"We could walk all around the United States if we went on the top of Canada," said Ward, screwing up his eyes as though he were looking at a map a long way off. "Say, that would be fun, wouldn't it?"
"Don't let's start in our bathing suits," Margy cautioned, with something of her father's teasing seriousness.
Polly had stopped to examine a shell.
"Let's pick up all the prettiest shells we see," she suggested. "We can save them and then, just before we go home, select six perfect ones for our clubroom."
"What do we want shells for?" Jess asked.
"Oh, to remind us of Sunrise Beach," said Polly.
"You can use clam shells for dishes," Artie now announced. "I read it in a book. You wash 'em and bake things in them."
"All right, we'll get some for Mother," decided Fred, approving of this practical idea. "Here's a dandy clam shell."
There were many clam shells on the beach, and the boys and girls carried home a dozen that morning. These were scrubbed, and the Riddle Club was filled with surprise and delight when they appeared on the table that evening at supper—the clam shells, not the children—with escalloped potatoes in them.
"But try and find larger ones next time," said Mrs. Williamson. "Large shells make excellent dishes; they sell them in some stores for ramekins."