CHAPTER III THE RACE FOR A CAMP-SITE "All aboard for Kamp Kill Kare!"

This is Kamp Kill Kare, you know.

But all the inmates of Kamp Kill Kare slept, so to speak, "with one eye open" during the balance of that night.

The man who first reached the register wrote, in a straight black scrawl, "J. Belmont Van Kamp, wife, and daughter."

You take two now-" Mr. Van Kamp cast a hasty glance out of the window, The other man was getting out of the coach.

The guest did not seem to be seriously shocked, and Uncle Billy was beginning to be sorry he had not said three dollars, when Mr. Van Kamp stopped the landlord's own breath.

"Jis' take yore folks right on up, Mr. Kamp," said Uncle Billy, pouncing on the money.

"That's what Mr. Kamp wanted, fust off, an' he got it.

Her son also gazed after the retreating Van Kamp.

"Fifteen dollars," Uncle Billy informed him, smoking one of Mr. Van Kamp's good cigars and twiddling his thumbs in huge content.

"Them's the fifteen dollars Mr. Kamp give me," he explained.

"Oh!" cried Miss Van Kamp, and Ralph Ellsworth flew to the rescue.

Miss Van Kamp would not for the world have it understood that this unconventional meeting, made allowable by her wrenched ankle, could possibly fulfill the functions of a formal introduction.

Mrs. Ellsworth leaned out over the sill, from the quaint old sitting-room of the Van Kamp apartments!

Mrs. Van Kamp gasped and clutched the arm of her husband.

Mr. Van Kamp suddenly glowered and strode into the Tutt House.

Mr. Van Kamp tore it open and drew out a note.

Mr. Van Kamp passed the note to his wife and sat down or a large chair.

" Mr. Van Kamp bowed himself away, and Ralph opened the note, which read: EDWARD EASTMAN ELLSWORTH, ESQ., Dear Sir: This is to notify you that I have rented the entire furniture of the Tutt House for the ensuing week, and am compelled to assume possession of that in the three second floor front rooms, as well as all the balance not in actual use by Mr. and Mrs. Tutt and the driver of the stage.

Regretting any inconvenience that this transaction may cause you, I remain, Yours respectfully, J. BELMONT VAN KAMP.

" "Clever of you, I'm sure," commented Miss Van Kamp, reflectively.

"By the way," continued Mr. Ellsworth, with a still happier thought, "you must allow Mrs. Ellsworth to furnish the dinner for Mrs. Van Kamp's shiver party.

" "Dinner!" gasped Mr. Van Kamp.

There, across from each other at the kitchen table, sat the utterly selfish and traitorous younger members of the rival houses of Ellsworth and Van Kamp, deep in the joys of chicken, and mashed potatoes, and gravy, and hot corn-pone, and all the other "fixings," laughing and chatting gaily like chums of years' standing.

The kamp follower.