"I guess that's right," laughed Fred, "but we fell into the lake and were picked up by a boat that did not stop until it got to Sault Ste. Marie." "Where did you want it to stop?" inquired the woman. "Mackinac Island." "Where were you working there?" she inquired. "Working?" laughed Fred. "We weren't working at all. We were staying at one of the hotels." For a moment the woman glanced quickly at the young spokesman and then shaking her head began to laugh. "What are you laughing at?" demanded Fred irritated by her manner. "I guess you had the parlor suit," said the woman still laughing at the boys before her. "You look as if you belong to John Jacob Astor's family. It may be that you look better than he did when he used to come there, but I guess you wouldn't pass for much more." For the first time the boys were aware that the strange garb in which they were clad certainly did not imply that they had been guests at any prominent summer hotel. Both suits were ill-fitting and worn, and if either had been plunged in soap and water within a year there was nothing in the garments to imply such action. For a moment Fred was nonplussed and then hastily thrusting his hand into his pocket he drew forth his watch. "How will that do?" he said as he placed the gold watch on the desk. It was a beautiful little time-piece, a present he had received on his sixteenth birthday from his father. "You'll take that as security, I guess," he said lightly, "and when we get back to Mackinac Island we'll send you the money or come with it and get the watch." Picking up the time-piece the woman gazed curiously at it and then again looking sharply at the boys she said, "Where did you get that?" "It was a present," said Fred. "Who gave it to you?" "My father." "Does he live on Fifth Avenue, New York?" "He does not," said Fred slowly. "Oh, I thought maybe he did," sniffed the woman. "That's the kind of watches they have in New York City. It isn't the kind that most of the roustabouts carry on the lakes." "But I'm not a roustabout," said Fred. "You don't need to say what you are," said the woman. "All I can say is that I shan't take that watch. I don't want the police in here." "Police!" exclaimed Fred. "What do you mean? What would the police come for?" "For one thing they would come for the watch and another thing they would want would be the fellow that took it." "Did you think I stole that watch?" demanded Fred. "I'm not saying nothing," said the woman. "All I say is that if any boys on the lake are seen carrying watches like that it is most generally known how they got them. My advice to you is to stick that watch in your pocket again and don't let anybody see it while you're in Sault Ste. Marie." "You needn't trouble yourself any more," said Fred as he took the watch and thrust it again into his pocket. Then turning to John he said, "Come on, Jack, we won't stay here another minute."