The two sisters were on an isolated patch of the beach and had been trying to make their way to the railroad station. In taking this sandy walk they had avoided the regular traffic path, but the heavy traveling had been too much for the younger one, who was plainly beginning to feel, and show, the signs of her perilous adventure since the day when she ran away from the strawberry patch of Squaton. It was late in the afternoon, almost dusk, but the happy shouts of the excursionists could be heard for a mile along the beach. Here and there groups of boys who had left the crowds were to be seen digging holes in the sand, and capering about with all their energy, to have their very best fun in that one last hour allowed before the big boat would sail away, and carry them off home again. "There come some boys," said Rose. "Try to stand up, they will be sure to stop and gawk at us." Nellie sat up, but made no effort to stand. Presently the three boys came romping along. As Rose had guessed, they did stop and look at the girls; stared at them not rudely but in wonderment, for Nellie and Rose were too far away from merrymakers to be mistaken for members of the excursion party. "Oh!" exclaimed Nellie, catching sight of one of the boys. "Well, I never!" gasped the boy at the same moment. "If there ain't Nellie and Rose!" "Oh, Andy!" cried Nellie, "do come and talk to us. We are not afraid to trust you. Don't say who we are--don't mention our names!" The little fellow did not need to be cautioned. Neither did he wait for the invitation to talk to the lonely girls. "Wherever have you been?" he asked. "Have you heard the news?" "We haven't heard any _good_ news," replied Rose sadly. "Then I've got some fer you," said the lad, shaking his manly little head. "The diamonds is found and I got the boodle!" "Oh!" gasped Nellie. "Found! Then we--won't have to hide any more. Where did you find them?" The whistle of the excursion boat checked the boy's eager talk. "Come on!" shouted the other lads to Andy. "If you don't hustle, you'll get left!" "Well, then I _will_ get left," declared Andy. "I'm going to stay right here with these girls--they're friends of mine." "Oh, no, Andy, don't," begged Rose. "Run along and catch the boat. We wouldn't know what to do with you, if you got left. Besides your mother would be scared to death. She would think you were drowned." Andy hesitated. "Do go," put in Nellie, jumping up and throwing her arms about the boy. "I could just hug you to death, you have made us so happy. And you--look--just fine!" "Run!" shouted the boys, as the whistle blew. "That's the last call!" "Run!" called Rose. "Yes, do run!" pleaded Nellie. Turning to give the girls a look so full of meaning that even Andy's bright eyes seemed overtaxed with the responsibility, the boy did run as fast as his legs could carry him.