The Campfire Girls on Station Island: or, The Wireless from the Steam Yacht

“There is an almost certain chance the child is going to be very wealthy,” Mr. Norwood said seriously, to Jessie’s mother. “Her education and improvement cannot begin too soon. She is as wild as a hawk and she needs encouragement and government both.”

Henrietta took quite as a matter of course every change that came to her. She had no particular affection for Mrs. Blair, for she had not known her long enough. She was delighted to go to “her island” with Jessie and her parents. As long as she got there and could survey her domain, little Henrietta was bound to be satisfied. But Jessie knew she would have to restrain the child in her desire to invite everybody she knew and liked to come to the island while she was there.

The Norwood family had not even discussed how they were to travel to the island – by what route – when Amy Drew bounded in. Jessie and Henrietta were upstairs in Jessie’s room listening to the bedtime story. A little girl not much older than Henrietta was telling the story, and Henrietta thought that was quite wonderful.

“I know that Bertha and you other big girls sing into the radio,” the freckle-faced child said, when it was over. “Do you suppose Mr. Blair would let me recite into it like that?”

“What would you say?” asked Amy, laughing as her chum and the smaller girl removed their earphones.

“Why – why,” said Henrietta eagerly, “I would tell stories, too. Spotted Snake, the Witch, used to tell stories to Billy Foley and the other Dogtown kids to keep them quiet. And they liked ’em.”

“We’ll see about that when we come back from your island, Henrietta,” said Jessie, smiling.

“And listen!” exclaimed Amy. “You remember I said I had a great idea about our going to Hackle Island. I didn’t finish telling you, Jess.”

“That is right,” her chum rejoined. “And no wonder, when we spied that crew of crazy ones venturing to sea in tubs!” and Jessie laughed.

“Listen here,” Amy said more seriously. “The boys have come home. I told you they were due. The Marigold is all right now. Her engines and everything are working fine. So, why don’t we take this opportunity to see what she is like. Darry has promised us long enough.”

“Oh, but we are going to Hackle Island!” cried Jessie.

“Station Island,” put in Henrietta. “My island.”

“Of course. That is what I mean,” Amy hastened to say. “Instead of taking the train and then the regular boat, why not get the boys to take us all the way from the yacht club moorings to Station Island, or whatever it is called?”

“Why, Amy, that would be fine!” cried Jessie. “Will Darry do it?”

“He will or I shall disown him as a brother,” declared her chum, with vigor.

“Let’s run and see what Momsy says!” exclaimed the eager Jessie.

“We’d better go and hear what she says,” laughed the irrepressible Amy. “Come on, Hen! You want to be in it. Wouldn’t you like a boat ride to your island?”

“Why, how do you suppose I was going to get there?” demanded the little maid. “Automobiles don’t run to islands – nor yet steam trains. But I hope the boat won’t leak as bad as that trough me and Charlie Foley sailed in this morning,” she added thoughtfully.

CHAPTER VII – FORECASTS

The plan Amy had originated for going to Station Island on her brother’s yacht was approved by Jessie’s mother and father, and in the end the Drew family agreed to make the voyage, too. Mrs. Norwood sent down her housekeeper and a staff of servants in advance so that everything would be in readiness for the yachting party.

A few articles of clothing had been bought for Henrietta when she had gone to the Blairs. But, besides being few, they were hardly suitable for an outing on Station Island. So Jessie and Amy were allowed to use their own taste in selecting the child’s outfit for the island adventure. And how they did revel in this novel undertaking!

Being down town on these errands so much during the following two days, the Roselawn girls were bound to fall in with Belle Ringold and Sally Moon, as well as with other members of their class in the high school. Jessie, at least, would never have noticed Belle and her chum could she have avoided it.

Amy had an overpowering fondness for a concoction called a George Washington sundae which was to be found only at the New Melford Dainties Shop. So, of course, each shopping “spree” must end with a visit to the confectionary shop in question.

“Come on,” Amy said, on the second day. “I told Darry and Burd we’d wait for them, and we might as well ride home as walk. They have our second car. Cyprian is driving mamma to a round of afternoon teas and other junkets. But the boys won’t forget us. Come on.”

“‘Come on’ means only one place to come to,” laughed Jessie. “I know you. What shall we do on that island, Amy, without any George Washington sundaes?”

“Say not so!” begged the other girl. “There is a fancy hotel there, they say, and perhaps it has a soda fountain.”

“Hi! Amy Drew!” called a voice behind them, as they descended the two steps into the Dainties Shop.

“Well, would you ever?” demanded Amy, looking around with no eagerness. “If it isn’t Sally Moon and, of course, Belle.”

“Hi, Amy!” repeated Sally. “Let me ask you something.”

“Go ahead,” returned Amy, but in no encouraging tone. “It’s free to ask.”

Sally, however, was not easily discouraged. Evidently Belle had put her up to ask whatever the question was, and to keep friendly with Belle Ringold Sally had to perform a good many unpleasant tasks.

“Your brother and Burd Alling have got back with that yacht, haven’t they?” she demanded.

“You are correctly informed,” answered Amy lightly.

“We want to see them. I suppose the boat is all right? That is, it is safe, isn’t it?”

“So far it hasn’t sunk with them,” returned Amy scornfully.

“You needn’t be so snippy, Amy Drew,” broke in Belle. “We want to see your brother about the use of the Marigold. I suppose he will let it to a party – for a price?”

“I don’t know,” said Amy, staring.

“Why, that’s absurd!” Jessie declared, without thinking. “It is a pleasure boat, not a cargo boat.”

Amy began to laugh when she saw Belle’s face.

“They don’t even take passengers for hire,” she said. “Is that what you want to know?”

“We want to hire a yacht to take us to Station Island,” Sally hastened to say. “And Belle remembered Darrington’s boat – ”

“I don’t suppose it is fit to take such a party as ours will be,” interposed Belle.

“I guess Darry won’t want to let it,” said Amy, seeing that the two girls were in earnest. “Besides, we are going down ourselves this week.”

“Who are going where?” demanded Belle, sharply.

“It’s the Norwoods’ party, you know,” Amy said, for Jessie had “shut up as tight as a clam.” “Mrs. Norwood has taken a bungalow there.”

“On Station Island – Hackle Island it used to be called?” Sally cried.

“That is the place. And Darry will take us all on the Marigold. So, I guess – ”

“We might have known it!” exclaimed Belle, angrily. “The Norwoods or some of that Roselawn crowd would tag along if we planned something exclusive.”

But Amy only laughed at this. “You don’t own that island, do you? Remember what little Hen Haney said about owning an island? Well, Hackle, or Station Island, is the one she meant. She owns a big slice of it.”

“I don’t believe it!” cried Belle.