't this just delightful?" exclaimed Cora, as she and the others entered what was to be their home for the summer.

"That window seat is a dear!" declared Belle, as she proceeded to "drape" herself in it.

"And see the porch hammocks," called Bess, "slumping" into one.

"What a fine view of the bay we can get from here," added Eline, as she stood in the bow window, a most graceful figure. Cora, in spite of her damp shoes, had made a hurried trip through the bungalow to arrange, tentatively at least, as hostess, the different sleeping apartments.

"Oh, it's just the dearest place!" exclaimed Eline. "I know we will simply love it here."

"Now just put off your things, get comfortable, wash and comb if you like, and then the boys will be over to supper," said Mrs. Chester, when the girls had made a tour of the place.

"Gracious! Here they come now!" cried Belle, as she saw Jack and his friends tramping over the space that separated the two bungalows.

The girls fled precipitately, for they had begun to lay aside their collars and loosen their hair. Then the two ladies took charge of matters, in the kitchen at least. The boys were bidden to remain out on the piazzas until invited in, and they sprawled in various attitudes in chairs or hammocks.

Then the girls came down; there was noticed throughout the bungalow various savory odors, at which the boys grinned in delight. There was the clatter of plates, and the jingle of silver--more expansive smiles. There were looks of pleased anticipation. Then came the clanging of a bell.

"Supper!" announced Mrs. Chester, appearing in the door wearing a huge apron.

"That's us!" cried Jack.

"Oh, I've just thought of it!" exclaimed Cora in a low voice to Eline, as she walked beside her to the dining room.

"Thought of what?"

"The name 'Margaret!'"