The reporter arose to go. The detective followed his example. "We are greatly obliged," said the newspaper man. "I am sure this will make a fine story." Down the steps of the cottage went the tall detective and the reporter. "Don't poke fun at the poor girls," begged Cora of the newspaper man, in a whisper. "They have suffered enough." "Indeed, and I intend to show up the woman responsible for them running away, rather than to make a spread about the poor things," the reporter assured her. "Never fear, leave it to me," and with a pleasant smile he departed. Bess ran upstairs, where her mother was resting. So far, Mrs. Robinson had heard nothing of the ending of the quest after the runaways. Bess quickly told her the whole story, and broached her plan of having Nellie and Rose do the housework at the cottage. "Indeed, my dear, they shall do nothing of the sort," instantly decided Mrs. Robinson. "They shall learn some useful trade. I will see to it myself." She felt rather flattered, than otherwise, that the fate of the orphan girls rested, somewhat, with her; and she resolved to make the most of her opportunity. The housework at Clover, she said, could be done by any or all of the motor girls. Rose and Nellie gladly acquiesced in the plan, and thus their shadows were turned to sunshine. Arrangements were made for their board at a cottage where the crippled woman and her daughter, who had been rescued from the surf, had spent a few days. The invalid, after paying a formal call on Mrs. Robinson, to thank the young people for what they had done, went back to her home. "Well, all's well that ends the way it ought to," spoke Jack Kimball that night, as they were all gathered on the Clover porch. "But those runaways certainly gave us a chase." "And to think how strangely it began, and how it unfolded bit by bit," remarked Cora. "It's all to the----" began Bess. "Bess!" exclaimed Belle, and Bess subsided, but muttered something under her breath that made Ed and Walter laugh. "Well, we certainly have had exciting times at Lookout Beach," spoke Ed, after a pause. "May there be more of them." "Not quite so exciting, please," pleaded Cora. But the Motor Girls were destined to have further adventures, as will be told of in the next book of this series, to be called "The Motor Girls Through New England, Or, Held by the Gypsies." In that volume we shall learn all about a delightful tour and of a happening to Cora Kimball that was far out of the ordinary. "Oh, I almost forgot!" suddenly exclaimed Jack, leaping to his feet, and striking an attitude. "Forgot what?" demanded Bess. "The dance we are going to give at our bungalow night after to-morrow. It will be great! Mrs. Robinson, will you come and bring the girls?" "Of course," assented the twins' mother. "Then hurrah for the first dance of the bungaloafers!" cried Ed and Walter. "Long may it last, we will live in the future, and forget all the past."