The Chase of the "Linda Belle"

A light-hearted romantic adventure largely set on or around the eponymous yacht and narrated by the heroine, Ellen Ames. The plot sets two young unmarried couples against a middle-aged villainous couple, who are sequestering and drugging their step-step-daughter so they can use her inheritance. The four heroes kidnap the girl and sail away with her from Maine under pursuit by the villains, private detectives and the law. The chase goes down the New England coast and into New York and its waterways where a third hero (who makes a couple with the kidnapped girl) joins the crew. He is from Maryland and the chase continues down the Delaware River and some canals to Chesapeake Bay where they try to hide out. Towards the end they are nearly all caught and go to jail and court, but .... A light-hearted and amusing story with rich settings.