"That's right," Bess agreed. "We saw a motorboat coming out of the inlet. It crashed into our boat."

            "Queer," Salty commented. "I don't know what business anyone would have at the factory. Who was the fellow?"

            "That's what we came to ask you," Nancy replied.

            She gave a complete account of the incident. Salty could not identify the man or his boat from her description, but he promised to watch for such a person.

            "I'll keep an eye out for the boat, too," he added. "Can't figure what the fellow would be doin' there. Fishin's no good there. Maybe I'll run up an' have a look."

            Satisfied that Salty would be able to locate the boat if anyone could. Nancy and Bess thanked him and left.

            As they stepped onto the dock they saw that the weather had changed. Dark clouds filled the sky and the wind was whipping the river into whitecaps.

            "I wanted to visit Heath Castle today," Nancy said, "but it wouldn't be wise to take a boat out now.

            "Let's do it tomorrow," Bess suggested.

            "Then George can go with us," Nancy said.

            A surprise awaited Nancy when she reached home. While she and Mrs. Gruen had been away, the two rosebushes had been replanted in the garden. They were only slightly wilted from having been moved twice.

            "Oh, I'm so glad Joan brought them back!" Nancy declared. "I'm sure she wouldn't have taken them if that Hooper boy hadn't urged her to."

            Nancy was pressing earth firmly about the bushes when her father drove into the garage. She stopped her work and ran to greet him. Mr. Drew was a distinguished-looking man, tall and handsome.

            "I'm happy you're back from your trip," she said.

            "Hello, Nancy." He smiled. "How's the garden?"

            "Better today. The rosebushes that were taken day before yesterday are home again."