houseboat, now, as plainly as anything. At first, Lillian and I
couldn't quite believe in your idea."

Madge had heard Eleanor's comments but vaguely. She was doing a sum in
mental arithmetic. "Fifty dollars for the old shanty boat,
seventy-five for remodeling it, fifteen to the man for towing." Here
she became confused. But she still knew there was quite a large sum of
money left for buying the little furniture they needed and their store
of provisions.

Phyllis Alden, too, had been busy calculating. "I think we can do it,
Madge," she said, leaning over from the back seat to speak to her
friend.

"Of course we can. We shall have whole lots of money," announced Madge
triumphantly.

Phil shook her head. "I am afraid we won't. There is one thing we
must buy that will be expensive."

Lillian straightened up. She had been leaning against the back of the
seat, utterly worn out. The three girls gazed at Phil in
consternation. What was this new item of expense that threatened to
eat up their little capital?

"Don't keep us in suspense, Phil," laughed Eleanor. "What have we
forgotten to buy?"

"A kitchen stove!" cried Phil dramatically. "And I know they must be
awfully expensive."