"I agree with the girls, Miss Elting," interjected Harriet. "We are
able to take care of ourselves. Perhaps this is simply another crazy
man, of whom we shall be rid as soon as we leave the village for the
mountains in the morning. Please don't dismiss Mr. Grubb."

"I shall have to think this matter over," was the guardian's grave
reply. "We do not care to repeat last summer's experience. You
remember what came of relying on the assurance of a stranger." Miss
Elting referred to the manner in which they had been tricked by the man
who had charge of her brother's houseboat the previous summer, and
whose treachery had caused them so much annoyance.

None of the Meadow-Brook Girls made reply. They were as fully puzzled
in this respect as was their guardian. Miss Elting, however, pondered
over the mystery all the way to the hotel. They found the Compton
House a very comfortable country hotel, rather more so than some others
of which they had had experience during their previous journeys.
Arriving at the hotel, they hurriedly prepared for supper, for they
were late and the other guests of the house had eaten and left the
dining room before the Meadow-Brook Girls had even entered the hotel.

By the time supper was finished, their luggage had come over from the
station. Janus Grubb, went home, not a little troubled as well as
mystified by the occurrences of the evening. Who the man could
possibly be he had not the remotest idea. He tried to recall who of
his acquaintances might be guilty of playing such a joke on him. To
the mind of Janus the incident could have been only a prank, though he
questioned the good taste of any such interference between himself and
his customers.