Nan Sherwood's Summer Holidays   By: Annie Roe Carr

BY

ANNIE ROE CARR

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THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING COMPANY CLEVELAND NEW YORK

Published 1937 by The World Syndicate Publishing Co.

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Printed in the United States of America

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE I NEW YEAR'S EVE 1 II SECRETS 13 III PLANS AND MORE PLANS 24 IV DOUBT ON ALL SIDES 34 V SURPRISE FOR EVERYONE! 44 VI ADVENTURES AHEAD! 52 VII A MYSTERIOUS LETTER 62 VIII OLD FRIENDS AND AN ENEMY 70 IX THEY'RE OFF 80 X TROUBLE FOR NAN 86 XI BESS HOLDS HER TEMPER 93 XII A SCORE TO EVEN UP 101 XIII FRIENDS ABOARD SHIP 108 XIV A STORM AT SEA 116 XV IN THE SHIP'S HOSPITAL 123 XVI THE HUNCH BACK AGAIN 131 XVII NAN PUZZLES OVER HER SECRET 141 XVIII THE CAPTAIN'S DINNER 149 XIX LAND IS SIGHTED 156 XX BE CAREFUL, NAN! 162 XXI WELCOME, LASSIES, TO SCOTLAND 171 XXII EMBERON 179 XXIII SCOTTISH GAMES AND SCOTTISH TUNES 187 XXIV AN ACCIDENT NEAR THE CASTLE 193 XXV JAMES BLAKE DOES SOME EXPLAINING 200 XXVI NAN'S DISAPPEARANCE 209 XXVII BESS HAS HER SAY 216 XXVIII NAN COMES INTO HER OWN 225 XXIX LONDON ON HOLIDAY 232 XXX THE KING IS CROWNED 241

NAN SHERWOOD'S SUMMER HOLIDAYS

CHAPTER I

NEW YEAR'S EVE

"I just can't believe it's true! I've pinched myself a dozen times. I've pulled my own hair. I've looked at myself in the mirror again and again and told myself that it is a fact, that I am I, Nan Sherwood of Tillbury, United States of America and student of Lakeview Hall, and that I am going to sail away next spring to Scotland to visit "

The end of the sentence was lost in a muffle as Nan pulled off the simple silk frock she had been wearing.

Bess Harley, her closest friend since primary school days, finished it.

"Emberon, the home of your mother's ancestors." Her voice sounded unusually heavy. Nan looked around and immediately was all contrition, for Bess's eyes were full of tears.

"Why, Bess, darling, forgive me. I'm nothing but a thoughtless old meany." So saying, she wiped Bess's tears away and sat down beside her.

Bess caught her lip between her teeth and shook her head as she fought for self control. "I'm just an old silly myself," she half apologized. "But I can hardly bear the thought of your going so far away from all of us for a whole summer. And it's true you are going, Nan, as true as the fact that Walter Mason cut in on more than half your dances tonight."

With this jibe, Bess' eyes twinkled, and she felt better.

Nan blushed. "Oh, Bess, was it really so bad? I told him not to, but he said he was under orders to see that I didn't get into any more scrapes."

Bess laughed. "You dear! Of course, it was all right. We all danced with him for a few seconds at least."

Nan looked somewhat unconvinced. Walter, she felt, was paying her rather special attention these days and because she did like him, she hardly knew whether to be pleased or angry. She succeeded only in being embarrassed.

Now, a knock diverted her thoughts. She jumped up, but before she could open the door, two of her other companions at Lakeview Hall entered.

"May we come in?" It was pretty little Grace Mason speaking. After her followed Rhoda Hammond, her dark eyes sparkling with excitement.