Ed and Jack held their candles high above their heads as they tiptoed into the dining room. A bit of paper fluttered from the hanging lamp! "More directions on 'How to Use This Cottage!'" roared Jack. "There, didn't I tell you! This is the second note left this way. Must have come by a homing-pigeon. Well, I'd just as soon have a dove as a bouquet of violets." CHAPTER XXI BOYS AND GIRLS A half hour later the entire party at Clover Cottage sat in the cozy dining room, engaged in earnest consultation. The frightened Mrs. Robinson, and the timid Miss Steel, had finally consented to come indoors, after the situation had been described, punctuated and emphasized to them, although they really did want to put up at the hotel in the Circle. The subject under discussion was the note that was found dangling from the hanging lamp. It was from Nellie Catron, and was not addressed to any one in particular. Cora had read it, and was now re-reading it. "If you don't stop hounding us," she read, "we will surely drown ourselves. We could get along if you would leave us alone, but we think that balky-horse-trick played on us the other night is about the limit." Cora stopped. "Now," she said, "it is perfectly plain that a girl never wrote that note. In the first place, it is not a girl's writing, and in the next, no girl would speak that way about putting a match under her nose!" In spite of the seriousness of the matter every one was forced to laugh at the remark. Certainly it did seem like the old-fashioned trick used to start a balky horse--light a match under his nose. "Then who do you suppose did write it, if not one of the girls?" asked Bess. "Why, perhaps the driver of the automobile," replied Cora. "I would not bother myself about those two foolish girls, longer," said Mrs. Robinson. She was quite exhausted from the evening's experience, and anxious to have her cottage put in its normal condition. "Mother, dear," interceded Belle, "you are nervous and worried. Just let me take you upstairs, and the others can settle it all to suit themselves." This offer was promptly accepted, and presently the young folks were left to decide whether or not they would further endeavor to find the runaways. "It seems to me," said Cora, "that they need our help now, more than ever. They may have gotten in with some unscrupulous persons--and who can tell what may happen?" "Certainly working girls do not drive autos," put in Ed, "and I just suspicion that the manager of that show wants to keep the girls for the song business. They can sing a little, and talent is scarce just now. That is, if they really were in the show." "Right!" exclaimed Walter. "He would have to look around considerable to get girls to sing now, for all the schools are not closed, and the season of fun has not really begun yet. Later, I suppose there will be a regular drift this way."