sounds all right, but they may have the papers after all. I'm going to write to-day."
"I would," advised Aunt Kate." "It may amount to nothing, but it can do no harm to let your father know. And I think it wise not to let these young men know that you were in that runaway. If they really were not careless, as it seemed at first, you can tell them later, when you see how the investigation by Mr. Ford turns put."
"That will be best," spoke Betty. "Oh, see, it is a boat on fire!"
They had reached a place where they could see a small motor boat, not far from shore, wrapped in a pall of black smoke, through which could be observed flickering flames.
"There—he's jumped!" cried Mollie, as a figure leaped from the burning craft. "He's safe, anyhow."
"There go Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Stone in their boat!" exclaimed Grace, as the slender racing craft shot out from shore.
Whatever may have been the faults of the young men as motorists, they knew how to act promptly in this case. As they passed the man who had leaped from the burning boat they tossed him a life preserver.
Then, nearing the burning boat, they halted
