"Oh, that was a mere accident. After I ran away I went from place to place, fearing my guardian might trace me, for I am sure his object was to get all my property into his hands. I heard of this sailing voyage, and I put my name down in the pa.s.senger list. I thought a sea trip would do me good, for I love the water. Then came the terrible storm--and they said the ship was sinking. Some of the sailors made a raft, but did not launch it.
"I was afraid to go in the boats, and more afraid of being pulled in on the rope. So I got a little food together, took my suitcase, and tied myself to the raft. I knew it would float, and I hoped to be picked up.
Then the storm grew worse. The vessel was all in confusion, for the rescue was going on. No one noticed me. Then the ship went to pieces, and I lost my senses. The raft must have launched itself, and I floated on it.
That is all I know until I found myself here. Oh, I can never thank you enough for all you did!"
"It was nothing," said Cora. "If we could only find Mrs. Raymond now we could complete the story; and she will be so glad to know that you can clear her name."
"Oh, but I shudder when I think I have to meet my guardian to do it."
"You will not have to," promised Cora. "I will see to that, Nancy dear!"
"You are too good!"
"Nonsense. Anyone would be good to you after all you have suffered. Now rest, dearie, and I will tell the others all about you."
"They won"t blame me; will they?"
"Indeed not! They are all so interested in you, even the boys."
"Have you boys here?"
"Yes, my brother and his chums. I will tell you about them later. You will like them, I think."
"I am sure I shall. Oh, but it is such a relief to tell this to you!"
"I am glad it was, my dear. Now rest. I am sure you must be tired. The doctor will be here this evening."
CHAPTER XXVII
A BOLD ATTEMPT
"Isn"t it romantic?"
"And to think of all that poor girl suffered!"
"I"d like to get hold of that miserable guardian of hers."
"She has pluck, all right, to get out and hustle for herself."
"Isn"t she pretty!"
"I do hope she gets all over her exposure."
"Oh, yes, she is coming on finely."
Rather disjointed talk, I am afraid, but that is exactly the way it went on--the motor girls and the boys discussing the story of Nancy Ford.
It was evening, and the boys had called to see the girls in the bungalow of the latter. Nancy had been visited by the doctor, who had reported her much improved. The telling of her story seemed to have taken an anxiety off her mind, and with food and medicine she was rapidly regaining her healthy young strength.
There had been rather a dramatic scene when Jack and Ed were first allowed to see Nancy. They both started back, and Jack exclaimed:
"It"s the girl!"
"And you are those nice boys--how odd," Nancy had said.
"Please explain," begged Cora.
"You know," said Jack. "The night Ed and I got lost. It was Nancy we met and gave a ride in my auto."
"I suspected it all the while," said Cora, with a smile. "But I said nothing."
"It was a mere accident," explained Nancy. "I was just on one of the little trips I took after I ran away from the office, and I miscalculated my distance. It was awfully nice of your brother to help me."
"Oh, Jack is always nice," said Cora, smiling.
"That means you buy the candy, old man," spoke Ed, with a laugh.
"Well," drawled Jack, as he stretched out lazily on a sofa, later on, "now the only thing left to do is to find that Mrs. Raymond, and everything will be cleared up."
"That, and putting that mean Mr. Cross in--in jail!" said Bess, with a vehement gesture.
"Would you be so cruel?" asked Walter.
"What else can you do with him?" demanded Belle. "He has certainly been mean enough to warrant being sent to prison."
""In a prison cell I sit!"" chanted Ed.
"Stop!" commanded Cora. "Nancy may be sleeping, and the doctor said it was very important for her to sleep."
"Then we"d better clear out of here," was Norton"s opinion. "She"ll never get any rest while this crowd holds forth. Come on, Eline, I"ll take you to a moving picture show."
"Not after what has happened to-day," declared Mrs. Chester. "You young people have had your own way all day, and now I want you to quiet down.
Boys, you will have to go home soon. Girls, it"s almost time you were in bed."
"Aunt Susan is a.s.serting herself," remarked Jack, _sotto voce_. "But don"t count on me, Aunt Susan. I am immune."
"You"ll go with the rest," she told him.
They sat about for some time longer, discussing the strange tale related by Nancy. Then came good-nights.
Cora went to see Mr. Haley, the light keeper, next day. She told him what Nancy had related.
"Lobsters and crawfish!" he exclaimed, clapping together his brown hands.
"Begging your pardon, of course, for using that sort of language, miss, but my feelings sure did get the best of me. And so this Nancy Ford can clear my sister"s name?"