“We’ll just treat her as if nothing had happened,” said Betty, and this advice was followed.  Alice was not generally liked, but the three chums were so pleasant to her, in contrast with the conduct of the other girls, that it must have been as coals of fire on her head.

Mollie’s boat was easily recovered, and the handkerchiefs that had been stuffed in the hole were of some service afterward, though rather stained by river water.  The missing plug was found fast under a seat brace, which accounted for it not floating.

As for the five-hundred-dollar bill, nothing was heard of the owner, and it, with the attached paper, remained in Mr. Nelson’s safe.  The advertisement about it was published again, and though there were several inquiries from persons who had lost money, they could lay no claim to this particular bankbill.

“We’ll just have to wait to solve that mystery,” said Grace.  “Maybe until after we come back from our tour.”

Arrangements to start on the journey had rapidly been completed.  Betty had made out the schedule.

“We’ll leave Deepdale early in the morning,” she said, “and go on to Rockford.  There we’re due to stop with my aunt.  We can take lunch wherever we find it most convenient, but we’ll make Rockford at dusk, I hope.”

“I certainly trust so,” said Mollie.  “A night on a country road—­never, my dear!”

“The next night we’ll stop in Middleville,” went on Betty, “at Amy’s cousin’s house.  From there to Broxton, where Grace’s married sister will put us up, and then, in turn to Simpson’s Corners—­that’s my uncle, you know—­to Flatbush, where Grace’s mother’s niece has kindly consented to receive us; on to Hightown, that’s Mollie’s aunt’s place; to Cameron—­that’s where we’ll go to the camp that Mr. Ford’s half-brother runs.”

She paused to make a note and to glance over the schedule to make sure of some points.

“Then we’ll go to Judgville, where my cousin lives, and that will be our last stopping place.  Then for home,” she finished.

“It sounds good,” said Mollie.

“It will be lovely,” declared Betty.  “Are you sure your—­your aunt and uncle won’t have any further objections to you going, Amy?”

“Oh, sure!  It was only because they thought that I might be upset on hearing of the mystery that they didn’t want me to go.  But I’m over that now.”

“Bravely over it,” murmured Betty, as she put her arms about her chum’s shoulders.

The examinations were on, and boys and girls were working hard, for, because of the need of some repairs to the school, it had been decided to cut the summer term short.

Then came the closing days, with the flowers, the simple exercises, and the farewell to the graduating class, of which our girls were not members.

“Two days more and we’ll be off on our wonderful tour!” exclaimed Mollie, as she and the others came out of school on the final day.  “Oh, I can hardly wait!”