CHAPTER I
A Cottage at Knob Hill
Penny Nichols, hair flying in the wind, came running up the steps of the Altman porch. She did not need to ring the bell, for just at that moment Susan, her dark-haired chum, appeared in the open doorway.
"Why, hello, Penny," greeted the Altman girl. "You're all out of breath."
"I ran most of the way from home," replied Penny.
"I was hoping you'd drop in today. Come on into the house."
"No, I can't, Susan," said Penny hurriedly. "I just ran over to say good-by."
"Good-by?" echoed Susan blankly. "You're not going away, Penny?"
"Yes, Dad took a sudden notion he wanted to spend a quiet vacation at a place called Knob Hill. We're motoring down there this afternoon."
"Well, I like that!" exclaimed Susan. "You didn't say a thing about it when we were playing tennis yesterday."