So Paul and Hazel said good-night, and the others, entering the autos, turned into the ocean boulevard and started toward Clover Cottage. "We'll drive up, and put the machines away later," suggested Jack, when they were near their home quarters. "We really have been quite a long time away." They found Mrs. Robinson and Miss Steel waiting on the porch. "Why, mamma has not retired yet," exclaimed Bess. "I wonder at her sitting out of doors in the damp." But the reason of this was soon made plain. Mrs. Robinson was too frightened to go indoors! "Oh, we have had such a dreadful time," she sobbed. "I cannot see how you could have gone and left us in this lonely place all this while." Bess instantly had her arms around the trembling little woman. Mrs. Robinson had always been "babied" by the girls, and that she was very nervous her whole family knew too well. "Mother dear," began Bess, "we did not think it too late. You said we might stay until--after nine----" "But, daughter! How did I know we were to be frightened to death by--burglars!" "Burglars!" chorused the boys. "Yes," put in Miss Steel, "we distinctly heard them in the dining room, and when I had the courage to attempt to go in they--blew out the lamp!" "Mercy!" exclaimed Belle, recoiling from the window she had been leaning against. "It might have been--a draft of wind," suggested Walter. "But a draft could not knock over a chair," Miss Steel told him, somewhat indignantly. "We would have gone over to the hotel if we could have left any word for you, but, you see, we could not go inside, even to write a note." A thought flashed through Cora's mind. The mention of "note" had inspired it. She drew Bess and Belle aside. "I wouldn't wonder if these runaway girls came back," she whispered. "We must go inside and see if they--left a note." "Go inside!" repeated Belle. "I guess not." "Come on, boys! Let's investigate," said Walter to the others, opening the hall door and striking a match as he did so. He lighted the hanging lamp in the little hall, while the women, with Bess and Belle, actually left the porch and went out on the sidewalk to be at a safe distance. Cora followed the boys. "Who's here?" asked Jack as he entered the dining room. "Light up!" commanded Ed. "We might step on somebody's fingers." The dining-room light was soon burning. Yes, a chair had been overturned, and another! "The flower vase is broken!" exclaimed Cora, seeing the wreck in the centre of the table. "And I gathered those posies!" said Ed. "Just my luck!" "Come right along, gentlemen," invited Walter to the invisible intruders. "Come along! This way to the refrigerator!" "Be careful, Walter," cautioned Cora, for although she had undertaken to follow the boys she had not counted on seeing things thus upset. "There are candles in the pantry," suggested Ed. "I know, because I put them there, after I found the oil can in the cellar."