He cuddled up on a big couch and threatened to do damage to Cora's
pretty cloak.

"There's someone on the porch," suddenly whispered Bess, for a step
sounded, so soft and stealthy, that she imagined someone was trying
to look in the window.

"Yes, I heard it," said Ed, getting up and going to the door. A man
stood in the shadow, stepping out quickly at the sight of the youth.

"I came for my money," he muttered. "You fellers ain't got no right
to try to do me that way."

"Who tried to do you?" answered Ed, in no pleasant tones. "See
here, Peters! This is not our camp, and we don't carry money in our
bathing suits as we told you before. If you can't wait until
to-morrow for the seventy-five cents you know what you can do."

"Oh I'll give it to you, Ed," said Cora, fearful that the man might
become abusive. "I have plenty of small change."

She went into her room and got her purse. It was a pretty little
affair, too frail to have been brought to camp, and too good to have
left in the locked-up Chelton house. As she went back to Ed she
held out the purse. "Here," she said, "take it and help yourself.
My coffee will boil over."

Ed and Peters were standing near the edge of the porch. As Ed put
his hand out to take Cora's purse it fell over the rail.