“Don’t try,” was the whispered answer.
And so everything came out right after all. The papers so oddly hidden in the red oar proved the widow’s title to the valuable land beyond the shadow of a doubt. As for the plotters, they were not seen again in that part of the country. They realized that the sharp trick they had tried to play had failed, thanks to the activities of Cora and her friends.
Mrs. Lewis easily established her claim to the land, moved back to her cottage, and the project of spoiling the public park was abandoned. The factory company was beaten in court and the members of the corporation were forced to pay heavy costs.
Old Denny came in for his share of credit, and he was very happy. His one lament was that the red oar was broken, but he managed to patch it together, after a fashion. And the motor girls got him another dog.
The opening by which the papers had been put in the hollow handle had been cleverly concealed, and, only for the accidental breaking of the oar, might never have been discovered.
It had probably been the intention of Grandfather Lewis to disclose the secret hiding place of the land papers, but he had died before he could do this.
“But ‘all’s well that ends well,’” quoted Cora the next day, at a late breakfast. “We have done a little good here by our vacation at Crystal Bay.”
“A little good!” exclaimed Freda. “I never can thank you enough, Cora.”
“And we’ll soon have to go back home—that’s the worst of it!” sighed Lottie. “It is so lovely here!”
“Oh, well, we can come back next year,” spoke Bess.