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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20324-h.zip b/20324-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..576bdba --- /dev/null +++ b/20324-h.zip diff --git a/20324-h/20324-h.htm b/20324-h/20324-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b4f623a --- /dev/null +++ b/20324-h/20324-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7357 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Outdoor Girls at Bluff Point, by Laura Lee Hope</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + .blockquot2 {margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 75%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Outdoor Girls at Bluff Point, by Laura +Lee Hope</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Outdoor Girls at Bluff Point</p> +<p> Or a Wreck and a Rescue</p> +<p>Author: Laura Lee Hope</p> +<p>Release Date: January 10, 2007 [eBook #20324]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT BLUFF POINT***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, J. P. W. Fraser, Emmy,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net/c/)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class='bbox'> +<h1>The Outdoor Girls<br />at<br />Bluff Point</h1> + +<h2>OR</h2> + +<h2>A WRECK AND A RESCUE</h2> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>LAURA LEE HOPE</h2> + +<div class='center'> +<span class="smcap">Author of "The Outdoor Girls of Deepdale," "The</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Moving Picture Girls," "The Bobbsey Twins,"</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">"Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue," "Six</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Little Bunkers at Grandma Bell's," Etc.</span><br /> +<br /><br /><br /> +<i>ILLUSTRATED</i><br /><br /><br /><br /> +<br /> +NEW YORK<br /> +GROSSET & DUNLAP,<br /> +PUBLISHERS<br /></div> +</div> +<div class='center'><br /> +<small>Made in the United States of America</small><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='bbox'> +<h2>BOOKS FOR GIRLS</h2> + +<h3>BY LAURA LEE HOPE</h3> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'>12mo. Cloth. Illustrated.</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h3>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES</h3> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=">THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES"> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS OF DEEPDALE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT RAINBOW LAKE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A MOTOR CAR</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A WINTER CAMP</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT OCEAN VIEW</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON PINE ISLAND</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN ARMY SERVICE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT THE HOSTESS HOUSE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT BLUFF POINT</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h3>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS SERIES</h3> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS SERIES"> +<tr><td align='left'>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT OAK FARM</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS SNOWBOUND</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS UNDER THE PALMS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT ROCKY RANCH</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT SEA</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS IN WAR PLAYS</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h3>THE BOBBSEY TWINS SERIES</h3> + +<div class='center'>(Twelve Titles)</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h3>THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES</h3> + +<div class='center'>(Eight Titles)</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h3>SIX LITTLE BUNKERS SERIES</h3> + +<div class='center'>(Five Titles)</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></div> +</div> + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1920, by</span><br /> +GROSSET & DUNLAP</div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">The Outdoor Girls at Bluff Point</span></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap">chapter</span></td><td align='left'> </td><td align='right'><span class="smcap">page</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">To the Front</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_1'>1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Bad News</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_11'>11</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Making Plans</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_17'>17</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Grace Surprises Her Chums</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_27'>27</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Problem Solved</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_37'>37</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Life and Death</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_47'>47</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Race</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_56'>56</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Red Rags</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_65'>65</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Thunder and Mud</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_75'>75</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Knight of the Wayside</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_85'>85</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mystery</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_95'>95</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Nearly an Accident</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_104'>104</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Outwitting a Crank</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_114'>114</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Bluff Point at Last</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_123'>123</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Telegram</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_132'>132</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Shadow of Disaster</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_142'>142</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Joe Barnes Again</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_152'>152</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Seriously Wounded</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_162'>162</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Betty Confesses</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_170'>170</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Missing</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_180'>180</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Narrow Escape</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_187'>187</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Darkness Before the Dawn</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_197'>197</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Shadow Lifts</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_207'>207</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">His Three Sweethearts</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_217'>217</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Joy</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_227'>227</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS<br />AT BLUFF POINT</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>TO THE FRONT</h3> + + +<p>"I know it's utterly foolish and unreasonable," sighed Amy Blackford, +laying down the novel she had been reading and looking wistfully out of +the window, "but I simply can't help it."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Mollie Billette, raising her eyes reluctantly +from a book she was devouring and looking vaguely at Amy's profile. "Did +you say something?"</p> + +<p>"No, she only spoke," drawled Grace Ford, extricating herself from a +mass of bright-colored cushions on the divan, preparatory to joining in +the conversation. "I ask you, Mollie, did you ever know Amy to say +anything important?"</p> + +<p>"Why yes, I have," said Mollie unexpectedly. "In fact, she is about the +only one of us Outdoor Girls who ever does say anything +important—except Betty, perhaps."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> + +<p>Amy withdrew her gaze from the landscape and looked at the speaker with +a twinkle in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"What will you have, Mollie?" she asked whimsically. "When you become +complimentary, you are apt to rouse my suspicions."</p> + +<p>"Well, whatever you were going to say, please say it, and let me get +back to my book," returned Mollie, ignoring the imputation. "I was in +the most interesting part—"</p> + +<p>"Why, I'm just plain homesick," said Amy, adding quickly, as the girls +looked at her in surprise. "For Camp Liberty and the Hostess House, you +know. I miss the work and the long hours of entertaining and cheering +people up. I feel," she looked around at them as though finding it hard +to explain just what she meant, "sort of—lost."</p> + +<p>The three chums, Mollie Billette, Grace Ford, and Amy Blackford were +gathered in the comfortable library of Betty Nelson's home—Betty being +the fourth of the merry quartette, dubbed the "Outdoor Girls" by the +people of Deepdale, because of their love of the open and of outdoor +sports.</p> + +<p>The girls, as my old readers will doubtless remember, had helped +establish a Hostess House at Camp Liberty, and since then had given all +their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> strength and time and youthful enthusiasm to the great work of +cheering our young fighters, entertaining their loved ones, and, in the +end, sending them with fresh courage and happy memories to the "other +side" for the great adventure.</p> + +<p>And now the girls, completely worn out in their loving service to +others, had been sent, much against their will, home to Deepdale for a +rest that they sorely needed.</p> + +<p>To-day they had gathered in Betty's house to discuss the rather hazy +plans for their brief vacation. And Amy had simply voiced what was in +the thoughts of all the girls. They were, undeniably and heartily, +homesick for Camp Liberty and their work at the Hostess House.</p> + +<p>"Lost?" Mollie repeated Amy's expression thoughtfully. "Yes, I guess +that would pretty well describe the feeling I've had for the last few +days. Sort of restless and aimless—wondering what to do next."</p> + +<p>"Goodness!" cried Grace whimsically, stretching her arms above her head +and smothering a yawn, "this is terrible, you know. If we don't look +out, we'll be forgetting how to enjoy ourselves."</p> + +<p>"That would be queer, wouldn't it?" agreed Mollie, with a chuckle as she +started to resume her reading. "Especially for the Outdoor Girls,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> who +used to know how to enjoy themselves remarkably well."</p> + +<p>A brief silence followed, broken only by the rustle of paper as one of +the girls turned a page. Then, so suddenly that Mollie jumped nervously +and Grace almost upset a box of chocolates at her elbow, Amy threw down +her book and sprang to her feet.</p> + +<p>"I can't stand it another minute!" she exclaimed desperately. "Girls, I +must get out and do something—this loafing is getting on my nerves."</p> + +<p>"Goodness, the child's mad," declared Mollie, looking at her chum with a +mixture of amusement and sympathy in her eyes. "What do you want to do, +Amy, start a fight, or set the town on fire? Whatever it is, I'm for +you, as Roy would say."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess I must be crazy," said Amy, subsiding and seeming a little +ashamed of her outburst. "Only, after so much band music and parades and +bugle calls—everything in Deepdale seems so quiet."</p> + +<p>"Well, if all you want is noise, we'll easily fix that," said Mollie +briskly, running to the piano and gathering in Grace and Amy on the way. +"Sing," she commanded, "and I'll make as much noise as I can on the +piano."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> + +<p>Half laughing, half protesting, the girls obeyed while Mollie +conscientiously made good her threat with the piano, and it was into +this uproar that Betty Nelson stepped a moment later.</p> + +<p>"Have mercy!" she screamed above the noise, both hands clapped over her +ears while she laughed at them. "I thought they had turned the house +into a lunatic asylum or something."</p> + +<p>The music, if such it can be called, stopped so suddenly that Betty's +last words rang out with absurd distinctness.</p> + +<p>"Or something," Mollie mimicked, whirling around and catching the +newcomer in a bear's embrace. "Come over to the couch, Betty Nelson, and +explain yourself. Where have you been and why did you keep us waiting?"</p> + +<p><ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Laugingly'">Laughingly</ins> the Little Captain, as she was often called by the girls +because of her talent for leadership, permitted herself to be dragged +over to the couch by the impulsive Mollie, while Amy and Grace seated +themselves on the arms.</p> + +<p>"What would you?" protested Betty, looking from one accusing face to +another. "I said I would meet you here at two-thirty, and it is only +quarter past now."</p> + +<p>"Only quarter past!" exclaimed Amy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, is that all?" asked Mollie, in astonishment, adding, as Betty +lifted her wrist watch for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> inspection: "Goodness, I thought we had been +waiting ages."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you wanted to see me so much," chuckled the Little Captain, +adding, with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes: "I imagine you would +have been still more impatient if you had known—" she paused wickedly +and just looked at them.</p> + +<p>"Don't tease, Betty! What is it?" they implored in chorus, fairly +pouncing upon her, while Grace added, eagerly:</p> + +<p>"Is it possible you have anything really interesting to tell us?"</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't wonder if you would think so," Betty teased, adding quickly +to forestall the outburst she saw was coming, "It really isn't anything +at all—only—I met the postman on my way—"</p> + +<p>"Betty!" they cried, unable to contain their impatience another moment. +"You have letters! Letters from our soldier boys!"</p> + +<p>"How did you guess it?" said Betty, her eyes dancing as she brought from +a convenient pocket three—yes, three—fat letters, each containing the +longed-for foreign postmark.</p> + +<p>"How much will you give me?" teased Betty, holding the precious missives +behind her back.</p> + +<p>"Not one other word, Betty Nelson!" they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> cried, and after a merry but +brief struggle the letters were seized and delivered to their rightful +owners.</p> + +<p>"Now I wonder," drawled Grace with a twinkle, as she hastily tore open +her envelope, "who could possibly be writing to us from the other side?"</p> + +<p>"Now I wonder," chuckled Betty, as she happily drew from the convenient +pocket the last, but in her estimation decidedly not the least, fat +letter and proceeded to devour its contents without delay.</p> + +<p>And indeed the Outdoor Girls had little reason to wonder who their +correspondents might be, for as regularly as clockwork those precious +letters with the strange foreign postmarks were delivered to their eager +hands.</p> + +<p>There were other letters with that foreign postmark, too, for in +addition to their work at the Hostess House, the girls had faithfully +kept up a large correspondence with the brave boys who had already +crossed the water and were waiting impatiently for their chance "at the +Huns."</p> + +<p>But the four special letters were from their closest friends—boys who +had lived in Deepdale before the war and were now in France preparing +for the last stage of their journey.</p> + +<p>Allen Washburn, on his way to make a great name for himself in the law +before the war put a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> temporary check upon his ambitions, had been in +love with the Little Captain for—oh, yes, ever since he could remember, +while Betty—but Betty would never really admit anything, not even to +herself.</p> + +<p>Then there was Will Ford, Grace Ford's brother, who was not only devoted +to his pretty sister, but, in spite of Amy's flushed protestations to +the contrary, to Amy Blackford, also—although in quite a different +manner!</p> + +<p>Frank Haley was a high school chum of Will's, who from the time of his +first meeting with Mollie Billette had seemed inclined to become her +shadow, to the latter's secret gratification and outward indifference.</p> + +<p>The last of the quartette was Roy Anderson, one of the Deepdale boys, +who was chiefly distinguished by his very open admiration for Grace.</p> + +<p>The boys had shared in many of the adventures of the Outdoor Girls, and +of course had been among the very first to volunteer to help "lick the +Boche" as they slangily but ardently put it. The girls had gloried in +their patriotism, and it was their assignment to Camp Liberty that had +first given Betty the idea of working in the Hostess House there.</p> + +<p>They had been very happy, fired as they were by enthusiastic patriotism, +until the fateful day<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> had come when the boys had entrained for +Philadelphia and from there to the Great Adventure. Then for the first +time the girls had had the real and terrible meaning of war brought home +to them. And the boys, so merry and care-free when they had first +entered the service, had seemed suddenly older, more important, more +manly, only the fire of enthusiasm in their eyes showing their +indomitable youth.</p> + +<p>Several months had passed since that day of mingled tears and pride and +heartache, and the girls had had time to get used to the separation a +little—a very little. And now Betty had brought them the letters they +were always hungry for, anxiously eager, yet always, at the very back of +their hearts, a little haunting fear of what they might contain.</p> + +<p>For several minutes they sat engrossed while occasionally one of them +read a funny or characteristic extract over which they laughed happily.</p> + +<p>"Listen to this," chuckled Mollie, while the girls looked up +expectantly. "Frank says that Roy is getting terribly fat in spite of +all the exercise—"</p> + +<p>"Horrors!" interjected Grace.</p> + +<p>"And when he, Frank, ventured to remonstrate with him the other day and +advised him to cut<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> down on his chow, Roy said: 'Nothing doing! I've got +a definite end in view, old man. This khaki outfit has acquired so much +terra firma it's beginning to stand alone, but if I get so fat I can't +wear it they'll have to give me another one—see?'"</p> + +<p>The girls laughed, but there was just a shade of wistfulness in their +laughter, for they knew that the boys were only skirting the outer edge +of the hardships they would be called upon to encounter later on.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly Betty gave a little cry of dismay.</p> + +<p>"Oh, girls," she cried when they looked up at her fearfully, "it's come! +What we've been dreading so long! The boys have been ordered to the +front!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>BAD NEWS</h3> + + +<p>The girls stared wide-eyed at Betty while slowly the color drained from +their faces. It was true they had been dreading just this news for a +long, long time, yet now that it had come they felt strangely quiet and +numb. They had much the same feeling as one who had received a stunning +blow. Until the paralysis had passed there could be no pain. That would +come later.</p> + +<p>"How do you know?" asked Mollie at last, in a voice that sounded strange +even to herself. "Frank hasn't mentioned it."</p> + +<p>"He will probably, toward the end," Betty explained, while slowly her +heart contracted and the tears welled to her eyes. "Allen didn't—not +till the last sentence. It's only a line, but th-that's enough. He says +not to be alarmed if his letters are delayed—it may be hard to get them +through."</p> + +<p>"They are going to the front," Amy repeated dazedly, as if she found it +hard to really believe. "When—did he say when, Betty?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, he didn't," said Betty slowly. "But you know Allen. He wouldn't +have said anything about it if the time hadn't been pretty close at +hand."</p> + +<p>"Why," cried Grace, catching her breath as though the thought had just +occurred to her, "they may be in the front line trenches now! They may +be—they may be—"</p> + +<p>And while the girls gazed at her in tragic silence, imagining terrible, +unbelievable things, a moment will be taken to sketch briefly for the +benefit of new readers the various exciting or amusing adventures which +had befallen the Outdoor Girls in the days before the grim shadow of war +had spread itself over the land.</p> + +<p>In the first volume of the series, entitled "The Outdoor Girls of +Deepdale," the girls had formed a camping and tramping club and had +tramped for miles over the country, meeting with many interesting +adventures on the way.</p> + +<p>After this, one good time had followed hard on the heels of another, +first at Rainbow Lake, then at a winter camp where they had novel and +interesting experience on skates and ice-boats.</p> + +<p>At Ocean View some time later the Outdoor Girls had cleared up a mystery +centering about a strange box they had found in the sand. Then had +followed that splendid summer at Pine Island,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> when the girls had +accidentally discovered a gypsy cave and had succeeded not only in +rounding up the band of gypsies but in recovering several valuable +articles that had been stolen from them. The four boys who were now +facing the enemy in France had shared in their fun that summer, pitching +camp near the bungalow of the girls.</p> + +<p>Their next adventure found the girls and boys again at Pine Island, but +under greatly altered circumstances. America had just entered the great +war, and the four boys had responded eagerly to the bugle call. Later +they were sent to Camp Liberty for training, to which the girls soon +followed them to work in the Hostess House.</p> + +<p>Will Ford, the brother of Grace, had caused the girls, and especially +his sister, anxiety and uneasiness because of his failure to enlist with +the other boys. In the end he justified himself, however, by delivering +a German spy to justice and enlisting in the service of his country +immediately afterward. The girls also recovered some valuable jewelry +that the spy had stolen from them.</p> + +<p>Then in the volume directly preceding this, entitled "The Outdoor Girls +at the Hostess House," the girls had befriended an old woman who had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +been knocked down by an unscrupulous motorcyclist. They later learned +the secret tragedy in the life of their little old lady.</p> + +<p>Now the girls had come home to Deepdale for a much needed rest, only to +be confronted with the terrible, though, naturally, expected, news that +the boys had been ordered to the front.</p> + +<p>"Yes they may be, probably are, facing death at this minute," said +Mollie slowly, finishing the broken sentence. "Perhaps at the very +minute we were playing and singing and enjoying ourselves—"</p> + +<p>"Mollie, don't!" cried Amy brokenly. "I don't feel as if I could ever +enjoy myself again."</p> + +<p>"Well, we've got to, whether we can or not," said Betty, striving to +control her quivering lips and tilting her little chin at a brave angle. +"We can't just lie down at the very first shot, you know."</p> + +<p>"You talk as if we were on the firing line," said Grace hysterically.</p> + +<p>"I suppose in a way we are," returned the Little Captain slowly, wishing +desperately that those troublesome tears would stay where they +belonged—her eyes were so misty she could hardly see Grace! "Only ours +is a harder kind of battle, because it's made up mostly of waiting and +working without any of the thrill and excite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span>ment of the real fight to +help us. But I'd like to know," and there was a little ring of pride and +renewed courage in her voice, "what the real fighters would do without +us anyway. We're just as much soldiers as they are, and if we don't do +our share, they can't do theirs."</p> + +<p>"Of course you are right, Betty dear, you always are!" cried Mollie, +taking heart and even smiling a little. "We can't do anybody good by +moping."</p> + +<p>"No," added Grace with a philosophy unusual in her. "That's why we have +the hardest share, I guess—because we have to keep gay and bright, no +matter how we feel."</p> + +<p>"And we still have our work at the Hostess House," Amy reminded them. +"Maybe," she added, a little wistfully, "if we work hard enough we'll be +able to forget—"</p> + +<p>"What's all this about working and forgetting?" cried Mrs. Nelson, +coming gayly into the room. "I thought you had come home for a +vacation."</p> + +<p>The girls explained, and Mrs. Nelson looked pityingly at their grave +young faces.</p> + +<p>"So that is it," she was beginning, when Mollie sprang to her feet with +a cry. She was staring at the paper that Mrs. Nelson had carelessly +thrown on the table.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What is it?" they cried, as she snatched it up and read the glaring +headlines.</p> + +<p>"The Hostess House!" gasped Mollie. "Gone! Burnt up! Read this!"</p> + +<p>Dazedly the girls obeyed, the big type seeming to strike them in the +face as they read:</p> + +<p>"Great Fire at Camp Liberty! Hostess House and Several Barracks +Buildings Burned to the Ground!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>MAKING PLANS</h3> + + +<p>"I can't seem to get used to it," sighed Mollie several days later, as +she ran up the steps of her porch and opened the screen door for the +girls. "To think that no matter how much we want to go back to the +Hostess House—"</p> + +<p>"There is no Hostess House to go back to," finished Grace, sinking down +in a luxurious porch swing and plumping the cushion behind her back. +Grace always had a gift for finding the soft places. "It is rather +discouraging."</p> + +<p>"Just as we were going to work hard and forget how unhappy we were, +too," added Amy plaintively.</p> + +<p>"Goodness, but we're not going to be unhappy," put in Betty, rocking +vigorously. "I thought we decided that three days ago."</p> + +<p>"I know. But when we think—"</p> + +<p>"But we musn't think," Betty interrupted quickly, adding with a little +twinkle: "About being unhappy, that is. All we have to do is just hold +on to the belief that the boys are coming<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> back a year from now, maybe +less—coming back without a hair less than they had when they went +away."</p> + +<p>"We didn't count 'em," said Mollie drolly. "The hairs, that is, so how +can we tell?"</p> + +<p>"Isn't she funny?" drawled Grace, catching the pillow Mollie threw at +her and depositing it calmly behind her back. "Thanks, old dear," she +said. "I just needed another one."</p> + +<p>"I thought we came to talk over the plans for our vacation," Amy put in +mildly, adding with a little laugh: "We have to take one now whether we +want it or not."</p> + +<p>"But we haven't the slightest idea what we're going to do," protested +Grace. "I guess we'd just better stay at home and do nothing."</p> + +<p>"My, aren't you encouraging?" cried Mollie, looking up indignantly from +the pair of socks she was knitting. "You might at least suggest +something."</p> + +<p>"Ooh, there you are!"</p> + +<p>They turned suddenly to see a mischievous little face peeping at them +from around the corner of the porch.</p> + +<p>"Dodo, you little wretch, come here," cried Mollie, trying to look +severe and failing utterly.</p> + +<p>"Now what mischief have you been up to?"</p> + +<p>"No," protested Dodo, shaking her curly head<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> vigorously, as she +reluctantly abandoned her vantage point and came slowly toward Mollie. +"No mischief 'tall. Me an' Paul jus' playin'."</p> + +<p>This was Dora, nicknamed Dodo, and Paul, Mollie Billette's small brother +and sister, who were nearly always getting into some sort of mischief +from the time they stepped their little feet out of bed in the morning +till the time they slipped the same little feet, tired out with getting +into trouble, into bed at night.</p> + +<p>"You darling!" cried Betty, catching the little figure to her and +administering a bear's hug. "You're terribly bad, but we can't help +loving you."</p> + +<p>"Uh-uh," denied Dodo, wriggling free of Betty's embrace and looking at +her earnestly. "Me's never bad—only Paul."</p> + +<p>"Ooh, Dodo Billette!" cried Paul, bursting in upon them from no one +could quite tell where. "You's a big story teller!"</p> + +<p>"You's the big 'tory teller," cried Dodo, coming sturdily to the rescue +of her reputation. "You just go 'way. Mol—lie, oh, Mollie, make him go +'way!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear!" cried Mollie, half amused and half vexed as she put aside +her knitting and took Dodo on her lap. "I thought you and Paul promised +to play with the bunnies all the after<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span>noon and not bother sister. Can't +you see she has company?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," smiled the little girl, reaching up to pat Mollie's cheek +ingratiatingly. "Me an' Paul got tired playin' wiv bunnies an' came to +see you. We want," she added succinctly, "tandies!"</p> + +<p>"Well, you won't get any, not this time," said Mollie definitely, trying +not to smile, while the other girls were not even trying. It was always +hard not to laugh at the twins, naughty as they often were.</p> + +<p>"Why?" demanded Dodo severely.</p> + +<p>"Never mind why," returned Mollie, putting the little girl down and +taking up her knitting again. "Now run off, both of you, we want to +talk."</p> + +<p>"But we want tandies," repeated Dodo, looking surprised that Mollie had +not understood the first time. "Dive Paul an' me tandies—lots of +tandies—an' we'll go 'long. Shan't we, Paul? Ooh—" the question ended +in an anguished wail as Dora's eyes rested on her faithless twin.</p> + +<p>The latter had extracted Grace's half-filled candy box from under a +cushion where she had hastily hidden it at the first threat of invasion +by the insatiable twins and was at the moment busily engaged in +devouring its contents. Grace had been too busy watching Dodo to notice +him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ooh, you bad boy! You bad boy!" wailed the little girl, making a dash +for Paul, who deftly evaded her and took refuge behind Betty's chair, +"Div me dos tandies—dive 'em to me."</p> + +<p>"Can't," mumbled Paul, his mouth full, adding by way of explanation a +convincing: "All gone."</p> + +<p>"Paul Billette, come here this minute," commanded Mollie sternly, while +Betty and Amy tried hard to check their rising mirth and Grace looked +bereft. "Come here I say."</p> + +<p>"Make Dodo go 'way then," bargained Paul, adding in an explanatory tone: +"Last time she pulled my hair."</p> + +<p>"An' me's goin' do it 'dain," declared Dodo vengefully, when Betty +reached over suddenly and pulled the little girl into her lap.</p> + +<p>"Stay here a minute, Honey," she coaxed, and as Dodo tried vainly to +wriggle loose added: "Sister wants to speak to Paul."</p> + +<p>"An' I," said Dodo soberly, "want to pull his hair."</p> + +<p>Again the girls had to strangle their mirth while Mollie reiterated her +command to Paul. The latter, after regarding the wriggling Dodo for a +minute uncertainly, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'relucantly'">reluctantly</ins> left his refuge and stood before Mollie, +head hanging.</p> + +<p>"I'se sorry," he said in a small voice, trying to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> forestall the +scolding he knew was coming. "Me never do it any more!"</p> + +<p>"That," said Mollie sternly, though the corners of her mouth twitched +and there was a twinkle in her eye, "is just exactly what you say every +time you're a bad naughty boy. Now, just to make you remember how +naughty you were, you shan't have another piece of candy for a whole +week."</p> + +<p>Paul's protest was drowned in a wail from Dora.</p> + +<p>"But me wants some tandies," she cried. "Me didn't take any."</p> + +<p>"She would, if Paul hadn't seem them first," murmured Grace, but Mollie +shot her a warning glance.</p> + +<p>"No," she said, "and just for being such a good girl, sister's going to +give you six big chocolates all for yourself."</p> + +<p>Dodo gave a shout of glee and disengaging herself with one last frantic +wriggle from Betty's embrace, precipitated herself upon Mollie like a +young cyclone.</p> + +<p>"Ooh dive 'em to me, dive 'em to me quick," she demanded, then as Mollie +made good her promise the little girl turned upon the erring Paul a look +of conscious virtue and said gravely; "If you were a dood boy I would +div you one,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> but now me's goin' eat 'em up, every one till dey's all +gone."</p> + +<p>Then she took to her heels, scurrying down the steps and around the +corner of the house with Paul in hot pursuit.</p> + +<p>"Dodo," they heard him crying plaintively, "I'll let you play wiv my +best bunny if you will div me one candy, just one—"</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't give much for his chances," chuckled Mollie, adding with a +sigh that was a mixture of exasperation and amusement. "Aren't they +perfectly terrible? There isn't a minute of the day when they're not in +some mischief."</p> + +<p>"No, they're adorable," cried Betty fondly. "I wouldn't give two cents +for children that didn't get into mischief all the time."</p> + +<p>"I don't care so much about the mischief," said Grace, eyeing her empty +chocolate box ruefully, "if they would only leave my candies alone."</p> + +<p>"Never mind, Gracie," replied Mollie, laughing at her, "you shall have a +whole box of mine, so you shall."</p> + +<p>"Fine," agreed Grace, adding with a chuckle as Mollie handed over the +almost full box: "Since my candies were more than half gone, I don't +call it such a bad bargain at that."</p> + +<p>"I'll say it wasn't," dimpled Betty.</p> + +<p>"Just the same," said Mollie, after a little pause,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> "even though the +twins are a great deal of trouble, Mother said she just wouldn't have +known what to do without them—especially after I went to Camp +Liberty—the house would have been so frightfully dull."</p> + +<p>"I should think so," said Grace, adding suddenly, as though she had +thought of it for the first time: "Why she would have been all alone, +wouldn't she? How awful!" For Mollie had no father, he having died +several years before.</p> + +<p>"And the other day she said the strangest thing," Mollie continued, +suddenly earnest. "You know how she adores Paul. Well, I caught her +looking at him with the most wistful expression, and when I asked her +what the matter was she looked up at me and I saw there were tears in +her eyes.</p> + +<p>"'It's Paul,' she said softly. 'Of course I'm thankful he is so little +that I can keep him safe at home with me, but sometimes when I think of +my dear country and the terrible wrongs she has suffered, I almost wish +that my little son were old enough to bring retribution upon those +hideous Germans. Sometimes I feel cheated—yes, you needn't stare—that +I have not a son "over there".'"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mollie!" cried the Little Captain softly, "what a wonderful thing +to say. And yet I think<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> she would die if anything happened to either of +the twins."</p> + +<p>"That's just it," said Mollie, her eyes glowing with pride. "Loving them +as she does, she almost wishes it were possible to make the supreme +sacrifice for her country."</p> + +<p>"It was that spirit," said Grace thoughtfully, "that won the battle of +the Marne."</p> + +<p>For a long time after that the girls worked quietly, each busy with her +own thoughts. It was Amy who finally broke the silence.</p> + +<p>"And here we are," she said plaintively, "letting another whole +afternoon slip by without deciding what we are going to do on our +vacation. Can't somebody suggest something?"</p> + +<p>"I have already suggested half a dozen things, only to be laughed to +scorn," said Mollie, adding decidedly: "I'm through."</p> + +<p>"And nothing I can say seems to meet with approval," added Betty +plaintively.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Grace, stretching herself, sitting up in the swing, and +looking important, "nobody asks me whether I have anything to suggest," +adding as they turned a battery of surprised and eager glances her way: +"I don't know whether I can be persuaded to tell you now or not."</p> + +<p>"Tell us!" they cried, piling into the swing till the supporting ropes +creaked with the strain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Can't we bribe you with candy?" pleaded Amy.</p> + +<p>"No. I just made an advantageous trade in that article, you will +remember," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Anyway, we don't bribe, we command," put in Betty. "Grace, we refuse to +be trifled with. What have you to suggest? Out with it!"</p> + +<p>"You'd better hurry," added Mollie, raising her knitting needle +threateningly, "before I spit thee like a pig!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>GRACE SURPRISES HER CHUMS</h3> + + +<p>"I'm not a pig," cried Grace, striving to look dignified, which is a +rather difficult procedure when one is being hugged by three pairs of +arms at once. "I don't care how many times you spit me, whatever that +is, Mollie, but you shan't call me a pig."</p> + +<p>"Of course she shan't," said Betty soothingly. "If she does it again, +we'll try our hand at this spitting business—"</p> + +<p>"Goodness, sounds like a cat fight," chuckled Grace, but Mollie +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'uncerimoniously'">unceremoniously</ins> shook her into attention.</p> + +<p>"Grace, behave and tell us," she ordered.</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Grace aggravatingly, but added hastily as Mollie again +raised the knitting needle at a threatening angle: "All right, if you'll +just give me space enough to breathe I'll do any little thing you ask."</p> + +<p>With that the three jumped from the swing so suddenly that Grace, the +only occupant left,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> bounced into the air and landed with a thump on the +cushions.</p> + +<p>They laughed and drew up three chairs in a semi-circle in front of her +to make escape impossible. Then three pairs of merry eyes focused +commandingly upon her.</p> + +<p>"I didn't know it myself till last night," she said in response to the +tacit order. "Then it was patriotic Aunt Mary who proposed it."</p> + +<p>"Proposed what?" they cried.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's what I'm going to tell you if you give me half a chance. +She said she felt as if she owed something to us girls for having stood +so loyally behind Uncle Sam, and had decided to offer us her cottage at +Bluff Point to use as long as we wanted it."</p> + +<p>"Bluff Point!" cried Betty, while her eyes began to sparkle. "Why Grace! +isn't that the place you were telling us about—"</p> + +<p>"Where the quaint little house stands on a bluff—" added Amy eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Overlooking a sparkling white beach that leads down to the ocean?" went +on Betty.</p> + +<p>"The very same," nodded Grace, and they heaved a sigh of pure excitement +and happiness.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it wonderful," cried Mollie joyfully, "how somebody is always +doing something to make us happy?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, but when I said that to Aunt Mary last night she smiled and looked +wise—you know how sweet she is—and said that that was the way +happiness always came to us—by helping others to be happy."</p> + +<p>"But we haven't done anything to make anybody happy—particularly that +is," said Mollie wondering.</p> + +<p>"I said that too," nodded Grace. "But she only went on smiling, and I +realized she must have meant our work at the Hostess House."</p> + +<p>"It's strange how everybody persists in calling it work and giving us so +much credit when it was all such fun," said Betty. "But girls," she +added, laughing breathlessly, "the great fact is that we are going to +have another adventure in the open. The very thought of it makes me want +to roll in the buttercups."</p> + +<p>"Goodness, there's one open in the back meadow," suggested Mollie. "You +can roll in it, if you want to."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't—I want a whole patch of them!" cried Betty, while the +rest laughed at Mollie's picture. "My, I feel younger already."</p> + +<p>"Well of course you need to," drawled Grace, adding with a fond glance +at the glowing Little Captain: "You look so terribly like a dried-up +ancient, dear."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But when shall we start?" cried Mollie, coming back to the +all-absorbing topic at hand. "Goodness, I'd like to throw a few clothes +in a suitcase and start right away—quick—this minute—I can't wait!"</p> + +<p>"Do you think it's catching?" asked Grace, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"From the way I feel I should say it was already caught," twinkled +Betty, adding eagerly: "How long do you suppose we will have to wait, +Grace? Did your Aunt Mary say when we could have the cottage?"</p> + +<p>"As soon as we want it," replied Grace, looking surprised. "Didn't I +tell you?"</p> + +<p>"No you didn't," mimicked Mollie, adding as she sprang to her feet +impatiently: "I'd like to know what we're waiting for anyway! Why don't +we get started?"</p> + +<p>"Now I know she's crazy," cried Betty, seizing her chum and pulling her +down upon the arm of her chair. "Why we haven't decided anything yet."</p> + +<p>"What is there to decide?" cried Mollie, trying to be patient and +looking like a martyr.</p> + +<p>"Why we don't even know how we're going to get there yet," explained +Betty soothingly.</p> + +<p>"In the automobile, of course," cried Mollie, jumping up again.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, can we?" cried Grace, forgetting to be <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'lanquid'">languid</ins> and bouncing eagerly +in the swing. "Mollie, that would be wonderful."</p> + +<p>"Why of course we'll go in the car!" it was Mollie's turn to look +surprised. "What did you think we were going to do—walk?"</p> + +<p>"There are railroads, you know," Grace reminded her, relapsing into +irony. "And as to walking—well, we did that too before you got your +car, Mollie."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and got sore feet," added Mollie.</p> + +<p>"Well, now that we've decided not to go on the railroad or walk," Amy +broke in unexpectedly, "I really don't see what we are waiting for."</p> + +<p>"My goodness, there's another lunatic," cried Grace, looking +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'dispairingly'">despairingly</ins> at the Little Captain, whose eyes twinkled merrily. "What +do you expect us to do—go just as we are?"</p> + +<p>"No, but we can throw some things into a suitcase—"</p> + +<p>"How long do you suppose it will take us to get there?" asked the Little +Captain, coming to Grace's rescue.</p> + +<p>"Why, even in Mollie's car it will take two days," said Grace, turning +to Betty with the relief of one who at last had a sane person to reckon +with. "Mollie and Amy evidently expect to make it in a couple of +hours."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh well, I didn't know it was so far away," murmured Mollie, somewhat +taken aback. "Of course, then, we can't go until to-morrow."</p> + +<p>The girls laughed merrily, and Betty hugged her.</p> + +<p>"We might," chuckled the latter, "even be forced to wait till day after +to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"I won't do it!" cried Mollie, jumping up again. "There's no reason in +the world why we can't start to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"But, Mollie dear," insisted Betty mildly, "we haven't even asked our +folks whether we may go or not—"</p> + +<p>"As if we didn't know what they will say," broke in Mollie, but Betty +went on without heeding her.</p> + +<p>"And we must have a chaperone, you know."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I suppose so," sighed Mollie sinking down in her chair resignedly, +"but it's horribly tiresome. I want to go now."</p> + +<p>"You sound like Dodo with her candies," remarked Grace, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'aimably'">amiably</ins> helping +herself to a luscious milk chocolate filled with nuts. "Have one, +Mollie—it may make you feel better."</p> + +<p>"It won't, but I will," said Mollie rather enigmatically, reaching out a +hand for the proffered sweet. "Thank you, dear."</p> + +<p>"But whom shall we have for a chaperone?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> cried Amy impatiently. "I'm +almost as bad as Mollie—I can hardly wait till to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Why," said Grace, nibbling daintily, "I thought maybe you girls +wouldn't mind if I asked mother to go with us."</p> + +<p>"Mind!" echoed Betty, while the others looked at her in surprise. "Why +of course we'd love to have her! You know that. But I never imagined she +would care to go, she is so interested in Red Cross work and her +clubs—"</p> + +<p>"That's just it," said Grace, sitting up quickly. "She's entirely worn +out with work and worry about Will, and I thought a little vacation with +us girls would help her out wonderfully. I'm not sure she will go—I +haven't asked her yet."</p> + +<p>"Well, let's," cried Betty impulsively, jumping to her feet. "She simply +can't refuse if we all ask her at once."</p> + +<p>"Now you're saying something!" cried Mollie fervently, albeit slangily, +as she flung her arm about the Little Captain and dragged her down the +steps. "Action is what we need—action, and plenty of it."</p> + +<p>The girls fairly ran the short distance from Mollie's home to Grace's, +and the people they met on the way, greeted them heartily, musing as he +or she turned to go on: "There's probably something interesting in the +air—the Outdoor Girls<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> always look like that when they have some new +adventure in tow." For Deepdale was very proud and fond of its Outdoor +Girls.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ford was just coming down the stairs dressed to go out when the +quartette burst in upon her. She did look very tired and worn, as Grace +had said, but the smile that lighted her face at sight of the girls made +her appear ten years younger.</p> + +<p>"Mother," said Grace, taking one of her mother's carefully gloved hands +in her own and leading her gently but firmly into the library, "we have +something very important to say to you."</p> + +<p>"Will it take long?" queried Mrs. Ford, smiling at the other girls over +her shoulder. "Because, if it will, I'm very much afraid I can't wait. +I'm a little late now."</p> + +<p>"That," said Grace decidedly, as her mother sank into a chair and the +other girls grouped themselves about her, "is exactly what we have come +to talk about. We think you need a little vacation."</p> + +<p>"Vacation!" cried the lady, half rising from her chair. "Why, my dear! +how can I take a vacation when my hands are so full of work now that I +am—"</p> + +<p>"You don't have to take it," Grace interrupted argumentatively, "we'll +just give it to you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Ford laughed helplessly and regarded the eager young faces with +amusement.</p> + +<p>"Out with it, girls," she commanded. "I know you are plotting some +terrible thing. What do you intend to do, kidnap me?"</p> + +<p>"No, we're keeping that for a last resort," returned Betty, and Mrs. +Ford laughed outright at the confession.</p> + +<p>"We want," explained Grace, speaking fast for fear of being interrupted, +"to have you go with us to Bluff Point. We need a chaperone, you know."</p> + +<p>"I've no doubt of it," retorted her mother, laughing, adding, with +another anxious glance at the clock: "But I'm afraid you will have to +get someone else, Honey. If I were free, I should like nothing better, +but you see how rushed I am—"</p> + +<p>"But you're terribly tired, Mother, you know you are," said Grace with +unusual gentleness, adding diplomatically: "What good will you be to the +Red Cross or to anyone else, I'd like to know, if you let yourself get +sick?"</p> + +<p>"But I'm not sick," protested her mother, then added with a sudden +longing as the wild solitude of Bluff Point rose before her eyes +suggesting utter peace and quiet, a chance to rest tired nerves and +gather strength for the last great drive:</p> + +<p>"You're right, I am tired, terribly tired," and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> the lines of weariness +returning to her face. "I'd love it, girls, but there's my work!"</p> + +<p>It took the girls about five minutes of the hardest work they had ever +done in their lives. But they did what they had set out to do. At the +end of that time Mrs. Ford consented to start with them whenever they +were ready.</p> + +<p>"Day after to-morrow?" asked Mollie, her eyes shining.</p> + +<p>"I don't know why not," said Mrs. Ford, then sprang to her feet with a +cry of dismay. "Girls, I completely forgot to telephone the Red Cross. +What will they think of me?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>A PROBLEM SOLVED</h3> + + +<p>"I wish," said Mollie, sitting back to view approvingly the shining +black hood of her car, "that we had another machine. I'm afraid by the +time we've packed our bags and things into the tonneau we'll find it +rather crowded. And for such a long trip we ought to have plenty of +room."</p> + +<p>"That's what I was thinking," agreed Amy, rubbing a bit of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'nickle'">nickel</ins> to a +gleaming polish, for the girls had gathered at Mollie's to help her put +the car in shape for the anticipated trip to Bluff Point. And they had +gone to their work with a will, rubbing and polishing the big machine as +they would have groomed a well-loved horse. "We will have our trunks +sent, of course, but we shall have to take our nighties and combs and +brushes and such things. We might put 'em on the roof," she added +hopefully.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and we might wear 'em," said Grace scornfully. "That is a +brilliant idea."</p> + +<p>"Well, I have one worth two of that," said Betty, trying not to look +mysterious.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Betty, are you going to spring anything on us?" cried Mollie, while the +other two paused with dust cloths uplifted.</p> + +<p>"Not if you don't want me to," returned the Little Captain demurely.</p> + +<p>"Betty, dear, I love you so," crooned Mollie, running around the car and +putting a rather oily hand about Betty's waist. "You wouldn't want such +an ardent admirer to drop dead at your feet, would you, now?"</p> + +<p>"It would have the charm of novelty," chuckled Betty, only to add +quickly as Mollie made a threatening gesture: "No, please don't kill me +yet. Come over here on the steps and I'll tell you all about it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, go on," they cried, obediently ranging themselves on the +steps of the back porch and fixing eager eyes upon her.</p> + +<p>"Shoot!" Mollie commanded inelegantly.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Betty speaking slowly to add to the effect of her +announcement, "I have a car!"</p> + +<p>"A car!" they echoed, and Grace added: "Now I know she's crazy!"</p> + +<p>"When?" demanded Mollie, her eyes round and black, as they always were +under excitement.</p> + +<p>"If you mean, when did I get it," answered Betty, enjoying their +surprise to the full, "I might tell you that up to six o'clock last +evening I had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> no more idea of owning a car than you did. However, at +six-fifteen, I owned it," and her eyes danced with the pride of +ownership.</p> + +<p>Then the girls fell upon her, all demanding explanation of the miracle, +till she raised her hand pleadingly.</p> + +<p>"Give me a chance," she begged. "How can I tell you anything when you're +making such a noise?"</p> + +<p>The girls seemed impressed with the common sense of this. At any rate, +they stopped talking for the space of a half a minute.</p> + +<p>"It was last night at dinner," explained Betty hurriedly, seizing her +opportunity. "Dad came in a little late, and as he sat down he +laughingly asked us how we would like a racing car in the family."</p> + +<p>"A racing car!" they echoed.</p> + +<p>"Of course we thought he was joking," continued Betty, "but when we +found he was very much in earnest of course we went wild with +excitement."</p> + +<p>"I should think so," breathed Amy.</p> + +<p>"But, Betty darling, how—" Mollie was beginning when Betty cut her +short by hurrying on with her story.</p> + +<p>"That's what we wanted to know, of course," she said. "It seems that one +of Dad's clients owed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> him a good deal of money, and although he, the +client, that is, had plenty of money, it was all tied up in such a way +that he couldn't get hold of it right away, so he offered to give Dad +his almost new racing car in exchange. And," here Betty came to the most +wonderful part of her story, "since mother doesn't care for that type of +car—he gave it to me!"</p> + +<p>"Betty, how mar-ve-lous!" breathed Mollie, while Amy and Grace just +stared.</p> + +<p>"Can we see it? Have you got it at home?" asked Amy, after a few minutes +during which the girls had been getting used to the wonderful idea of +Betty with a machine, and a racing machine at that.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Betty, lead us to it," added Mollie yearningly.</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether it's come yet or not," explained the Little +Captain, as the girls threw aside dust rags and gingham aprons +preparatory to a concerted rush upon the new acquisition. "That's why I +didn't tell you about it sooner. I was going to surprise you by taking +you to it," she added, as they set off at a walk that was almost a run +for the pretty Nelson house; "but when Mollie spoke about another car I +just couldn't hold back any longer. Oh dear, I hope it has come!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Won't it be fun?" cried Mollie joyfully, executing a little +irrepressible skip in her delight. "You can run it, Betty, of course, +and take Grace or Amy with you while our car comes behind—"</p> + +<p>"With the luggage," finished Betty wickedly.</p> + +<p>"Well you needn't be so conceited," retorted Mollie, her nose in the +air, while Betty looked innocent.</p> + +<p>"Wasn't that what you were going to say?" she inquired.</p> + +<p>However, there was no time for more conversation, for at that moment +they turned a corner, bringing Betty's house to sight, and what should +be going up the drive at that particular and ecstatic moment but the +graceful, low-bodied racer itself!</p> + +<p>With a shout the girls rushed forward. They overtook the driver as he +slowed to a stop, and fairly danced with impatience while the man pushed +up his goggles, took off his hat, wiped his perspiring forehead, and +slowly turned to smile at them.</p> + +<p>"This is where Mr. Nelson lives, isn't it?" he asked. "Mr. Todd asked me +to bring the car around—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, we know all about it," interrupted Betty, then added with a +smile, as the man looked surprised: "I suppose you think I'm terribly +im<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span>patient, but, you see, the car is mine, and I can't wait to try it +out."</p> + +<p>The man whistled and descended with alacrity. The girls noticed rather +absentmindedly that he was a rather good looking young fellow, probably +one of the young men from Mr. Todd's office who had volunteered to run +this errand for him.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't blame you a bit for being in a hurry," he said heartily, +eyeing the beautiful lines of the car with approval. "She sure is a +great little machine! You are Miss Nelson, I suppose?" he added, turning +to Betty. "You see," with evident embarrassment, "I promised to deliver +the car in person to Mr. Nelson—"</p> + +<p>"Here he is, so there ought to be no difficulty about that," said a +jovial voice, and they turned to find Mr. Nelson himself coming toward +them. "Good afternoon, Mr. Jameson. How do you like my new acquisition? +A beauty is it not?"</p> + +<p>"I say so!" agreed the young fellow, and after a few moments of general +conversation, Mr. Nelson led him off toward the house, leaving the girls +to themselves. And that, as Mollie afterward remarked, "was just the +most beautiful thing he could have done!"</p> + +<p>Before they had turned the corner of the house, Betty had clambered in +behind the steering wheel and was bidding the girls follow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> + +<p>In their excitement they all tried to climb in, forgetting that a car +designed to seat two people cannot by any stretch of imagination +accommodate four. Then suddenly realizing what an absurd picture they +must be making, they began to laugh.</p> + +<p>"Well, now what are we going to do?" wailed Mollie. "We can't all go at +once."</p> + +<p>"Of course you can," cried Betty busily examining her treasure, touching +a lever here, a button there, with loving fingers. "What, may I ask, is +the matter with the running boards?"</p> + +<p>"Betty, you don't mean—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do," firmly.</p> + +<p>"But we can't—"</p> + +<p>"Well, then I'll have to take one at a time," decided Betty, tooting the +horn experimentally. "Come on—who goes first?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, come on, we'll all go," cried Mollie dancing with impatience. "You +get in beside Betty, Grace, since you're afraid of the running board, +and Amy and I'll hang on somewhere. Come on, Amy. Be a sport, old girl."</p> + +<p>Amy wavered for a moment, but the challenge was too much for her, and +she nodded her head in assent.</p> + +<p>"Thank goodness I can only die once," was her cheerful comment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + +<p>So Grace climbed in beside the Little Captain, while Amy and Mollie +scrambled up on the running boards and clung to the sides of the car. +Then Betty tooted the horn triumphantly and began slowly to back down +the drive.</p> + +<p>"I don't know about this," she remarked, as the car made rather +zigzagging work of it. "I've driven mostly on a straight road, you know, +and I'm not very expert, even if I do know all about a motor boat."</p> + +<p>"So we see," commented Mollie wickedly, as Betty nearly backed into a +flower bed at one side of the drive.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think we'd better get off?" asked Amy. "Till you turn into +the road, anyway, Betty?" she added.</p> + +<p>"Don't you dare," cried Betty, giving the wheel a nervous little twist +that caused Amy to groan and clutch the side of the car tighter. "If you +make me stop now, I'll never get started again. There!" as the car slid +into the roadway, hesitated a moment, then without a jar or a jerk, +glided swiftly along the smooth road, gathering headway as it went. "Now +we're all right."</p> + +<p>"That was pretty work, Betty," complimented Mollie, who, as an old and +experienced driver, felt capable of pronouncing judgment. "Now let's see +what this little car will do."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not too fast," begged Amy, as Betty slid into high gear. "Remember +we're not used to this kind of traveling, and we're apt to find +ourselves sitting in the road if you're not careful."</p> + +<p>"Have you chosen your spot?" asked Betty, her eyes twinkling.</p> + +<p>"Just the same, it might have been a good idea to have brought some +cushions along," said Mollie ruefully. "We might have strapped them on +and used them the way you do life savers—in case of emergency."</p> + +<p>"My, you must be having a wonderful time," drawled Grace. "Have some +candy Mollie—it may help your courage."</p> + +<p>"My courage doesn't need any help, thank you," snapped Mollie, adding +wickedly: "Just for that we ought to make you ride out here."</p> + +<p>"Goodness, don't!" cried Betty, as she swung the car around a corner and +started once more toward home. "The punishment wouldn't fit the crime, +Mollie. Besides, we'll be back in a few minutes. Girls, she runs like a +dream!"</p> + +<p>"She's a wonder," agreed Mollie. "I guess there's just about no limit to +the speed she's capable of."</p> + +<p>"Do you want me to let her out?" queried Betty wickedly, but both Amy +and Mollie protested vehemently.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Some other time," said Mollie, "when we're not hanging on by our +eyelids!"</p> + +<p>A few minutes more, and they were again turning into the Nelson drive, +which, by the way, Betty took much more expertly this time. As the car +slowed, Amy and Mollie dropped off and Amy opened the door for Lady +Grace, who descended slowly.</p> + +<p>"Well, how do you like it?" cried Betty, jumping out in her turn and +regarding her new possession with shining eyes. "Do you think she'll +do?"</p> + +<p>"Do!" they cried, and Mollie added, patting the smooth side of the car +with admiring fingers:</p> + +<p>"She's a wonder, Betty—as Roy would say, 'a perfect pippin.' Good-bye," +she added suddenly, starting down the drive.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going?" cried Betty, as they looked after her surprised.</p> + +<p>"Home," she answered, adding with a chuckle: "I've got to finish +cleaning my old car. It's poor old nose must be terribly out of joint."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>LIFE AND DEATH</h3> + + +<p>The next morning Betty awoke to the sound of the telephone ringing +imperatively in the hall. She got up, dragged the instrument from its +stand and spoke drowsily into the receiver.</p> + +<p>"Hello—who—why, Grace, how did you happen to wake up?—Why, Grace, +what is the matter, dear?—You have heard what?—Will is wounded?—Oh, +Honey, how awful! Is it serious?—Never mind, don't try to tell me about +it now. I'll get dressed just as fast as I can and come right over—Yes, +yes, in about five minutes."</p> + +<p>Mechanically Betty replaced the receiver on the hook and hurried back +into her room. Then swiftly she began to dress.</p> + +<p>Will! Dear old Will was wounded! That had been about all she had been +able to gather from Grace's sobbing message—but that was enough. He was +the first of the boys to fall out there in the trenches, and who knew +but what Allen might be the next!</p> + +<p>And here only yesterday they had been so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> happy, as happy as they could +be with that shadow always hanging over them. This was the day, too—the +incongruous thought struck Betty as she hastily pulled on her +clothing—the day they had set for their trip to Bluff Point. Well, of +course, it was all off now. Who wanted to go anyway?</p> + +<p>These thoughts and many more raced through Betty's head as she put the +finishing touches to her toilet and crushed a garden hat on her pretty +soft hair. She was a very attractive picture as she ran down the stairs, +but she neither knew it nor cared.</p> + +<p>"Why, Betty dear, what is the meaning of the hat?" her mother inquired, +smiling as her young daughter burst into the dining room. "You don't +need it to eat breakfast in, you know. Who called on the 'phone?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to eat breakfast, at least not right away. But there, of +course, you don't know," answering her mother's look of surprise. "Grace +called up and, oh, Mother, poor Will has been wounded! I don't want to +c-cry," her chin quivered and she turned away for a moment to get +control of the lump in her throat.</p> + +<p>"I know, dear," said her mother, putting an understanding arm about her, +"and so I'm not going to offer very much sympathy—just now. Were you +going over to see Grace, poor child?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> + +<p>Betty squeezed her mother's hand gratefully and nodded.</p> + +<p>"I'll be back in a little while," she said finally, getting the better +of that annoying lump. "I just want to find out all about it and give +Grace my sympathy."</p> + +<p>And the Little Captain found poor Grace in need of all the sympathy she +could possibly give her. She was sitting in the darkest corner of the +library, all crumpled up in a big chair, her eyes red with weeping and a +damp ball of handkerchief clutched tightly in one hand.</p> + +<p>At sight of Betty running toward her, she began to sob again, the tears +running down her face unnoticed.</p> + +<p>"Betty, Betty, I knew you'd come," she cried, as Betty knelt beside her +and put two loving arms about her. "I'm so m-miserable I just don't want +to live at all."</p> + +<p>"But, Honey, it isn't nearly as bad as it might be," said Betty, trying +to sooth while wanting desperately to know herself just how bad it was. +"You said he was only wounded, didn't you?"</p> + +<p>"That's what the telegram said," Grace answered, wiping her eyes +drearily. "But how do we know but what he may be dead by this time?"</p> + +<p>"We don't know, of course," returned Betty, recovering a little of her +optimism while she unos<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span>tentatiously handed Grace a fresh handkerchief, +"but the chances are against it."</p> + +<p>"But perhaps they said he was just wounded to l-let us down easy," cried +Grace, evidently convinced that there was no bright side to look upon.</p> + +<p>"The Government doesn't do that; it hasn't time," argued Betty. "It +always lets you know the worst at once."</p> + +<p>A gleam of hope came into Grace's eyes.</p> + +<p>"Then you think there's a chance?" she queried, sitting up straight and +beginning to look a little more interested in life. "Do you think he may +get well?"</p> + +<p>"Why, of course," said Betty, adding reasonably: "If you would tell me +just what the telegram said, I'd have more to go on."</p> + +<p>"That's all it said—what I told you," replied Grace, relaxing wearily. +"Just said that he was wounded—nothing more. Dad is writing to +Washington to try to get more news. Of course, he has a great deal of +influence, being a lawyer with a good many friends in Washington, and he +may be able to find out something. I don't know."</p> + +<p>"Here come Mollie and Amy," said Betty, glancing through the window. "I +guess," she added thoughtfully, "Amy probably feels pretty bad too."</p> + +<p>"But she's not his sister," cried Grace, with a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> sudden flare-up of +jealousy that made Betty smile in spite of her heartache. She could not +help wondering how Grace would have taken it if it had been Roy instead +of Will who had been wounded.</p> + +<p>But Grace's little fit of jealousy did not last long at sight of Amy's +drawn, white face and the traces of tears in her eyes. Instead, she +opened her arms to this other girl who was not Will's sister, yet loved +him too, and for a moment they cried on each others shoulders.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Betty and Mollie wandered over to the window and stood looking +thoughtfully out upon the lawn and not seeing any of it.</p> + +<p>"Goodness!" said Mollie after a moment, shrugging her shoulders a little +impatiently, "of course, it's terrible to have Will wounded, and I can +imagine Grace being all cut up about it, but she—and Amy too—act as if +he were dead."</p> + +<p>"I know," said Betty softly, then added, looking a little quizzically at +Mollie; "But you know I don't blame them so much when I try putting +myself in their place. Of course we love Will, but suppose it had been +Allen, for instance, or Frank."</p> + +<p>Mollie started and uttered a little cry of protest.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but that would be different," she said weakly, then catching +Betty's eye, added soberly: "I see what you mean, of course. I suppose +I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> would act just the same, under different circumstances."</p> + +<p>However, having had their cry out and feeling better and much more +cheerful in consequence, Grace and Amy called to them and they crossed +the room quickly.</p> + +<p>"We've decided," said Amy then, "that, since we can't find out any more +until Mr. Ford hears from Washington, we might as well make the best of +it."</p> + +<p>"And we want to talk about our trip," Grace added.</p> + +<p>"Our trip?" echoed Mollie. "Why I thought of course we would give that +up."</p> + +<p>"I did too," explained Grace. "But when I spoke of it to Dad, he said we +were to do nothing of the kind. He said we couldn't do poor Will"—in +spite of all her resolution her voice broke on the name—"any good by +staying at home and moping, and that he would let us know as soon as he +had any authentic word from Washington. And he insists on mother's going +too."</p> + +<p>And so it happened that a few hours later a very sober group of Outdoor +Girls started on what should have been a joyful trip, with heavy hearts +and gloomy foreboding. Even the new racer did not serve to liven the +party.</p> + +<p>The only time they laughed was when they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> found Dodo and Paul, the +incorrigible twins, hidden away under some raincoats in Mollie's car.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but we want to go 'long," Dodo protested vehemently when +discovered.</p> + +<p>"We just got to go 'long," Paul had added.</p> + +<p>"No, you mustn't 'got to,'" Mollie contradicted them, while the others +looked on amused. "Come, Dodo, honey, be a good girl for sister and come +down. You too, Paul. We're in an awful hurry."</p> + +<p>"But we not goin' to come down," Dodo insisted.</p> + +<p>"'Less," Paul added diplomatically, "we get tandies."</p> + +<p>"Lots of tandies," Dodo supplemented.</p> + +<p>"Here, take these," Grace offered, holding out a box of sweets which, +despite all her trouble, she had not forgotten.</p> + +<p>"Don't give them the box—just take out a few," Mollie suggested, but +Grace insisted, while her face clouded again.</p> + +<p>"I don't want them, anyway. I don't know why I took them. Habit, I +suppose."</p> + +<p>However, hope and optimism did not consent to be kept long in the +background on such a day as this when the sun shone its brightest and +the birds sang their hardest and the very wind seemed to be whispering +of happier times to come.</p> + +<p>"Well," sighed Amy at last, for she and Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> Ford were riding in +Mollie's car, while Grace was with Betty in the racer, "it's plain to be +seen that nature at least doesn't know that anything horrible or cruel +is happening 'over there.' I don't think I ever saw a more wonderful +day."</p> + +<p>"Maybe it is a good omen," said Mollie, quick to seize her opportunity. +"I feel it in my bones that it won't be long before we will hear good +news of Will—and you know my prophetic bones never lie."</p> + +<p>"I don't know anything of the sort," protested Amy, although the remark +brought a reluctant smile to her lips. "I've known those same prophetic +bones to slip up before this."</p> + +<p>"Which reminds me," Mollie cried, apropos of nothing in particular, +"that if we don't put on more speed we'll not reach our destination +before dark. I wonder why Betty doesn't hurry," for Betty and Grace in +the speedy little racer were taking the lead.</p> + +<p>She signaled the latter with three long and three short toots of the +horn. A moment later the racer slowed down and Betty turned around to +see what was wanted.</p> + +<p>"You're too slow," cried Mollie. "If you don't go a little faster, we'll +have to run over you."</p> + +<p>"Oh-ho, look who's talking!" gibed the Little Captain, adding wickedly: +"We were afraid to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> speed up for fear of leaving you too far behind."</p> + +<p>"Now I know we'll have to run over you," cried Mollie fiercely. "Toot, +toot—out of my way!"</p> + +<p>But Betty evidently had no intention of getting out of anybody's way, +for with a challenging blast of her horn she put the little car at high +and it sprang forward gleefully.</p> + +<p>Behind her, Mollie's car, like a big cat after a mouse, gave exultant +chase, fairly eating up the road. And yet Betty maintained the distance +between them—even drew away a little.</p> + +<p>"Goodness," cried Mollie suddenly, her eyes sparkling, "I may be +mistaken, but I think she wants a race!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>THE RACE</h3> + + +<p>Then began some fun that was novel and exciting even to the Outdoor +Girls, who thought they had tried just about every sport there was.</p> + +<p>Mollie bent her straight little back over the steering wheel, gave her +more power and the big car fairly flew ahead, lessening perceptibly the +distance between it and the racer.</p> + +<p>However, Betty, looking behind, seemed not in the least concerned. On +the contrary, she waved her hand joyously as she recognized Mollie had +taken her challenge. Then she too bent over the wheel with her eyes +glued to the flying ribbon of road ahead.</p> + +<p>"Betty, Betty, stop it!" cried Grace, holding frantically to her hat and +the side of the car. "Suppose we should m-meet somebody—a wagon or a +m-machine."</p> + +<p>"So much the worse for it," retorted Betty gayly. "You keep your eye on +Mollie, Gracie dear, and tell me whether she's gaining—that's a good +girl."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If you think I'm going to help you break our necks—" Grace sputtered, +but Betty cut her short.</p> + +<p>"Well, if you don't I will have to look for myself," she said, adding +maliciously: "And then we will have a smash-up!"</p> + +<p>Grace groaned and looked behind her.</p> + +<p>"They're gaining," she cried, and then all at once the spirit of the +thing caught her—the contest of speed was getting into her blood. "Oh, +Betty, don't let 'em," she almost screamed, above the noise of the motor +and the rushing wind. "They're not more than fifty feet behind now!"</p> + +<p>Betty gave her a swift look, smiled to herself, and once more fixed her +dancing eyes on the road ahead.</p> + +<p>"All right," she crowed. "Just watch me run away from them. I wouldn't +have had the heart," she added with a chuckle, "if Mollie hadn't brought +it all on herself."</p> + +<p>"But they're still gaining," insisted Grace nervously, trying to look +behind, ahead, keep her seat, hat, and dignity all at the same time. +"Look, Betty, they're only about thirty feet behind!"</p> + +<p>"That's near enough," Betty decided, and leaning over suddenly, did +something to the car that Grace never quite understood. Anyway, it had +the desired effect. The little racer fairly leapt forward and, like a +horse that has been given his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> head for the first time, took the bit +between its teeth and bolted.</p> + +<p>Behind them Mollie looked her amazement. She was getting every bit of +speed out of her machine of which it was capable, and then, just as +victory was within sight, Betty was doing an inconceivable, unbelievable +thing—she was winning the race!</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ford and Amy had been enjoying the race tremendously, but now they +leaned forward in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Goodness, she's beating us," cried Amy.</p> + +<p>"No!" snapped Mollie sarcastically. "Who would have supposed it?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it is because Betty's car is so much lighter," suggested Mrs. +Ford consolingly. "We have all the luggage and wraps, too."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that wouldn't make so much difference," denied Mollie, who was too +good a sportsman to make excuses for herself. "Betty's racer has the +speed, that's all."</p> + +<p>"Well, they're just about out of sight now," said Amy, leaning back +resignedly. "I only hope Betty doesn't run into anything and have a +smash-up. She hasn't driven a car as much as you, Mollie."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Betty'll take care of herself," said Mollie, though she was +slightly mollified by this tribute to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> her superior experience, if not +superior speed. "I guess," she added, after a moment's reflection, "I'd +better sell this old car and get a racer too."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ford laughed softly, the first time she had laughed or thought of +laughing since receiving the news of Will's being wounded.</p> + +<p>"Don't go back on an old friend for its first offence, Mollie," she +chided, adding diplomatically: "A racing car is just fine for speed, but +I think your automobile is much more sociable and comfy."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm glad there's something nice about it," said Mollie, for she +had not yet recovered from her surprise and chagrin. "I hope," she +added, as a sudden thought struck her, "that Betty doesn't get too far +ahead. I don't know this part of the country very well and Betty has the +map."</p> + +<p>"That will be the next thing," said Amy, with a sigh, and Mollie looked +at her sharply.</p> + +<p>"What?" she demanded.</p> + +<p>"Why, that we'll get lost," Amy explained. "Wasn't that what you meant?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope not," said Mrs. Ford, a little anxiously. "Perhaps we'll be +able to see them when we round this curve, Mollie."</p> + +<p>But they rounded several curves, and still no sign of Betty's car. Then +happened what Mollie had secretly been fearing would happen. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> came +to a crossroads and a sudden stop at one and the same moment.</p> + +<p>"Now, what?" queried Amy, in the tone of resignation that never failed +to rub Mollie the wrong way. "Something the matter with the engine?"</p> + +<p>"No, the engine's all right," snapped Mollie, adding, irritably: "But +everything else is all wrong."</p> + +<p>"What, for instance?" queried Mrs. Ford soothingly. She knew that the +first defeat Mollie had ever experienced would be bound to rankle and +was prepared to make allowances. "If the engine is all right, why don't +we go on?"</p> + +<p>"Which way?" queried Mollie, spreading out her arms with a hopeless +gesture. "There are two roads, one looks as good as the other, and we +haven't the slightest idea in the world which to take."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" gasped Amy.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ford gave a low whistle as she saw the fix they were in.</p> + +<p>"Then if Betty doesn't realize our predicament and come back pretty +soon, we'll either have to stay here indefinitely, or go back the way we +came, is that it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," nodded Mollie, adding truthfully and more than a little +anxiously: "Only I'm not quite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> sure I know just how we came. As I said, +this is unfamiliar country to me."</p> + +<p>Amy groaned.</p> + +<p>"Then we shall be lost for fair," she said. "Oh, why did Betty do such a +foolish thing?"</p> + +<p>Mollie was about to retort when a cloud of dust in the distance and a +faint chug-chug made her swallow her words.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" she cried. "It sounds like a motor. I wonder—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is!" cried Amy, straining her eyes to see through the cloud of +dust. "It's only a little car, and it's coming at about ninety miles an +hour."</p> + +<p>At this reference to Betty's speed, Mollie winced a little but gave a +relieved sigh nevertheless. For by this time the car was near enough to +be identified beyond doubt. It was a racer, and there was a girl at the +wheel.</p> + +<p>A few moments later Betty herself, with a grin, hailed them.</p> + +<p>"Hello," she cried, adding as the car slowed to a standstill: "This time +the joke's on us. We were so busy running away from you that we took the +wrong road. This one ends about two miles up in somebody's farm."</p> + +<p>"It's lucky something stopped you," said Mollie dryly, adding as she +cocked one eye at the sun:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> "Well, let's be getting along. We'll have to +hurry and make up for lost time."</p> + +<p>"Do you still want to get ahead of us?" asked Betty, as a moment later +she swung her car into the right road. "Because if you do—"</p> + +<p>"Go on," cried Mollie, exasperated, yet beginning to laugh, for after +all Mollie was a good loser. "Some way or other I'll get even with you, +Betty Nelson. Meanwhile hustle!"</p> + +<p>And Betty hustled, with Mollie keeping just far enough behind to avoid +the cloud of dust the little car threw up. For an hour more the motors +purred rhythmically, eating up mile after mile, until finally the girls +were compelled by ravenous and healthy <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'appetities'">appetites</ins> to stop for lunch.</p> + +<p>They had brought two big hampers, packed full with sandwiches, fruit and +cake and also something to drink, and after the long ride in the open +the very thought of these delicacies brought, as Grace said, "the tears +of longing to their eyes."</p> + +<p>As Mrs. Ford handed one of the baskets over the seat to Mollie in front, +Betty and Grace tumbled out of their car and came running toward them.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to get out and eat, in romantic fashion, by the wayside?" +queried Grace, eyeing a pile of sandwiches hungrily. "Or are you going<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +to sit in state in the car and let us occupy the running board?"</p> + +<p>"We'll give you one of the hampers," offered Mrs. Ford, but Mollie +gasped in dismay.</p> + +<p>"Oh, please don't," she begged. "Don't you see—there are only two of +them to our three. And you want to give them half the lunch!"</p> + +<p>They laughed at her, and Betty offered a solution.</p> + +<p>"Far be it from us to rob you, Honey," she said soothingly. "We'll sit +right here on this rock—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, goodness! who cares where we sit as long as we get something," +groaned Grace. "Mollie, I'm dying."</p> + +<p>"Well as long as you die out there it's all right," retorted Mollie +unfeelingly. Nevertheless, she handed the sufferer a ham sandwich and a +hard boiled egg, which the latter came as near to grabbing as her good +breeding would permit.</p> + +<p>However, when they had finished the lunch, burned up what odds and ends +remained, and had once more started on their way, they found that the +shadow of unhappiness which the excitement of the race had almost +banished, was returning again.</p> + +<p>In front with Betty, Grace sighed so dolefully that the Little Captain +looked at her inquiringly,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> an action which almost brought about a +collision with a tree by the wayside.</p> + +<p>"Betty, what are you doing?"</p> + +<p>"Trying to kill us," replied Betty serenely. "And if you give any more +sighs like that, I'll do it."</p> + +<p>"I didn't know I sighed," said Grace gloomily. "But it wouldn't be any +wonder if I did. I feel as if I were made up of them—sighs, I mean."</p> + +<p>Betty was silent a moment, then she asked suddenly:</p> + +<p>"When does your father expect to hear from Washington?"</p> + +<p>"Not before the end of the week, anyway. And by that time," Grace paused +to control the trembling of her lips, "nobody knows what may have +happened. For all we know Will may be—dead."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>RED RAGS</h3> + + +<p>"Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," +said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering +wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally. "Now if nothing +else happens—"</p> + +<p>The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she +put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty. The +latter stopped her car and came running back to see what had happened.</p> + +<p>"Tire," said Mollie laconically, forestalling the inevitable questions. +"I knew our luck had been too good to be true. Well," with the air of a +martyr <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'acceping'">accepting</ins> the inevitable, "I suppose there's nothing to do but +get busy and fix it, though, of course, this spoils our chances of +getting to Bensington to-night," Bensington being the town midway +between Deepdale and Bluff Point where they had planned to spend the +night. It was also the only town for miles around that boasted a hotel.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know," said Betty in reply to Mollie's gloomy prediction. +"It won't be the first time we've accomplished the impossible."</p> + +<p>"But it will soon be dark."</p> + +<p>"Goodness! it won't be dark for hours and hours," Betty laughed at her. +"And this oughtn't to take us more than half an hour at the longest. +Come on now, let's get busy."</p> + +<p>Thus inspired, the girls "got busy," but they were tired with the long +drive and everything seemed to go wrong. Their usually skillful fingers +fumbled, the tire was "too big or too little or something," to quote +Amy, and at the end of a quarter of an hour's useless struggle their +tempers were worn to a frazzle and they were ready to cry.</p> + +<p>"Well, I never had anything act like that before," cried Mollie +irritably. "I'd like to give the person that wrote about the 'depravity +of inanimate things' a medal. The old tire's got a mean disposition, +that's all."</p> + +<p>"Well, it isn't the only one," Grace was beginning, when Mollie turned +and glared at her.</p> + +<p>"If you mean me—"</p> + +<p>"I meant all of us," Grace explained. "As long as we have been going +together, this is the first time I can remember when all of us have been +in the doleful dumps at once."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> + +<p>This brought a reluctant smile even to Mollie's gloomy countenance, and +Betty laughed merrily.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it's just as well," said the Little Captain, adding with a +chuckle: "It's the same way with onions—if everybody eats 'em, no one +can notice the unpleasantness in the other fellow."</p> + +<p>This brought a real laugh, and Mollie said fondly:</p> + +<p>"I always knew you were a 'philosophiker,' Betty, dear. But," she added, +vindictively kicking the tire that lay at her feet, "all the philosophy +in the world won't put this tire on for us. And we can't very well get +to Bensington on three wheels and a rim."</p> + +<p>"No!" cried Grace, sarcastically. "Who would have guessed it?"</p> + +<p>Mollie started to retort, but the threatened resumption of hostilities +was cut short by the sound of a motor in the distance.</p> + +<p>"Hark!" cried Mollie, a dramatic hand raised to a listening ear. "Do I +hear the approach of an angel?"</p> + +<p>"If you do, he has a pretty earthly means of transportation," laughed +Betty. "To me, it sounds like a machine or a motorcycle."</p> + +<p>"How can you?" cried Mollie, still dramatically poised. "It is an angel, +I tell you, come to help us out of our predicament."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is a motorcycle," cried Amy excitedly. "The engine is making too +much noise for an automobile."</p> + +<p>"Well," suggested Mrs. Ford quietly, "whoever it is, I think it might be +a good idea to get out of the middle of the road."</p> + +<p>"But if we do," Grace protested, "he'll go right past us."</p> + +<p>"And if we don't we'll get run over," added Mrs. Ford.</p> + +<p>The girls looked at each other helplessly.</p> + +<p>"I tell you," cried Betty suddenly, her eyes sparkling with a new idea. +"Give me that old red rag we use for a duster, Mollie, and I'll go and +signal your angel."</p> + +<p>"Betty, you'll do no such thing," cried Amy, shocked, while Mollie dug +under the seat for the improvised signal flag. "Think of signaling a +strange man!"</p> + +<p>"But you forget he's an angel in disguise," laughed Betty, snatching the +dust cloth Mollie held out to her. "Anyway," she added, over her +shoulder, "desperate cases require desperate remedies," and was off +round the turn of the road.</p> + +<p>There wasn't much time to spare either, for when she had clambered up on +a rock by the side of the road, the motorcyclist was only a few hundred +feet away.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> + +<p>At the unexpected sight of a red rag wildly waved by a very graceful +little figure in a gray traveling suit, he looked surprised but promptly +put on his brakes. He leapt from his machine and came running toward her +while Betty descended from her perch just in time to meet him at the +foot of the rock.</p> + +<p>"Is there anything the matter?" he asked, in a nice voice that Betty +immediately liked. In fact, she liked nearly everything about him, from +his sunburned face and merry blue eyes to his trim leather boots and +puttees. So she gave him a friendly little smile that showed all her +dimples, much to his secret admiration.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, there is," she answered, adding with a chuckle: "If there +hadn't been, I shouldn't have been perched on that old rock, waving a +ridiculous red dust rag!"</p> + +<p>Then, as they made their way around the turn in the road toward the car +where Mrs. Ford and the girls were waiting for them, she explained the +situation, adding with another smile: "You see, I had to stop you some +way, so I chose the very first method I could think of."</p> + +<p>"It certainly was effective," he answered, smiling.</p> + +<p>Then after mutual introductions, by which the girls learned that their +new friend's name was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> Joe Barnes and that he had been on his way to +Deeming, a village about five miles away when Betty's red flag had +brought him to so sudden a stop, the youth went to work with a will at +the tire while the girls alternately watched him and helped by handing +him the tools he needed.</p> + +<p>In what seemed no time at all to the girls he had finished his task and +had pulled out a handkerchief and was wiping his begrimed hands with it.</p> + +<p>"My, you did do that in a hurry!" sighed Mollie, patting the new tire +happily. "You did in fifteen minutes what five of us couldn't do in half +an hour."</p> + +<p>"You were probably tired," he answered, glancing at the car, which gave +unmistakable evidence of the many miles they had come that day. "Are +you, have you—" he hesitated, evidently not knowing whether his +question would be taken in good part or not. "Are you going very much +farther?"</p> + +<p>"Only about a hundred miles," laughed Betty, then added in answer to his +startled glance: "Not to-night, though. We are just going as far as +Bensington."</p> + +<p>"But Bensington is about fifteen miles away," he protested, adding as he +glanced up at a lowering gray cloud overhead: "And if I know any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>thing +about weather signs, you will have to use some speed to get there before +the storm."</p> + +<p>"The storm!" they cried simultaneously, following his glance, while +Mollie added petulantly:</p> + +<p>"Goodness, haven't we had enough troubles for one day without getting a +drenching into the bargain?"</p> + +<p>"But we haven't got the drenching yet," Mrs. Ford reminded her, adding, +with a cordial smile as she held out her hand to Joe Barnes: "We don't +know how to thank you Mr. Barnes, for taking all this trouble for us."</p> + +<p>"Please don't," he begged, flashing his nice smile upon them. "I am only +too glad to have been of assistance. And now, if I might suggest—"</p> + +<p>Another glance at the ominous cloud which had grown bigger and blacker +even in these few minutes, sent the girls scrambling unceremoniously to +their seats while Joe Barnes lifted his hat and stood waiting for them +to start. Once his eyes rested upon Betty, and there was so much +undisguised admiration in them that she flushed prettily and threw in +the clutch with a jerk that was not at all skillful.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye," they called, and "good-bye," he answered, as the two cars +sprang forward in a cloud of dust. Not until they were out of sight<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> did +Joe Barnes turn away and retrace his steps toward his deserted +motorcycle.</p> + +<p>"<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Joie'">Joe</ins>, my boy," he communed with himself, shaking his head over the +memory of Betty's dimples, "that little Miss Nelson is one girl in a +million. I wonder now," slowly mounting his machine and looking +reflectively at the road in front of it, "why I didn't ask if I might +call." Then the absurdity of the idea made him laugh at himself. "What +nonsense to think of taking advantage of an accident—Where was it they +said they were stopping for the night? Oh, yes, Bensington. Well, he +might go there and take a chance on seeing them—her. Fate might even be +kind to him and burst some more tires!" Then he laughed at himself again +and started his motor.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Grace, who had noticed Joe Barnes' expressive glance in +Betty's direction and the latter's subsequent confusion, commented upon +the coincidence.</p> + +<p>"Goodness, Betty," she drawled lightly, "I always knew you were a heart +breaker, but I never saw you make a conquest in so short a time. Half an +hour and—poof—it's all over but the shouting."</p> + +<p>Betty gave an annoyed little laugh.</p> + +<p>"Don't be foolish, Gracie," she commanded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> adding reflectively as she +skillfully avoided a rock in the road: "He was awfully nice looking +though, and pleasant."</p> + +<p>"Of course!"</p> + +<p>"But I couldn't help wondering," Betty went on, as though talking to +herself, "why he was here at all when his country needs him."</p> + +<p>"Um—yes, that was rather strange," mused Grace. "One isn't used to +seeing a young, good-looking and apparently healthy boy on this side of +the water these days, unless he's in khaki. I wonder if our knight by +the wayside is by any chance one of those insects we term—"</p> + +<p>"Slackers?" finished Betty, adding in quick defense: "No, I'm quite sure +he isn't that kind. You know we have had a good chance to study both +types, and he doesn't look like a slacker."</p> + +<p>"Granted," agreed Grace, adding with a quick change of mood: "Just the +same, it makes me feel desperate to see any young fellow running at his +own free will about the country, evidently enjoying life, while our boys +are giving up everything—"</p> + +<p>"But, if Joe Barnes isn't a slacker," Betty reminded her gently, "he is +probably passionately envying our boys the right to 'give up +everything'."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," replied Grace, eyes fixed moodily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> upon the flying landscape. +"But when I think of Will—"</p> + +<p>For a long time there was silence. Then Betty gave a little start and +regarded with disfavor a big drop that rested on the third finger of her +right hand. She immediately resigned the guidance of the car to her left +hand while she held up the right for Grace's inspection.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with it?" queried the latter, who had been engrossed +in her not too happy meditations.</p> + +<p>"Rain," cried Betty succinctly, adding with a whimsical little smile: "I +don't know whether Joe Barnes is a slacker or not, but I do know he's a +good prophet. We surely shall have to put on some speed if we want to +reach Bensington before the storm!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>THUNDER AND MUD</h3> + + +<p>"You don't mean it's raining!" cried Grace, holding out a hand to see +for herself. "Oh, dear, and we have several miles to go before we even +reach the outskirts of Bensington. What shall we do now?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," answered Betty, while a worried frown wrinkled her +pretty forehead. "I don't know just how far out we are. Oh, there's a +signboard. What does it say, Gracie? You can read it better than I."</p> + +<p>"Ten miles to Bensington," Grace read, leaning far out of the car. "Oh +Betty, we can't possibly make it! Listen to that!"</p> + +<p>"That" was an ominous rumble of thunder, and Betty's pretty forehead +puckered still more.</p> + +<p>"Well, we can at least put the top up," she said practically. "That will +keep the worst of it off anyway, and if we hurry we may have a chance of +beating it yet."</p> + +<p>Betty brought the car to a stop, jumped out on the road with Grace at +her heels, and waited for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> Mollie to come up. They had not long to wait +for a moment later Mollie stopped her car with a grinding of brakes and +came running up to her chums.</p> + +<p>"I was wondering how long you were going to ignore the warnings of +nature," she said, with a little grimace. "That cloud has been growing +with horrible rapidity for the last five minutes. What are your plans, +Captain?" and she favored Betty with a true military salute.</p> + +<p>"I wish I had some," said the latter, cocking a still more anxious eye +at the threatening cloud. "And all I've been able to think of so far is +the very original idea of putting up the top."</p> + +<p>"And side curtains," supplemented Mollie, with a chuckle. "Strange as it +may seem, even I have been favored with that inspiration."</p> + +<p>"Well, let's get busy," suggested Amy, with practical, though slangy, +emphasis. "We're apt to get drowned while we stand here talking."</p> + +<p>It was easy to see by the way they went to work that the girls agreed +with her. Even Mrs. Ford gave willing, though inexperienced, aid, and in +a very short time they had lifted the tops, adjusted the side curtains +and made all snug for the expected downpour.</p> + +<p>Nor did they have very much time to spare. While they had been working, +the thunder had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> grown louder and more insistent and now the rain began +to fall in earnest.</p> + +<p>"Duck!" cried Betty inelegantly, and they ran for shelter.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Betty, as she pressed the self-starter and the engine +purred evenly, "it's bad, but it might be a good deal worse. We can't +get wet unless it's an unusually heavy downpour."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it isn't getting wet that bothers me so much," said Grace, and +Betty looked at her in surprise. "It's the roads," she added by way of +explanation. "I've heard Aunt Mary say that they have terribly heavy +storms in this part of the country, and sometimes in half an hour the +roads get almost impassable. Many a machine has been known to sink three +or four inches in mud, and sometimes they get in so deep they have to be +hauled out."</p> + +<p>"What a cheerful prospect!" cried Betty, dismayed, adding, as the rain +beat against the windshield in steady, driving sheets: "Especially as +this storm bids fair to be a record breaker. Look how muddy the roads +are already."</p> + +<p>"And we haven't passed more than two or three wagons all the way out," +wailed Grace. "And they didn't look strong enough to pull a toy machine +out. Oh, Betty, look out!"</p> + +<p>The admonition was occasioned by a seemingly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> sudden wild desire on the +part of the car to stand on two wheels while it waved the other two +spinningly in the air.</p> + +<p>Betty, though undeniably frightened, succeeded in persuading the erring +wheels to the muddy road again. Then she slackened her speed and began +to laugh hysterically.</p> + +<p>"I don't see anything to laugh about," protested Grace, still breathless +with apprehension.</p> + +<p>"Neither do I," admitted Betty, adding whimsically. "But I had either to +laugh or cry, so I decided to laugh. After all, you must admit, it was a +wonderful skid."</p> + +<p>"The best of its kind," admitted Grace dryly. "But please don't try it +again, Honey, it has a wearing effect on my nerves!"</p> + +<p>They were silent for a while after that, while Betty regarded the +increasingly muddy road ahead of her with anxious eyes. She had been +forced to slacken her speed more and more until now they were barely +crawling along.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid we're in an awfully tight fix," she said at last. "We're +just plowing through this mud, and if it's hard on us, what must it be +for Mollie, whose car is twice as heavy as this. Look behind, will you, +Gracie, and see how she's coming along?"</p> + +<p>"She is just coming, and that's all," reported<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> Grace, after a prolonged +scrutiny through the rain-glazed window. "Goodness, we've been out in +storms before, but I never saw anything like this. And listen to that +thunder—o-oh!"</p> + +<p>A terrific clap of thunder caused Grace to clap her hands over her ears +with a little moan, while even steady-nerved Betty jumped in her seat +and took a tighter grip of the steering wheel.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what shall we do!" cried Grace, for she hated a thunderstorm worse +than she hated anything else on earth. "We can't go on this way, Betty. +We're likely to get struck any moment."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't see that we'll be any less likely to get struck if we +stand still," retorted Betty, a little sharply, for the situation was +becoming wearing, to say the least. "If you can suggest any way that we +can get out of this fix—" the sentence was cut short by a still louder +and more terrifying clap of thunder.</p> + +<p>Grace huddled in her seat, miserably trying not to die of fright.</p> + +<p>"Is Mollie still following us?" asked Betty, after an interval of weird +flashes, crashing thunder, and rain beating relentlessly against the +glass in front and turning the road to a sea of mud. "If she should get +stuck I don't know what we would do."</p> + +<p>"Yes, she's still struggling," replied Grace.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> "But it's getting so dark +I can't more than just make out the lines of the car. Oh, Betty, don't +you suppose we must be pretty close to Bensington?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't," Betty replied wearily. "You see how we've been +traveling—not more than a snail's pace, and it won't be very long +before we shall have to stop altogether. I'm surprised that Mollie has +been able to keep going so long. You will have to keep your eye on her +all the time, now, Grace, since it is getting so dark. We don't want to +lose her."</p> + +<p>"But," Grace suggested hesitantly, "I don't see that we could do them +very much good by staying here with them, if they do get stuck. Wouldn't +it be better to go on and try to make Bensington? Then we could send +help back to them."</p> + +<p>"I've thought of that," said Betty simply, "and it would work all right +provided we did manage to reach Bensington. But the probability is that +we would be forced to stop a little further on, and I must say I don't +exactly enjoy the prospect of spending the night alone on this deserted +road."</p> + +<p>Grace shivered, but answered with a nervous little laugh: "I don't know +but what we would be safe enough at that. If we can't get through, +probably nobody else could."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Just the same," said Betty decidedly, "I think I would rather cling to +the old theory that there is safety in numbers. Besides, probably your +mother would rather decide that for us. Are they still coming, Grace?"</p> + +<p>"Goodness, you remind me of Bluebeard's wife," Grace laughed +hysterically. "I thought you were going to say, 'Sister Anne, Sister +Anne, do you see a man'?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I see something better than a man," cried Betty suddenly, +straining her eyes through the darkness and the streaming windshield. +"Grace honey, do my eyes deceive me, or is that a light?"</p> + +<p>"A light!" cried Grace excitedly. "Oh, Betty, where—wait—yes, I see +it! It is a light! And there's another! Two lighted windows! Betty, +honey, we're saved!"</p> + +<p>"It's a house!" cried Betty jubilantly, while the hand that held the +steering wheel shook with relief. "You darling, wonderful house. Gracie, +dear, I think it showed on the horizon just in the nick of time. Look +behind once more."</p> + +<p>"Yes, they're still coming. Oh, if they only don't get stuck in front of +the door!"</p> + +<p>"Don't be a goose, Gracie," chided Betty, feeling in hilarious spirits +now that the end of their trouble was in sight. "You ought to get down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +on your knees in thankfulness that there is a front door to get stuck in +front of!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, is that so?" mocked Grace, her own spirits reviving at the prospect +of relief. "Well, I'm thankful enough, but I certainly don't intend to +get down on my knees about it. There isn't room in here and you can see +it's too muddy outside!"</p> + +<p>Two minutes later Betty swung the little car from the, by this time, +almost impassable road on to a gloriously graveled driveway that led up +to the hospitably lighted house.</p> + +<p>"Now, if whoever lives here will only let us in," she sighed, as she +stopped the car and glanced behind to be sure Mollie was following them, +"we'll have nothing left to ask for."</p> + +<p>"Except something to eat," amended Grace hungrily. "I thought I had +eaten enough lunch to last me a week, but I see I'm muchly mistaken. +What shall we do, Betty?" as the latter started to open the curtain and +closed it quickly again as the rain beat in upon them. "We are apt to +get soaked just running that little distance to the porch."</p> + +<p>"And the umbrellas are all wrapped up in the back of Mollie's car," +lamented Betty, then added, with sudden decision: "I guess unless we +want to sit here all night we'd better chance it. I for one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> am so +hungry I'd be willing to brave more than a rain for the sake of +something to eat."</p> + +<p>"I'd say so!" groaned Grace, again reminded of her own state of +starvation. "You get out your side Betty and I'll get out mine and we'll +make a quick dash for it."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 260px;"> +<img src="images/p086.jpg" width="260" height="400" alt="GRACE AND BETTY MADE A QUICK DASH FOR SHELTER." title="GRACE AND BETTY MADE A QUICK DASH FOR SHELTER." /> +<span class="caption">GRACE AND BETTY MADE A QUICK DASH FOR SHELTER.</span> +</div> + +<div class='center'><i>The Outdoor Girls at Bluff Point.</i> <i>Page 83.</i></div> + +<p>So they lifted the curtains and slipped out, thankful for the gravel +walk that, while it was wet and slippery, was still a delightful +contrast to the muddy sea of road they had left. They ran head down +against the blinding rain, and gained the bottom step of the porch at +the same time.</p> + +<p>A moment more, and they had climbed to the shelter of the porch itself, +out of breath but jubilant.</p> + +<p>"Thank goodness!" cried Grace.</p> + +<p>"And here come your mother and Mollie and Amy," chuckled Betty as the +trio followed their example and raced for the porch. "I guess none of +them ever knew she could run so fast in her life before. Hello, folks. +Beautiful weather, isn't it?" she inquired gayly, as the three +scrambled, panting, up on the porch. "You seem in a terrible hurry to +get somewhere."</p> + +<p>"Speak for yourself, John," gasped Mollie, shaking out her wet skirts +and trying to regain some of her dignity by putting her hat on straight. +"If you could know what I've been through for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> the last hour, just +coaxing the car along an inch at a time—"</p> + +<p>"Well," laughed Betty, as she turned to the front door and pushed the +bell, "I've been through a little bit of everything, myself, for the +last few hours, except a good square meal. And, judging from the +delightful aroma that hovers about this place," she added sniffing +hungrily, "I shouldn't wonder if that oversight wouldn't be swiftly +remedied!"</p> + +<p>Then the door opened and a tall, gray-haired lady stood in the lighted +doorway.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>THE KNIGHT OF THE WAYSIDE</h3> + + +<p>The lady stared at the bedraggled party in amazed silence for a moment. +Then Mrs. Ford stepped impulsively forward.</p> + +<p>"I don't wonder you look surprised," she said in her sweetly modulated +voice, "for this is rather an unheard of calling hour. But you see we +were caught in this awful downpour and had to seek your house for +refuge."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm sorry!" exclaimed the lady, opening the door wider and +motioning them into the cheerfully lighted living room. "I didn't mean," +she added with a smile, as they most willingly accepted her invitation, +"that I was sorry you came, but that you were forced to come by such +conditions. Won't you take off your things? But you are wet!" she +exclaimed, as the girls started to remove their dripping wraps.</p> + +<p>"And we got it all," said Mrs. Ford with a wry smile, "just running +about twenty feet from our cars to your porch."</p> + +<p>"Your cars!" the hostess repeated. "Then you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> motored down. If I had +known that I shouldn't have been so surprised at seeing you. Pedestrians +are rather rare on a night like this."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and motorists, too, if they have any sense," said Mollie dryly, at +which they all laughed and their hostess looked still more interested.</p> + +<p>"Please sit down and dry out a little," said the lady, indicating a +grate fire which had evidently only recently been lighted on account of +the chill in the air. "I'm glad I had the fire made. I must have known," +she added with a gracious smile, "that you were coming to-night."</p> + +<p>Then she excused herself, and the girls held out eager hands to the +fire.</p> + +<p>"This is bliss," sighed Amy.</p> + +<p>"Well, this is some contrast to about five minutes ago," chuckled Grace. +"I thought we were in for a night in the mud at least."</p> + +<p>"I'll never say we aren't lucky again," agreed Betty, leaning an arm on +the mantel and getting her wet skirt as close to the fire as she could. +"We were just wondering," she added, addressing Mrs. Ford, "whether, if +Mollie's car got stuck, you would rather have Grace and me struggle on +to Bensington and get some help or stay and keep you company. Although," +she added ruefully, "if we couldn't pull through that mud,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> I don't know +what we could find in Bensington to do it."</p> + +<p>"Probably the only gasoline vehicles they have in the place are +jitneys," agreed Mollie, with a chuckle.</p> + +<p>"I wonder," Amy broke in, apropos of nothing, "who our charming hostess +is. She seems so lovely. It seems odd to meet a person like her and a +house like this out in the wilderness."</p> + +<p>"Yes, one does rather expect a farmer's wife and a rambling old +farmhouse so far out in the country," agreed Mrs. Ford.</p> + +<p>"Well, maybe her husband is a scientific farmer," suggested Mollie, +adding wickedly as she turned a merry eye on Grace: "The kind Roy once +said he'd like to be. Remember, Grace?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I remember," Grace answered in a tone that indicated the memory +was not a pleasant one. "And I told him he had better drop that idea in +a hurry if he expected me—I mean—any girl—" she floundered, while +they laughed mockingly at her, "to have anything to do with him," she +finished rather weakly, while the girls giggled exasperatingly.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know," remarked Betty, in an altruistic effort to pour +oil upon the troubled waters, "that I would particularly mind marrying a +scientific farmer if they all have houses like this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> and acres of ground +with orchards and cows and chickens—"</p> + +<p>"And potato bugs," finished Grace, while the girls laughed merrily.</p> + +<p>"Well," remarked Mollie, with a desperate gleam in her eye, "I'd marry +just about anybody who would give me a square meal."</p> + +<p>"Goodness," remarked Betty, twinkling, "it's mighty lucky for Frank that +there aren't any young men of marriageable age on the horizon just now."</p> + +<p>The next moment she regretted her innocent little speech, for she could +see that the mention of the boys had brought more vividly to Grace and +Mrs. Ford and Amy the thought of Will—dear, bright, merry Will—lying +wounded in some far-away hospital, how badly wounded they could not +know, and dared not think.</p> + +<p>The silence that fell upon them was broken by the sound of their +hostess' voice, evidently issuing a command to some one in the kitchen. +Then the lady herself swept into the room.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting so long," she apologized, "but I +have had to help the maid get dinner on the table. She is a new one, +and, oh, so utterly helpless. Then, too, I was hoping my son would come +home, but since everything is ready and I know you must be starving, we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +won't delay dinner any longer. If you will come, please—"</p> + +<p>"But this is imposing upon good nature," protested Mrs. Ford, as the +lady held back the portiers and disclosed an inviting table set for +seven, elaborate with shining crystal and silver. "To drop down upon you +from a clear—or rather, a cloudy sky—"</p> + +<p>They laughed, and their hostess dismissed the protest with a little wave +of her hand.</p> + +<p>"It is a pleasure," she said, adding, as they took their places: "I am +only thankful that a lucky chance enabled me to entertain you well +to-night. I was expecting guests from the nearest farm, but since our +next door neighbors are five miles down the road, they hesitated to make +the trip because of the threatening weather. I guess it is just as well +for them they did not come," and she paused to listen to the rain which +was still pouring down in torrents.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ford made an appropriate answer, and the two ladies entered into a +little confidential chat that left the girls pretty much to their own +devices. And they were trying their best not to disgrace themselves and +to pay decorous attention to what their hostess was saying, while their +hearty young appetites were crying their protests aloud.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + +<p>At last came the new maid whom their hostess had described as 'so +utterly helpless,' looking to the famished girls an angelic being, +bearing about her an aroma of tomato soup and fried chicken, more +tempting than ambrosia.</p> + +<p>Without any perceptible hesitation, the girls immediately began to eat +and continued the agreeable occupation without interruption to the end +of the meal, save for an answer to a question or two asked by their +hostess.</p> + +<p>The helpless maid was just bringing in an enormous layer cake to the +accompaniment of admiring glances from the girls when the sound of a +latch key in the door made the lady of the house look up with a start.</p> + +<p>"It must be my son!" she said, rising hastily, "if you will excuse me a +moment—"</p> + +<p>Then came the sound of a hearty greeting in a masculine voice, followed +by a slithery sound of wet clothing. Evidently the newcomer was +divesting himself of some uncomfortably damp apparel. They could hear +his mother speaking in a low voice—probably she was preparing him to +meet the unexpected guests.</p> + +<p>"By Jove! did you say two cars?" they heard him exclaim, and it suddenly +seemed to them there was something familiar about his voice. "Now I +wonder—all right, Mother. Just give me a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> minute to get some dry +clothes on and I'll be right with you. Gosh, but I'm starved!"</p> + +<p>The girls smiled sympathetically, for was it only half an hour ago they +had been in that identically uncomfortable state.</p> + +<p>"I bet he's nice," said Mollie to Betty, in a whisper just before their +hostess once more entered the room. "Anybody with an appetite like that, +has to be."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you shouldn't have waited for me," said the lady, noting that the +ice cream that had followed hard on the heels of the chocolate cake had +begun to melt. "I don't know what to do with that boy," she added, +smiling with a mixture of irritation and fond indulgence. "When he gets +out on his motorcycle, miles mean nothing to him and time means less. He +is always late to dinner."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't think he would have found the riding very pleasant +to-night," said Betty smiling. "In fact, it is a wonder he could ride at +all—the roads are almost impassable."</p> + +<p>"Quite impassable, you mean," put in Mollie.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he has conquered that difficulty," their hostess explained, her +eyes once more lighting with pride in her son. "He has a sort of path +through the woods, which, while it perhaps lacks the comforts of a state +road, at least is not inches<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> deep in mud. He did get caught that way +once and was several hours coming a few miles."</p> + +<p>"She said he rode a motorcycle," remarked Grace to Mollie with apparent +irrelevance as the lady turned to speak to Mrs. Ford.</p> + +<p>"Well, what about it?" inquired Mollie, as she proceeded with wonderful +concentration to spear one last small but delicious piece of chocolate +on the end of her fork.</p> + +<p>"Doesn't that convey anything to your benighted mind?" Grace was +drawling sarcastically when Betty leaned toward her eagerly.</p> + +<p>"I thought his voice sounded familiar," she said. "Of course we know who +he is now."</p> + +<p>"Good evening, everybody," said the familiar voice, and they turned to +find its owner strolling toward them across the room.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Joe Barnes!" cried Mollie impulsively, then checked herself and +slowly grew red.</p> + +<p>"That's who," sang out Joe Barnes slangily, and in the laughter and +greetings that followed Mollie forgot her embarrassment.</p> + +<p>Only Joe Barnes' mother looked completely surprised and taken aback.</p> + +<p>"You know each other, then," she rather stated than asked as there was a +lull in the conversation. "I had no idea—"</p> + +<p>"Of course you hadn't," agreed her son, as he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> took the vacant seat +beside her and turned upon her a pair of very handsome laughing eyes. "I +didn't either until a few minutes ago, and we haven't been acquainted +more than a few hours."</p> + +<p>"Your son did us the favor of helping us out of a difficulty this +afternoon," Mrs. Ford explained, taking pity on the lady's bewilderment. +"To be explicit, he performed the very disagreeable operation of putting +a new tire on the front wheel of our car."</p> + +<p>"Oh, so that's it," laughed Mrs. Barnes.</p> + +<p>"Mother, what do you say to cutting out ceremony and getting down to +brass tacks?" put in Joe Barnes, eyeing hungrily the plate of steaming +soup the maid had set before him.</p> + +<p>"We don't serve them," said his mother demurely. "But I shouldn't wonder +if what we have would prove more digestible."</p> + +<p>So Joe Barnes entertained them with fun and jokes while he devoured the +different courses with a thoroughness that awoke the admiration of the +girls.</p> + +<p>But no matter how conscientiously Joe did justice to the good things set +before him, there was not a moment when he was not conscious of +Betty—Betty on the other side of the table, dimpling and sending him +back sally for sally with ready wit. What lucky chance had prompted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +nature to send a thunderstorm that afternoon? The jolly old lady was +certainly on his side!</p> + +<p>Then when Joe had decided that nothing remained to devour, the party +adjourned to the living room, where the former put some records on the +phonograph.</p> + +<p>The Barnes had a collection of very wonderful records, and for more than +an hour the girls sat entranced as, one by one, Joe produced for their +enjoyment, the greatest artists of the musical world.</p> + +<p>Finally some one suggested that Betty play some of the songs they had +loved in those service-filled days at the Hostess House. As the girlish +voices rang out in one patriotic song after another, Joe Barnes, who was +seated on the edge of a table with one foot swinging idly, fidgeted +uneasily, while over his face came a sober, almost sullen expression.</p> + +<p>"Gee, I wish they wouldn't!" he murmured to himself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>MYSTERY</h3> + + +<p>Betty presently broke into the opening strains of "There's a long, long +road awinding," and the girlish voices took it up eagerly. They put into +the melody all the pathos and longing of their hearts. They forgot where +they were, the pleasant room faded away, and they saw only a sinister +gray line of trenches, trenches that were death traps for the flowering +youth of America. They were singing to the boys, their boys, and as she +listened Mrs. Ford's eyes filled with tears.</p> + +<p>Nor was she the only one of that little audience who could not listen to +the song unmoved. Joe Barnes felt a great, unaccustomed lump rising in +his throat, and as the hot tears stung his eyes he rose hastily and +stood staring at, though not seeing, a great picture of some illustrious +ancestor that hung over the mantel.</p> + +<p>And Mrs. Barnes, looking at her son, pressed a hand over her heart, as +though to still a hurt, while in her eyes grew a look of yearning.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My poor, poor boy!" she murmured over and over to herself.</p> + +<p>And the girls, all unaware of the emotions they had awakened, drew the +last sweet note to a lingering close and stood quiet for a moment while +Betty's fingers rested on the keys. Then—</p> + +<p>"That was very beautiful," said Mrs. Barnes, trying to speak in a +matter-of-fact tone. "You girls sing wonderfully together."</p> + +<p>"We ought to," said Betty, forcing a lightness she did not feel, for as +usual she was the first to sense the tense quality in the atmosphere, +"for we have certainly had practice enough. We used to sing for the +soldier boys at the Hostess House almost every night."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but it was sometimes very hard to make <i>them</i> sing," added Amy. +"Often they didn't want to at first. But they always joined in toward +the end, and the gloomiest of them went away with a smile on his lips."</p> + +<p>"They could afford to laugh," said Joe Barnes bitterly. He had left the +picture of his illustrious ancestor and had dropped down in his old +position on the edge of the table, leg swinging idly. But his expression +had changed. It was grim and hard.</p> + +<p>Betty, looking at him, suddenly remembered, and she could see by the +expressions on the faces<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> of her chums that they also had awakened to +the situation.</p> + +<p>With horrible lack of tact, they had offended their kind host and +hostess. That they had not done so deliberately, helped their +self-condemnation not at all.</p> + +<p>They had sung patriotic songs, they had spoken of their work at the +Hostess House and of the soldier boys, while Joe Barnes, of military age +and seemingly in perfect health, did not wear a uniform. Even though he +were a slacker, it was terribly bad taste to tell him so in his own +home, while accepting his, or his mother's, hospitality.</p> + +<p>And something deep down in their hearts, intuition, perhaps, perhaps a +sort of sixth sense born of their wide experience of boys of all ages, +told them that he was not a slacker. There must be some reason, some +real excuse for his behavior.</p> + +<p>"Won't you sing some more?" asked their hostess in an attempt to relieve +the situation, while she kept one eye anxiously on her son. "Surely you +haven't finished."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid we have," said Betty, with a gay little laugh, "for the very +good reason that we don't know any more songs to sing."</p> + +<p>"And we want to hear some more real music,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> added Mollie, gamely +following her lead. "That is, if you are not tired."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, music never tires us," returned Mrs. Barnes, adding, with a +little entreating glance at her son: "Will you put on another record, +dear—something light and merry this time?"</p> + +<p>"How about some dance music?" queried Joe pleasantly. He was very much +ashamed of his weakness and ill temper, and was determined to make up +for it. "That's about the lightest and merriest we have."</p> + +<p>The girls assented eagerly, and in a few minutes the unpleasant episode +was forgotten—or apparently forgotten. At least, for the time being it +was relegated to the background, and it was not till some time later +that Joe unexpectedly broached it to Betty.</p> + +<p>The drenching downpour had changed to a sort of dismal drizzle and Mrs. +Ford, upon remarking this fact had made the suggestion that they get +into the machines again and try to make Bensington. But Mrs. Barnes had +so promptly and emphatically negatived this that there was really no +room left for argument.</p> + +<p>"Why, even with dry roads it would take you two hours or more to get +there, for at all times the road is bad between here and Bensington, but +such a thing is simply out of the question with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> roads that are two feet +deep in mud. No, you must stay for the night. I have plenty of room and +am more than delighted to have you. No, please don't object, for I will +not hear of your doing otherwise."</p> + +<p>And so it had been settled, much to everybody's satisfaction.</p> + +<p>However, Betty was very much surprised when, in the midst of a beautiful +dance with Joe Barnes—for Joe was a rather wonderful dancer—the latter +whirled her off toward a window seat in one corner of the room and +placed her, a little breathless, upon it.</p> + +<p>"Well," she said, that unconquerable imp of mischief dancing in her +eyes, "have you any adequate excuse to offer for the spoiling of an +exceptionally good dance?"</p> + +<p>"Is it spoiled?" he asked reproachfully, as he sank down beside her. "I +thought perhaps I was improving—the occasion."</p> + +<p>She made a little face at him, incidentally showing all her dimples.</p> + +<p>"I suppose, if I were a coquette," she said, flushing a little under the +very open admiration of his eyes, "which I am not—"</p> + +<p>"I'm not so sure," he murmured but she pretended not to hear the +interruption.</p> + +<p>"I should deny that you had spoiled the dance.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> As it is," she flashed +him a pretty smile that robbed her words of all sting, "I'm telling you +the truth."</p> + +<p>"And I," he countered, "am telling you the truth when I say that if it +were possible to talk with you and dance at the same time, I should not +have brought you here. As it is, I choose the greater of the two +blessings."</p> + +<p>"It must be very important—this that you have to say to me," replied +Betty, adding demurely: "Perhaps if you would tell me all about it, we +could dance again."</p> + +<p>"In other words, 'get the agony over'," said Joe, with a grimace. He +waited a moment, while the girls, who had danced to the end of the +record, turned it over, put in a new needle and started off all over +again.</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether it will seem important to you or not," he said at +last, turning slowly toward her. "But what I have to tell you is just +about the most important thing in life to me."</p> + +<p>The tone as well as the words sobered Betty, and she turned to him +earnestly.</p> + +<p>"I shall be very glad to hear it then," she said simply.</p> + +<p>"I—you—it's rather hard to begin," he stammered, then straightened up +and faced her frankly.</p> + +<p>"The truth is, I can't help knowing that you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> wondered when you first +saw me and am wondering now—as any one has a right to wonder these days +when they see a fellow like me in civilian clothes—"</p> + +<p>Betty started and the color rushed to her face.</p> + +<p>"No, I haven't—" she began, then stopped confused, remembering that she +had been wondering just that thing only a few minutes, yes, only a +minute before. "I mean I thought—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it's easy to guess what you thought," he interrupted, +misinterpreting her sentence while the bitter look crept once more into +his eyes. "It's easy enough to guess what everybody thinks. But," he +straightened his shoulders and threw back his head, "I don't think +anybody will have a right to think that very much longer. You see," he +added, turning to her again and speaking more calmly, "I tried to enlist +at the beginning of the war, but they told me there was something wrong +here," he touched his chest, "with my lungs."</p> + +<p>Betty gave an involuntary exclamation of pity.</p> + +<p>"The doctor said it was just beginning," he went on slowly, "and he +said—he was a good old scout, that doctor—that if I got out of the +city where I could get fresh air, eggs, and milk—you know, the same old +stuff—that I might suc<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span>ceed in curing myself up in a hurry and get in +the game in time to bring in my share of helmets after all."</p> + +<p>"Oh, so that's why you and your mother are away out here!" cried Betty +eagerly, laying an impulsive little hand on his. "And you are well, +aren't you? Why, you must be! You look the very picture of health."</p> + +<p>Joe gulped a little, looked at the friendly little hand on his, tried to +speak once or twice and failed, then—</p> + +<p>"I feel just fine," he said, striving to make his voice sound natural. +"I never cough any more, and I've got the appetite of a wolf—you saw +how I ate to-night—" a faint smile lighted his eyes and found an +answering one in Betty's. "Yet, I've been holding off for more than +three weeks for fear—just for fear—everything isn't all right. You +see, they've made a coward of me. I'm afraid of being refused twice."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but you won't be!" cried Betty, with honest conviction in her +voice. "I'm not much of a doctor, although I've met so many of them at +Camp Liberty and heard them talk so much about different diseases that I +feel I ought at least to qualify as an assistant," she paused to smile +at herself and he thought he had never seen anything so pretty in his +life, "and I would say<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> that whatever your trouble has been, it is cured +now. I'm sure of it."</p> + +<p>"Hold on, hold on," he entreated a little huskily. "If I could only +believe that—"</p> + +<p>"Say, you two over there," Mollie's voice broke in upon them gayly, +"we've been trying hard to be polite and not interrupt, but the clock +has just struck twelve and we have a long ride before us to-morrow—or +rather, to-day!"</p> + +<p>Betty replied laughingly, but before she could rejoin the others, Joe +had whispered another question.</p> + +<p>"You really meant what you said?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"With all my heart," she answered earnestly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>NEARLY AN ACCIDENT</h3> + + +<p>"Look at the sun! Look at the sun!" cried Betty, sitting up in bed and +gazing joyfully out at the sun-drenched landscape. "Girls, for goodness +sake, wake up. How can you sleep, Grace?"</p> + +<p>Grace groaned and opened one eye.</p> + +<p>"House afire?" she asked sleepily.</p> + +<p>"Of course not, Silly. But the world is."</p> + +<p>Betty was evidently in high spirits, thought Grace, as she rolled over +and regarded her critically.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean—'the world is'?" she inquired grumpily, managing with +great difficulty, to open the other eye. "Can't you talk sense?"</p> + +<p>"Not on a morning like this," retorted Betty, running to the window and +thrusting her head far out into the balmy air. "Look, Lazybones, the +roads are pretty nearly dry and we couldn't ask for a more wonderful +day."</p> + +<p>"What time is it?" queried Grace, without enthusiasm. She was always +unenthusiastic be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span>fore breakfast in the morning, especially if she +happened to get to bed rather late the night before.</p> + +<p>"Half-past six," replied Betty, turning from the window and beginning +hurriedly to gather her things together. "And we all agreed last night +to get up at six. I wonder if I'm the only one stirring."</p> + +<p>As if in answer to her question, there came a soft tap on the door and +their hostess' voice speaking to them.</p> + +<p>"Breakfast is almost ready," she said. "I had it prepared early +especially for you."</p> + +<p>"That was dear of you," replied Betty, adding with the greatest of +optimism, considering that three of them were not yet out of bed: "We'll +be down in ten minutes."</p> + +<p>Although the ten minutes stretched into fifteen, it is a tribute to +Betty's excellent generalship that the dressing of the other three girls +was managed in that time.</p> + +<p>But perhaps the aroma of bacon floating temptingly up to them had +something to do with it after all, for they all four boasted youthfully +unimpaired appetites.</p> + +<p>However that may be, the fact remains that in fifteen minutes from the +time Mrs. Barnes stopped at the door, four very pretty and very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> hungry +young girls gathered in the dining room, ready and eager for the day's +adventure. Mrs. Ford was already there.</p> + +<p>Joe was there too, looking even more bronzed and attractive in the +morning light, and Betty, glancing at him, could scarcely believe that +what the boy had told her the night before had not been a dream. That +splendid specimen of young manhood refused the right to serve his +country because he had lung trouble! She could not even bring herself to +think that other word, that horrible word, consumption.</p> + +<p>But there was one thing certain—she had not been mistaken in her +judgment of the night before. He might once have been the victim of +disease, but he surely was not now.</p> + +<p>Perhaps something of what she was thinking was reflected in her eyes as +she looked at him, for he returned the glance with so much admiration in +his own that she hastily looked away and became absorbed in the bacon on +her plate.</p> + +<p>It was a very merry breakfast and a very good one, and when the time +came at last for taking leave of their lovely hostess, they found +themselves unexpectedly reluctant to do so.</p> + +<p>"I wish you were coming with us," said Mrs. Ford, after the lady had +waved aside her thanks for the good time they had had. "I am sure you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +would enjoy the trip almost as much as we would enjoy having you with +us."</p> + +<p>"I wish it were possible for me to go," Mrs. Barnes replied rather +wistfully, as they started down the steps to the waiting automobiles. +"It is rather lonesome out here," then, catching a glance from her son, +who was trying to carry three handbags at once, she added hastily: "But +of course I love it and would miss it awfully. Joe, be careful, dear, +you nearly dropped that bag in the dirt."</p> + +<p>"I always thought I'd make good in the juggling profession," replied Joe +ruefully, as he skillfully recovered the bag in question, "but I guess I +was mistaken. Where do these go, Miss Billette—anywhere?" he asked, +turning to Mollie.</p> + +<p>"Yes, just throw them in," replied Mollie, carelessly, absorbed in +testing out her engine. "Only leave room for Mrs. Ford, that's all."</p> + +<p>Then, as Amy stopped to speak to Grace, Joe escorted Betty to her little +racer and helped her into the driver's seat, though little help Betty +needed or asked of anyone.</p> + +<p>"It's rather a rough deal, isn't it?" he asked suddenly.</p> + +<p>"What?" inquired Betty, surprised.</p> + +<p>"Fate introduces us one minute, then snatches<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> you away in the next, +before I've had time for more than a word with you."</p> + +<p>"Why, I remember several words we've had together," laughed Betty as she +settled herself more comfortably in her seat. "Is there anything +particular you want to say to me?"</p> + +<p>Joe started to speak, evidently thought better of it, and looked up at +her soberly.</p> + +<p>"I've already told you more than I ever expected to tell any one," he +said, and she stretched out an eager, sympathetic little hand to him.</p> + +<p>"I know, and I have felt very proud of that confidence," she said +earnestly.</p> + +<p>"Then you will let me write to you and tell you how things are with me?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I should be so glad!" she said, and there was no doubting her +sincerity.</p> + +<p>He had no more than time to flash her a grateful glance when Grace came +up and put an end to the conversation.</p> + +<p>Amid expressions of friendship on both sides and laughing farewells, the +two cars slid backwards along the drive and out on to the road. Then +with a purring of engines, the little racer leaped ahead with Mollie in +close pursuit. They were off once more.</p> + +<p>It was as Betty had said. The long clear night and the bright morning +sunshine had done much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> toward drying the roads and though they were +still rather sticky and slippery, the girls had no difficulty in keeping +up a good rate of speed.</p> + +<p>"This is something like," cried Grace, as she stretched both arms above +her head and breathed deep of the balmy air. "I could be completely +happy if it weren't for one thing."</p> + +<p>Betty had no need to ask what that one thing was, and at mention of it +her thought turned involuntarily to Allen. Was he safe or had he +too—she shuddered at the thought.</p> + +<p>"Wasn't it strange?" she said, seeking to change the conversation and +the trend of her own thoughts at the same time, "that Joe Barnes proved +to be Mrs. Barnes' son?" It was not at all what she had intended to say, +and out of the corner of her eye she saw Grace turn and look at her +curiously.</p> + +<p>"No, I can't see that it's so very strange," Grace said dryly. "At least +I have seen stranger things."</p> + +<p>"Well, you know what I mean," retorted Betty, still absently. "He is +awfully nice, isn't he?"</p> + +<p>"That's what he seemed to think of you," returned Grace slyly.</p> + +<p>"Of course he did! Why shouldn't he?" challenged Betty, coming out of +her abstraction and smiling gayly. "I like me, myself."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's the worst of it," sighed Grace, turning for consolation to her +inevitable box of chocolates. "No matter how awful you are, we have to +love you just the same. Look out, Betty," as the car took a curve on +three wheels. "Goodness! you're getting to be a more expert skidder than +Mollie."</p> + +<p>"Thanks," returned Betty, executing a bow whose grace was somewhat +impaired by the proximity of the steering wheel. "Willst hand me a +candy, Gracie, honey? Thanks. That's a good girl!"</p> + +<p>For a long time after that they were quiet, enjoying the swift motion, +the warm wind upon their faces, the fragrance of flowers and of moist +sweet earth flung to them from the depths of the woodland.</p> + +<p>Before they knew it, they had reached the outskirts of Bensington, then +Bensington itself, and were speeding through the queer little town +without a thought of stopping when a warning signal from Mollie's horn +brought them to an abrupt stop. Betty jumped out and ran back.</p> + +<p>"We'll need some provisions," Mollie called to her. "Unless you and +Grace think we can reach the next town by noon."</p> + +<p>"That's what we planned to do," Betty answered. "Grace and I thought it +would save time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> not to stop here—and we haven't any time to waste, you +know."</p> + +<p>"All right," Mrs. Ford decided. "Perhaps it will be just as well, for we +shall have to put on all speed in order to reach Bluff Point before +night."</p> + +<p>So Betty raced back to her machine and in a moment more they were off +again, fairly eating up the miles. As the roads grew dryer and dryer +beneath the scorching heat of the sun they made even better time until a +little past twelve o'clock they entered the little village of Hill +Crest.</p> + +<p>The place boasted nothing so magnificent as a hotel, but they managed to +find a little bake shop where the rosy-cheeked country woman who worked +there made them up some delicious sandwiches, supplied them with +tempting rolls and cake, and, wonder of wonders, set upon the table a +pitcher of fresh milk.</p> + +<p>When they had finished this rural but eminently satisfying repast, they +hurried over to the one big general store to buy a few supplies that +they would need that night. It was necessary to lay in only a limited +amount, as Grace's aunt Mary had thoughtfully left her cottage well +stocked and had informed them that eggs, chickens and vegetables of all +kinds could be had fresh from the farmers round about.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then they were off again, eyes upon that ribbon of road in front, intent +upon reaching their destination before nightfall.</p> + +<p>It was not till about four o'clock that they met with their first +setback.</p> + +<p>Betty had just rounded a turn in the road, horn honking for all it was +worth, when she found herself almost on top of a huge farm wagon.</p> + +<p>She yelled to the driver and put on her brakes hard, hoping desperately +that Mollie would not run into her from behind. Grace shrieked and +covered her face with her hands.</p> + +<p>It was a narrow escape, for when the car had finally stopped there was +not more than about an inch between it and the wagon in front. Luckily +Mollie had been warned by the noise of the horn, and had stopped her +machine just around the turn of the road. She and Mrs. Ford and Amy came +running to see what the matter was.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Betty had recovered herself and was smiling apologetically up +at the frightened driver. His horses, startled by the noise and shouting +had tried to bolt, and he had had all he could do to hold them in. The +result was a slightly heated condition on the part of his temper.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry," Betty was saying, her voice still<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> tremulous from the +sudden fright she had received. "I thought—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, an' I thought too," he interrupted, in a gruff, rude tone that +whipped the color to her face. "It would be a heap better if some +folks'd think before they done things. Durned old gasoline wagons."</p> + +<p>And, still muttering, the angry man turned and whipped up his team while +the girls stared after him dumbly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>OUTWITTING A CRANK</h3> + + +<p>"Old grouch," cried Mollie, shaking a vindictive little fist after the +departing farmer. "If it hadn't been that you would have killed yourself +too, Betty, I almost wish you had hit him."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't," said Grace ruefully. "Nobody ever thinks of poor me."</p> + +<p>"I guess we had better be a little more careful in the future," said +Mrs. Ford, a worried line between her brows. "Better to be a little +longer reaching Bluff Point than to endanger our lives and perhaps the +lives of others."</p> + +<p>"It almost looks as if we shouldn't have any choice," said Mollie, and +they looked at her in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Well, we can't hope to pass that wagon," she explained, indicating the +vehicle that was now some hundred feet in front and was waddling along +at a snail's pace. "There isn't room, with the ditch on one side and the +drop on the other."</p> + +<p>"It will be easy enough if he moves to one side of the road," suggested +Amy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He'll move over if we toot at him," added Grace.</p> + +<p>But Mollie shook her head doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"I'm not so sure," she said. "It would be just like him to try to get +even with us by blocking the road."</p> + +<p>"Get even with us?" repeated Betty indignantly. "I might just as well +say I want to get even with him for being in the road when I wanted to +pass. How ridiculous."</p> + +<p>"Of course it's ridiculous. That's probably the reason he would think of +it," insisted Mollie. "I know these farmers," she added, nodding darkly.</p> + +<p>They laughed at her, and Betty cried gayly: "Well, we won't get anywhere +by standing here in the road. I move we follow the old fellow and see +what he's up to. And if he gets too ridiculous," she added, as she +climbed back into the car, "I know how I'll fix him."</p> + +<p>"How?" they asked.</p> + +<p>"I'll bump him," she responded ferociously, and amid more fun and +laughter they climbed back into the cars and started on again.</p> + +<p>"You know, even his back looks stubborn," remarked Grace, when, coming +close to the wagon and tooting the horn vigorously, the driver refused +to budge from the middle of the road. "I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> guess perhaps you will have to +carry out your threat, Betty."</p> + +<p>"Well, I declare if I won't," exclaimed the Little Captain, her cheeks +flushing and her eyes blazing at the stubborn insolence of the man. "It +would give me great pleasure to bump him clear down the side of the +mountain."</p> + +<p>"It's getting late, too," worried Grace. "Can't you do something, +Betty?"</p> + +<p>"Will you please suggest something?" cried Betty, exasperated. "There's +nothing in the rules for driving a machine that covers this difficulty. +I don't know what to do, unless— Did you bring the pistol?"</p> + +<p>Grace started.</p> + +<p>"Goodness! you're not going to kill him are you?"</p> + +<p>"Not unless I have to," replied Betty, and at her expression, Grace +laughed weakly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I brought the pistol," she said. "But it's down in the bottom of +the bag that is underneath all the other bags in the tonneau of Mollie's +car."</p> + +<p>Betty groaned.</p> + +<p>"And it isn't even loaded," added Grace, as an afterthought. "Mother +said it made her feel safer to have it along since there aren't going to +be any men with us, but she wouldn't have it loaded."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What good is it then?" queried Betty.</p> + +<p>"Just to scare people with."</p> + +<p>"Well, that's what I want to do to that—man," cried Betty, trying to +think of something bad enough to call the cranky farmer, who still urged +his team along squarely in the middle of the road and refused to give an +inch. "Only I'd like to scare him to death. My conscience wouldn't even +hurt."</p> + +<p>"It would be murder just the same," Grace suggested, with a little +hysterical laugh, "whether you shot him or scared him to death."</p> + +<p>Betty was silent for a minute or two, crawling along behind the wagon +while her blood boiled and her anger surged. For Betty came from a race +of fighting ancestors who were not in the habit of submitting to +indignities.</p> + +<p>"Grace, I've got to do something!" she burst out at last, gripping the +wheel so tightly her knuckles showed white. "It isn't so much the +valuable time we're losing, but it's an absolute necessity to show that +fellow where he—"</p> + +<p>"'Where he gets off,'" Grace finished slangily. "I know dear, but how?"</p> + +<p>Betty shook her head helplessly and just glared.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly Grace uttered a little cry and sat up straight in her +seat.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I have it!" she cried. "I know what we can do."</p> + +<p>"Tell me," demanded Betty.</p> + +<p>"Why, I know this road pretty well," Grace explained, speaking quickly. +"We're not much more than ten miles from Bluff Point."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," cried Betty impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Well, there is a short detour road that juts off from the main road +just a little further on, and after running parallel to the road for +half a mile or so, crosses it again."</p> + +<p>"Yes," cried Betty again, beginning to understand the plot.</p> + +<p>"So we'll take the detour," Grace finished triumphantly, "and come out, +in front of the farmer."</p> + +<p>"And then—" said Betty with a chuckle and a gleam in her eye.</p> + +<p>"The rest will be up to us," finished Grace. "Shall we know what to do +then?"</p> + +<p>"I'll say we shall," chortled Betty, adding with a glance over her +shoulder at Mollie's car that was creeping along some twenty feet behind +them: "Of course the next thing will be to tell Mollie. Will you run +back Grace?"</p> + +<p>For once Grace did not object, and without waiting for Betty to stop the +car, and indeed it was hardly necessary at the rate they were go<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span>ing, +jumped out and ran back, waving an excited hand at Mollie.</p> + +<p>Betty heard a whoop of delight from the rear, and in a minute Grace was +back in her place.</p> + +<p>"How far is it from here?" asked Betty, scanning the road ahead eagerly. +"I hope," she added, as a horrid fear assailed her, "that he doesn't +turn off on to the other road, too."</p> + +<p>"Heavens, I hope not! Oh, there it is!" she cried a moment later, as a +turn in the winding road brought the crossroads to view. "Now, if he +only doesn't turn down it!"</p> + +<p>Eagerly they watched and drew a sigh of relief as the driver jogged +steadily on down the main road.</p> + +<p>"Now's our chance," exulted Betty, as she changed gears with a +challenging roar and slipped off merrily down the detour road.</p> + +<p>Sullenly the driver watched them go and then with a shrug of his +shoulders, turned once more to his team.</p> + +<p>Gayly the two cars sped along the road, bearing four Outdoor Girls bent +upon revenge. The going was rough and bumpy, far worse than the main +road, but the girls never noticed it.</p> + +<p>"That was one time Grace had a good idea," Mollie was exulting as they +flew along. "I never thought she was particularly brilliant before, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +I have changed my mind." Then catching Mrs. Ford's eye, she added with a +little laugh: "You see that's the way Grace and I talk about each other. +Only," plaintively, "she says much worse things about me!"</p> + +<p>"It will be fun," cried Amy, her eyes shining with anticipation, "to get +in front of him and give that old crank a taste of his own medicine."</p> + +<p>"He certainly deserves it," agreed Mrs. Ford, for she was as indignant +as the girls at the man's insolence. "Didn't Grace say something about +pretending we were stalled?"</p> + +<p>"She did," cried Mollie gleefully. "And as luck, I mean bad luck, will +have it, the mean old engine will choose the very center of the road to +do it's stalling in. Bless it's little old heart," and even Mrs. Ford +chuckled with her.</p> + +<p>As Grace had said, the detour was not over half a mile long, and they +soon came out on the main road again. Then they backed the cars several +hundred feet down the road so as to effectually block all passage.</p> + +<p>Betty tooted gleefully to Mollie, and Mollie tooted gleefully back +again. Then they jumped from the machines and met in the middle of the +road for a consultation.</p> + +<p>"He will be coming in sight any minute now,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> Betty explained hurriedly, +"so we must decide on some definite plan of action."</p> + +<p>"That's easy," said Mollie. "One of us will get down underneath the +machine and pretend to be tinkering—"</p> + +<p>"Goodness, that lets me out," said Grace in dismay. "I wouldn't get down +in the dirt for fifty idiotic wagon drivers."</p> + +<p>"Well, nobody's asking you to," cried Mollie impatiently. "I fully +intend to put on my overalls and do it myself."</p> + +<p>"Better hurry up," cried Amy, who had been glancing uneasily down the +road. "He may come along any minute now and we don't want him to catch +us here."</p> + +<p>So amid much hilarity and giggling Mollie got into the begrimed overalls +and proceeded to wriggle her small self beneath the car.</p> + +<p>"I hope he hurries," she cried in a muffled voice. "It isn't exactly +what you might call comfortable down here. Betty, get off my foot," as +Grace wickedly stepped on her toes.</p> + +<p>"Just hear her," cried Betty plaintively. "Everything just naturally +gets blamed on me."</p> + +<p>"Well, if you didn't, who did?" queried Mollie fiercely. "Tell me her +name—"</p> + +<p>"Betty, Betty, don't give me away," pleaded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> Grace, at which the girls +laughed while a satisfied chuckle came from under the car.</p> + +<p>"I knew I'd find the guilty one," Mollie was beginning when Betty cut +her short with a warning cry.</p> + +<p>"He's coming," she said, adding, as she vainly tried to straighten the +corners of her mischievous mouth: "And please remember, girls, this is a +very solemn occasion!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>BLUFF POINT AT LAST</h3> + + +<p>Very anxious the Outdoor Girls looked as the grouchy old farmer came +toward them. Mollie was making all sorts of noises under the car, +apparently tinkering with its mechanism, while the girls kept up a +running fire of questions.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, Mollie?"</p> + +<p>"Can't you find the trouble?"</p> + +<p>"Better let me get under and take a look."</p> + +<p>"If we don't get started pretty soon, we'll not get to Bluff Point +before dark."</p> + +<p>These and other remarks like them met the suspicious ears of the driver +as he jerked his team to a standstill.</p> + +<p>"Hey, what's the matter with you?" he hailed them. "Have you got to +stand right in the middle of the road? Can't you move over some?"</p> + +<p>At this Mollie wriggled out from under the car and stood up, facing him. +Her face was flushed from restrained mirth, but it might well have been +the flush of indignation.</p> + +<p>"If we could don't you suppose we would?" she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> queried, rather +incoherently. "Do you think I'm doing this for fun?" Then she abruptly +disappeared from sight again. The abruptness was caused by the terrible +fear that if she stood looking at that sour old visage another moment +she would have to spoil everything by laughing.</p> + +<p>As for the other girls, they were slowly turning purple in an effort to +maintain the solemnity demanded by the occasion. A strange noise from +beneath the car, promptly followed by a choked cough, didn't help them +any, and they were relieved when their victim turned his suspicious gaze +from them to the shallow ditch at the side of the road which was still +muddy from the rain of the night before. The only hope he had of getting +around them was to drive through this mud.</p> + +<p>Without a word or a glance in their direction, he whipped up his team +and started for the ditch. This was something the girls had not +foreseen, and they were of no mind to let him get ahead of them again.</p> + +<p>Grace and Amy flashed a distress signal to Betty, who stooped over +Mollie's feet, the feet being all that could be seen of her, and cried +with a peculiar inflection:</p> + +<p>"I think you must have found the trouble by this time, Mollie, haven't +you?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mollie took the hint and scrambled hurriedly to her feet.</p> + +<p>"I think so," she said, then as her eyes swiftly took in the +situation—the grim old man already struggling through the ditch intent +on getting ahead of them—she jumped to her seat and started the engine. +"All right," she cried gayly. "Come on, girls, jump in."</p> + +<p>The girls jumped in with alacrity and Betty and Grace ran to the car in +front. Then while the man whipped up his horses and called to them in +terms far from gentle, the two cars sprang forward and were off down the +road.</p> + +<p>They turned once, to find the man urging his team to the road and +shaking his fist after the "gasoline wagons." The girls waved to him +merrily, before the turn in the road shut him from sight.</p> + +<p>"I guess that will teach him a lesson," said Grace, settling back +comfortably.</p> + +<p>"Shouldn't wonder," agreed Betty absently, adding with a rueful little +smile. "It was great fun, of course, but I hope we shan't meet many more +of his kind, or we'll never get to Bluff Point."</p> + +<p>"We're almost there now," said Grace. "All this part of the country is +almost as familiar to me as Deepdale. When I was a little kiddie, I used +almost to live with Aunt Mary."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's wonderful how little children love the woods and brooks and all +wild things," mused Betty, adding, as the picture of Dodo and Paul, +hiding in the machines and begging to be taken along, came back to her: +"I almost wish we could have brought the twins with us. They would have +so loved it."</p> + +<p>"And we would have spent all our time trying to keep them from falling +into the ocean," added Grace dryly. "Besides," she added, "I don't +believe Mrs. Billette would have let them come. They are such little +mischiefs, and she is always afraid something will happen to them."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and they're good company for her," agreed Betty thoughtfully; +"especially when Mollie is away."</p> + +<p>After a few minutes of silence Grace suddenly clutched Betty's arm, +making the Little Captain jump.</p> + +<p>"Betty," cried the former excitedly, "we're almost there. Just around +that curve—"</p> + +<p>"Well, you needn't scare me to death," protested Betty, taking one hand +from the wheel to rub the arm Grace had clutched.</p> + +<p>"But I love it so," Grace cried, standing up only to be jerked back into +her seat as Betty swung round the curve. "It's such a wonderful place!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Is that it up on the hill?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Grace, standing up in earnest now. "Turn up the +drive—it leads to the garage at the back. And, Betty, the house stands +on a little bluff looking out over the ocean. Do you hear it—the ocean +I mean, not the house, Silly!"</p> + +<p>The road that they had traveled from Deepdale to Bluff Point had led +across country, Deepdale being in the interior, so that the girls had +scarcely realized how close they were coming to the coast.</p> + +<p>Now, as Betty stopped the car at the back of the quaint little cottage, +that sound of romance and mystery, the soft lapping of water with the +deeper undertone of waves against rock came up to her and she threw back +her head with a little bubbling laugh.</p> + +<p>"I don't wonder you love it, Gracie dear," she said. "I do already. It's +glorious."</p> + +<p>They jumped out and ran back to meet Mollie's car, which was puffing +like an old man up the steep grade.</p> + +<p>"The ocean! The ocean!" cried Betty ecstatically, as she opened the +doors and the girls tumbled out. "Do you smell it? Do you hear it? Oh, +girls, hurry up, I can't wait to feel it!"</p> + +<p>"Goodness, are you going to commit suicide?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> cried Mollie. "If that's +what you want, I don't see why you bothered to come away up here."</p> + +<p>"Mother, Mother, give me the key, quick," demanded Grace, as they ran +around the side of the house and Betty made a face at Mollie. "You +haven't forgotten it, have you?"</p> + +<p>"No, I tied it on a ribbon around my neck," said Mrs. Ford, with a +smile. "I had no intention of forgetting it. Here it is."</p> + +<p>"Thank you."</p> + +<p>Grace fitted the key in the lock and opened the door, but when she +turned, expecting to find the girls at her back, she found that they had +deserted her.</p> + +<p>They were standing, gazing out over a gleaming white stretch of sand to +the shimmering water beyond, absolutely oblivious to everything but the +beauty of the scene.</p> + +<p>The bluff on which they stood sloped gently down to the beach below. +Once down there, the girls knew they would feel as though they were +isolated from all the rest of the world, for the beach was in the form +of a semi-circle, surrounded on three sides by rocky bluffs and blocked +off in front by the ocean.</p> + +<p>"How beautiful!" breathed Betty, as Grace stole up and joined them. +"We've seen a great many wonderful views, but I never saw one to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> equal +this. Just look at the reflection of the sun out there."</p> + +<p>"Blood red," murmured Mollie. "That looks like a hot day to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"All the more excuse for taking a swim," put in Amy, adding longingly: +"I wish it weren't too late now."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid it is," said Mrs. Ford, seizing her opportunity. "We still +have to put the cars away and get our provisions and cook supper—"</p> + +<p>"Who said 'supper'?" Mollie demanded hungrily. "Mrs. Ford," she added, +as they started for the house, "won't you please make Betty make some +biscuits?"</p> + +<p>"But you make as good biscuits as I do," protested Betty.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't, Darling," denied Mollie, putting an arm about her chum. +"And, anyway," she added convincingly, "I can eat more when I don't have +to make them!"</p> + +<p>The girls were almost as pleased with the interior of the house as they +had been with its surroundings. There were odd little passages and +unexpected window seats such as Betty had dreamed of having in her own +little home some day.</p> + +<p>The thought brought back the picture of Allen as he had gone away, +gallant, hopeful, brave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span>—oh, so brave—and involuntarily she uttered a +little sigh.</p> + +<p>"Please don't do that," said Grace, as they entered the room they were +to have together. "I'm trying my best not to be as gloomy as I feel. But +if you begin to sigh, I'll just have to give up and spoil the party."</p> + +<p>"I won't," said Betty, trying a little smile before the mirror and doing +it pretty successfully. "I didn't mean to that time, only, I was—just +thinking."</p> + +<p>"I know," said Grace a little petulantly, as she pulled off her hat and +threw it on the bed. "It seems to me that's all I'm ever doing—'just +thinking.' If I could only really do something! Some time I'll scream +aloud!"</p> + +<p>"Well, don't you think we're all pretty much in the same fix?" suggested +Betty gently, coming over and putting an arm about her.</p> + +<p>"I suppose so," she answered, eyes fixed moodily on the floor. "Only the +rest of you have only one to worry about, while I—" she stopped, +flushed, and began letting down her thick hair. "If I could only cry!"</p> + +<p>"I imagine that might help us all," said Betty wistfully, adding, with a +touch of her old gayety: "Perhaps I can arrange it after supper."</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Grace.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A cry party," she answered, and the absurdity of it made them both +laugh.</p> + +<p>In spite of the shadow hanging over them, dinner that night was a great +success. Everybody pitched in, and, having acquired ravenous appetites +on their long ride, did the cooking in record time, and of course +everything tasted ambrosial.</p> + +<p>After dinner they wandered out on the veranda, which was almost as big +as the rest of the house put together. It was a wonderful night, with +the moon so bright that it shed a magic silver radiance over everything +while the lapping of the water came softly up to them.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Mollie's hand slipped into Betty's where they stood together +looking out.</p> + +<p>"On such a night as this," breathed Mollie, scarcely above a whisper, +"there should be nothing but peace in the world."</p> + +<p>"Should be—yes," agreed Betty, a little bitterly. "But things are not +always as they should be!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>THE TELEGRAM</h3> + + +<p>The morning dawned gloriously bright, and at the first ray of the sun +the girls were up and dressed and ready for the fun of the day.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what I'll do if our trunks don't come," worried Amy, as +she took a rather creased white skirt and waist from her suitcase. "I +brought only one change and a bathing suit."</p> + +<p>"Well, as long as you brought the bathing suit, it's all right," +returned Mollie, sticking one last pin in her hair. "I intend to live in +mine to-day."</p> + +<p>"And, anyway, we can't possibly expect the trunks till this afternoon," +put in Grace; "so I don't see any use in worrying about them now."</p> + +<p>"If they don't come to-day, either Mollie or I will go down to the +station and see about them," offered Betty, who was looking as sweet and +fresh as the morning itself. "We'll probably have to go down and get +them anyway, since we expressed them through by train and came by motor +ourselves."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, who cares," cried Mollie, stretching<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> her arms above her head +and breathing deep of the salt-laden air. "When we get down on that +wonderful beach, that looks too good to be true, we'll be away from all +the rest of the world and we won't need any clothes but a bathing suit."</p> + +<p>"Mother's up," cried Grace, as they stepped out into the hall and +smelled the welcome aroma of coffee. "I thought I heard somebody go +downstairs a little while ago."</p> + +<p>"But we shouldn't have let her get the breakfast," cried Betty. "We +brought her up here for a rest, not to wait on us."</p> + +<p>"She probably didn't sleep very well," said Grace, thinking of Will. "It +really isn't any wonder."</p> + +<p>However, Mrs. Ford greeted the girls with a bright smile when they +entered the kitchen, and when they remonstrated with her for getting up +so early she merely laughed at them.</p> + +<p>"Why, I haven't cooked for so long, it's just fun for me," she said +lightly, but Grace's loving eyes saw how pale she looked and how sad her +eyes were when she was not smiling.</p> + +<p>"Game little mother," she whispered to herself.</p> + +<p>However, after they had cleared the remains of a remarkably good +breakfast away, they asked Mrs. Ford to put on her own bathing suit and +take a dip with them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> + +<p>After a minute's hesitation she agreed, and they ran upstairs eagerly to +get ready. They all had black suits, and all but Grace wore snug-fitting +rubber caps, designed more for use than looks. Grace wore a rakish +little Scottish cap affair that was immensely becoming but not at all +comfortable to swim in.</p> + +<p>"How do I look?" she demanded complacently, when she turned from a +prolonged survey of herself in the mirror and pirouetted slowly before +them.</p> + +<p>"Beautiful, but foolish," Mollie commented succinctly.</p> + +<p>"Do you really expect to swim in it, dear?" asked Amy mildly.</p> + +<p>"The effect would be altogether stunning," suggested Betty judicially, +her head on one side, "if you cocked it just a little further over one +eye so as to obscure the sight completely."</p> + +<p>There was a ripple of laughter.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you're all jealous," remarked Grace, not at all disturbed as she +turned back to the mirror once more to pull a curl a little more +fetchingly over her ear. "I might have known you would be."</p> + +<p>"Goodness, anybody would think she was at Palm Beach or some other show +place," cried Mollie, pulling her own plain little cap a trifle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> lower +over her ears. "If you expect an audience, Gracie, I'm afraid you will +be disappointed."</p> + +<p>"Here I am, trying to give you something good to look at—"</p> + +<p>But they would hear no more and hustled her with scant ceremony away +from the mirror and out of the door.</p> + +<p>"Come on!" cried Betty, taking the stairs two at a time. "Let's see who +gets to the water first. I'm betting nine to one on myself."</p> + +<p>"Goodness, she's as conceited as you are, Gracie," gasped Mollie, +following hard on Betty's footsteps. "Here's my chance to take some of +it out of her!"</p> + +<p>Grace and Amy, following at not quite such breakneck speed, came out on +the porch in time to see two slender, black-clad figures with vivid red +and green caps scrambling down the side of the bluff that led to the +beach.</p> + +<p>As they started after them Mrs. Ford joined them and they ran together +to the edge of the bluff. The slope was not quite so gentle as they had +thought on the night before, and Mollie and Betty were puffing +considerably when they reached the bottom—which they did at almost the +same minute.</p> + +<p>Then, fleet-footed, they sped across the sand toward the inviting water +beyond, while Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> Ford, Grace, and Amy clambered down the bluff in +their turn.</p> + +<p>At the bottom they turned, saw Betty and Mollie reach the water's edge +at the same instant—or so it seemed to them—and dash into the green +depths. A moment more and the two black figures were lost to sight and +only two vivid caps bobbed on the surface of the water.</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose it's quite safe?" asked Mrs. Ford. "I wish the girls +hadn't been in such a hurry."</p> + +<p>"Oh you needn't worry about them," Grace assured her. "Betty and Mollie +are regular fish in the water, and you know there aren't any mean +currents around here. The beach slopes gradually down so that they can't +get caught in water holes either, so don't worry, Mother," and she +slipped an affectionate hand into her mother's and received an answering +smile in return.</p> + +<p>And, oh, how good that water did feel!</p> + +<p>As they waded into it up to their waists, Mollie and Betty came swimming +back, shaking the water from their eyes and cleaving the big combers +with long, powerful strokes.</p> + +<p>"Well, who won?" Amy challenged them, as they came within shouting +distance.</p> + +<p>"Tell the truth," added Grace.</p> + +<p>"Both of us," yelled Mollie.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Or neither," Betty answered, getting to her feet and walking the rest +of the way in toward them. "We couldn't have done better team work if we +had tried. Oh, isn't it glorious?"</p> + +<p>"We don't know yet—we're not even all wet," returned Mollie, adding, as +a great comber came rushing toward them: "Come on, Gracie, here's a good +one. Let's get under it."</p> + +<p>And "get under it" they did, cleaving the water prettily, and in another +minute were up on the other side of the big wave. They shook the water +from their eyes and struck out merrily.</p> + +<p>"Don't go too far," Mrs. Ford called after them, and two bare gleaming +arms waved back at her.</p> + +<p>The hours that followed were just one long delight, and the girls looked +surprised and a little abused when Mrs. Ford reluctantly called them in.</p> + +<p>"Why, it can't be more than eleven," protested Grace.</p> + +<p>"And we haven't seen the water for, oh, ages," added Mollie.</p> + +<p>"Please, can't we have half an hour more?" Amy added.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ford looked smilingly from one to the other and then at Betty.</p> + +<p>"Well, haven't you any petition to make?" she asked of the latter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I was thinking," said Betty squinting up at the sun, "that Grace was +wrong when she said it wasn't more than eleven. It seems to me to be +after twelve."</p> + +<p>"It is," said Mrs. Ford firmly. "Quarter past."</p> + +<p>"Well, let's go!" cried Betty, starting toward the bluff. "I don't know +about the rest of you, but I'm starving to death."</p> + +<p>"But we'll want to swim again after lunch, won't we?" protested Mollie.</p> + +<p>"Of course."</p> + +<p>"Well, then," she argued reasonably, "we don't want to change our +clothes just for lunch, and we can't very well go up to the house in +dripping bathing suits."</p> + +<p>The girls groaned.</p> + +<p>"Then we'll have to wait for lunch until we've sat here for hours and +dried off," wailed Grace.</p> + +<p>"And she hasn't even a box of chocolates!" Betty mocked her. "It is a +desperate case, Grace."</p> + +<p>With another groan Grace sank into the soft, warm sand while the others +followed suit, looking so mournful that Mrs. Ford was moved to take pity +on them.</p> + +<p>"I dried off long ago," she said, adding, as they looked at her +hopefully: "I tell you what I'll do. I'll go up and open a couple of +cans of tongue and make some sandwiches and bring down the cake<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> we +bought yesterday. And we can have some milk to drink, for I had the boy +leave a couple of extra quarts this morning. How will that do?"</p> + +<p>"Do!" the girls echoed, while Grace hugged her mother with vigor. The +eyes of the girls followed her gratefully as Mrs. Ford started off on +her work of rescue—at least, that is the way the hungry girls regarded +it.</p> + +<p>"You know, I have a better appetite than I've had in weeks," announced +Mollie, as she dug her toes into the warm sand. "I haven't been eating +much lately."</p> + +<p>"I hadn't noticed it," commented Grace dryly.</p> + +<p>"Well, mother did," returned Mollie spiritedly. "She said she was glad I +was going away because she thought the change would do me good. I really +should have stayed at home, I suppose, and helped mother take care of +the twins," she added thoughtfully. "I never saw two children with such +an absolute genius for getting into mischief. But when they're caught, +they're so cunning and dear and say such quaint things that it is almost +impossible to get angry with them."</p> + +<p>"They're adorable," agreed Betty, while all the girls smiled fondly at +thought of the twins.</p> + +<p>"Just the same," remarked Grace, "although I love them, I'm glad I'm not +their sister, for I'd<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> never be able to eat a candy in comfort," and the +girls laughed at her.</p> + +<p>"It seems so wonderful and peaceful here," said Amy, after a short +pause, "and we seem so awfully far away from the rest of the world. It +almost makes one believe that the war 'over there' is a dream—"</p> + +<p>"Or a nightmare," interpolated Mollie.</p> + +<p>"Well, it isn't," said Grace, adding, as she dug her toes more deeply +into the yielding sand: "And if we don't hear more news of Will pretty +soon, I'll just die, that's all. I can't stand it!"</p> + +<p>"There's your mother," cried Betty suddenly, glad of an excuse to change +the subject. "I think she's calling us, too. Come on, let's go."</p> + +<p>Nothing loath, they got to their feet, shook the sand from their suits, +and hurried to the bluff where Mrs. Ford stood awaiting them.</p> + +<p>As they clambered up toward her they noticed that she looked excited and +was holding a yellow envelope in her hand.</p> + +<p>"The trunks have come," she said, as they ran up to her. "A big +lumbering red-haired fellow brought them from the station a few minutes +ago. He also brought this," indicating the envelope in her hand.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" they cried, a strange premonition of evil tightening about +their hearts.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A telegram for Mollie!"</p> + +<p>Mollie turned a little pale under her tan and took the yellow envelope +gingerly, as though it had been poisoned, or contained some T. N. T. +explosive.</p> + +<p>"Who on earth—" she began, then interrupted herself, and with trembling +fingers tore the envelope open. The girls watched her, wide-eyed and +tense.</p> + +<p>"It's from mother," she cried, then crushed the paper in her hands and +looked around at the sympathetic faces with eyes grown dark with fear. +"Girls," she said, "I—I'm afraid to read it—I—"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>THE SHADOW OF DISASTER</h3> + + +<p>Betty put a steadying arm about Mollie and asked gently:</p> + +<p>"Would it make it any easier if I were to read it, dear?"</p> + +<p>"No, oh, no!" cried Mollie, then smoothed out the crushed paper and read +the telegram through while her face grew whiter and her lips closed in a +tense line. With a queer little sound in her throat she turned away and +handed it to Betty.</p> + +<p>"Read it," she commanded in a choked voice.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ford put an arm about Mollie while Betty read aloud and the girls +crowded closer.</p> + +<p>It was a brief, paralyzing message the telegram contained.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Twins are gone. Were not home last night, and am +wild with anxiety. No need your coming home. Am +doing everything possible to find them. <span class="smcap">Mother.</span>"</p></div> + +<p>"The twins!" gasped Amy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Gone!" added Grace, stupefied. "Oh, Betty, are you sure you read it +aright?"</p> + +<p>For answer, Betty handed her the telegram and turned to comfort Mollie, +who was sobbing bitterly.</p> + +<p>"I knew I shouldn't have gone away," she was saying over and over again. +"I knew I should have stayed at home."</p> + +<p>"But your staying at home probably wouldn't have made any difference," +argued Betty soothingly.</p> + +<p>"And by this time they may have been found, anyway," added Mrs. Ford, +gently leading Mollie toward the house, Betty at her side, while Grace +and Amy followed, mute with sympathy.</p> + +<p>"Yes; or by this time they may be dead!" sobbed Mollie, refusing to be +comforted. "They must have met with some accident or they wouldn't have +stayed away all n-night."</p> + +<p>"Maybe they ran away," suggested Grace, trying hard to think of +something cheering to say. "They've done it before, you know."</p> + +<p>"Yes," agreed Mollie, sinking into a porch chair and searching +desperately for a handkerchief in her pocketless bathing suit. "But they +always came home before night. I know it must be something awfully +serious to keep them away over night."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Ford was very much worried and disturbed, but she nevertheless +managed a bright smile.</p> + +<p>"As you say, they probably ran away," she said. "Only this time they +have wandered too far and haven't been able to find their way back. But +if your mother has notified the police, as she surely has by this time, +they are sure to be found. And now," she added, rising briskly and +making for the door, "since everything seems a good deal worse than it +is on an empty stomach, I'm going to give you some lunch and we'll +decide what to do afterward."</p> + +<p>Left alone, the girls gazed helplessly at each other. Mollie had stopped +sobbing and was staring moodily out at the ocean, her eyes and nose +swollen with weeping.</p> + +<p>"I'll have to go home, of course," she said suddenly, breaking a silence +filled with unhappy thoughts. "I don't know that I'll be any good, but I +can at least comfort mother. I'm sorry," she gave them a wistful, +apologetic little glance that went straight to their hearts and brought +the tears to their eyes, "to break up the party."</p> + +<p>"You darling," cried Betty, trying to laugh and not making a very great +success of it, "do you think we care a rap about our old party? Only," +she added thoughtfully, "as you say yourself, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> don't see that you can +do very much good by going home."</p> + +<p>"I could comfort mother," repeated Mollie, in a flat tone, as though she +were repeating a lesson.</p> + +<p>"But she said not to come," suggested Grace. "She said she was doing +everything possible—"</p> + +<p>"I know," interrupted Mollie, wearily. "Of course she would say not to +come. And I suppose," she added, dabbing impatiently at her eyes, "all +I'd do would be to weep anyway, and make things about ten times worse."</p> + +<p>"Do you want your lunch inside or out here?" Mrs. Ford asked from the +doorway and the girls jumped to their feet.</p> + +<p>"Here we are, letting you do all the work again," cried Betty +self-reproachfully. "I guess we'd rather have it out here, but we'll +bring it out ourselves. Please go over there, get into the swing, and +don't stir until we say you may." Betty had a pretty manner, half of +deference, half of <i>camaraderie</i>, with older people that made them love +her. Mrs. Ford patted her cheek with a little smile and obeyed her +command while the three girls ran into the kitchen to bring out the +sandwiches and cake that she had already prepared.</p> + +<p>And all the time Mollie sat motionless, staring out over the ocean, +apparently unconscious of everything that was going on around her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Little Dodo and Paul," she said over and over to herself. "What has +happened to them? Oh, I must go home, I must!"</p> + +<p>"Come to your lunch," called Betty.</p> + +<p>After lunch Mollie began to take a less gloomy view of the situation and +hope, which in youth can never long be forced into the background, began +to revive.</p> + +<p>"In the first place," Betty argued, as she began to clear away the +dishes and Amy rose to help her, "it couldn't have been an accident, or +your mother would have read about it in the papers. The children are old +enough to tell their names and where they live."</p> + +<p>"I know," said Mollie, while the troublesome tears welled to her eyes +again. "But it's possible they may have been unconscious, and then they +wouldn't be able to tell anything."</p> + +<p>"But there would have been at least an announcement describing the +children," Amy argued in support of Betty.</p> + +<p>"And, anyway, pretty nearly everybody in Deepdale knows the twins," +Grace added.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, there are only two or three things left that might have +happened," said Mollie, her lips quivering. "It's barely possible they +may have wandered off into the woods and gotten lost. In that case +somebody will have to hurry up and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> find them or they will just stay +there and s-starve! And that's almost worse than being run over."</p> + +<p>"Well, with everybody in Deepdale, civilians as well as police, +searching for them," said Betty confidently, "I don't think there is +very much chance of their starving to death. If that's the solution, I +shouldn't wonder but that they are safe at home now with everybody +rejoicing."</p> + +<p>Mollie's face brightened a little at this picture, but almost +immediately clouded over again.</p> + +<p>"But we don't know that," she said. "And until we do, I'm not going to +let myself get too happy."</p> + +<p>"I wonder," she said suddenly, after the girls had cleared away the +lunch and had perched themselves on the porch railing, "just what I +ought to do first. Send a telegram to mother, I suppose," answering her +own question.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think I would," said Betty, adding, as Mollie got up with +characteristic impulsiveness and started for the house: "Do you mind +telling us what you are going to say in it—about going home, I mean?"</p> + +<p>Mollie paused uncertainly.</p> + +<p>"I—I don't just know," she admitted. "One minute I think there's no +question but what I ought to go, and the next, I wonder if I wouldn't +only be in the way."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There's another thing to consider," Mrs. Ford put in. "It is almost a +certainty that the children will be found in a day or two, perhaps are +found already, and in that case you would have all your trip for +nothing. I don't like to advise—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, please do," Mollie begged, adding with a pathetic little smile: "I +feel so awfully lonesome, trying to decide everything all by myself."</p> + +<p>"You poor little girl," said the woman tenderly, then fearing lest +sympathy would only make the girl feel worse, added hurriedly: "In that +case I should most strongly advise that you wait a day or two at least +and give things a chance to straighten out. At the end of that time, if +they haven't been found and you still think you ought to go, we'll pack +up everything and go along with you, of course."</p> + +<p>"That's what I'll do then," agreed Mollie, relieved to have the question +settled for her. "And now," she added, making for the door once more, +"I'm going to get into my street things and wiz down to that station in +record time. Who wants to come with me?"</p> + +<p>It seemed everybody did, and in a very short time the girls had changed +from their bathing suits to their street clothes and were ready for the +dash to the station, which was about two miles from their house.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> + +<p>They all climbed into Mollie's car, and the big machine started slowly +backward down the steep incline.</p> + +<p>"Better hold on," Mollie warned them. "I've never done quite so steep a +hill as this backward, and the old boy may balk. Take your time, old +man," addressing the car, as it showed a tendency to pick up speed too +rapidly. "Of course we're in a hurry, but we don't want to land on our +ears. That's the way—gently now. All right—we're off!" as they reached +the foot of the hill in safety and swung around into the road. "Now +let's see how long it will take you to reach that station."</p> + +<p>As a matter of fact, it took scarcely any time at all, for the demon of +speed seemed to have taken possession of Mollie, and she drove so +recklessly that even the girls, who were used to her daring, were +startled.</p> + +<p>Yet something about the young driver's straight little back and tightly +compressed lips kept them from protesting.</p> + +<p>However, the wild ride came to an end without accident, and the girls +tumbled out of the machine and on to the station platform. They looked +about them, but the only person in sight was an unpromising looking +person with a bald head—though he could not have been over +thirty-five—beaked nose, and small red-rimmed eyes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> + +<p>This decidedly unattractive individual lounged against the door of the +waiting room and eyed the girls with insolent admiration.</p> + +<p>"Anything I can do for you?" he asked, as he saw that they hesitated. +"Always willing to oblige the ladies," he added.</p> + +<p>The girls exchanged a glance, then Betty approached the lounger who had +the grace to straighten up as she addressed him.</p> + +<p>"We want to send a telegram," she explained coldly. "We understood we +could send one from here."</p> + +<p>"Sure! That's me," he responded with alacrity. "Right this way, ladies."</p> + +<p>The girls followed him reluctantly into a little square booth-like +place, and Mollie scribbled a telegram on the blank he gave her. Then +they hurried out to the machine again. A little way down the road Amy +turned and looked back. The fellow had resumed his lounging position and +was looking after them with his little red-rimmed eyes.</p> + +<p>"Ugh! wasn't he awful?" said Betty, as Mollie rounded a turn in the road +on two wheels. "I'm glad we don't have to see him often, he'd give me +the nightmare."</p> + +<p>But Mollie did not answer. Her mind was once more on the twins, and she +was repeating over and over the same old question.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What has happened—what has happened? What could have happened?"</p> + +<p>"Betty," she said aloud, so suddenly that Betty started, "there's just +one thing we didn't think of as being a solution. It's strange, too, for +it is the most probable solution of all."</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Betty anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Suppose—" said Mollie, her voice so low that Betty had to bend forward +to catch the words. "Suppose they have been kidnapped!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>JOE BARNES AGAIN</h3> + + +<p>"Well, we've got to do something. There's no use sitting around looking +at each other!"</p> + +<p>The girls started and looked reproachfully at Mollie.</p> + +<p>It was several days after the telegram had come which had so upset them +and their plans, and they were sitting dejectedly on the sand at the +foot of the bluff trying to read. The attempt had proved a failure, +however, and one after another the books had dropped to their laps while +they stared disconsolately out over the water.</p> + +<p>"What would you suggest?" asked Grace listlessly, in response to +Mollie's statement.</p> + +<p>"Can't we go in swimming again?" asked Amy mildly.</p> + +<p>"No!" Mollie was very positive. "The boy will be coming with the +provisions and letters in a little while, and there may be a telegram or +something from mother. If there isn't pretty soon, I'll go mad."</p> + +<p>"Let's take a walk then," suggested Betty.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + +<p>But again Mollie would have none of it.</p> + +<p>"Too warm," she said.</p> + +<p>"Well, I thought you were the one who wanted to do something," said +Grace, getting up and shaking the sand from her dress. "I guess the +trouble is," she added, "that you don't know what you want."</p> + +<p>"Yes I do," said Mollie, while the tears rose to her eyes and she shook +them away impatiently. "Only the one thing I want more than anything +else I can't get."</p> + +<p>"Maybe you forget," said Grace, while her own voice trembled a little, +"that I'm very nearly in the same fix."</p> + +<p>"No, we don't," cried Betty quickly. "But the only way we can hope to +bear the horrible things that are happening to us is to get busy at +something and try to occupy our minds."</p> + +<p>"It's all very well for you to talk," Mollie retorted, in her nervous +state saying something she never would have thought of saying under +normal conditions, "but nothing terrible has happened to you yet. Wait +till it does. Then maybe it won't be so easy to get your mind off it."</p> + +<p>The thoughtless speech stung, and Betty turned away to hide the hurt in +her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you're right," she said quietly. "Nothing very terrible has +happened to me yet,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> personally. But perhaps you forget that we girls +always share each other's troubles—"</p> + +<p>But Mollie would not let her finish. She was down on her knees beside +her chum, penitent arms about her shoulders and was pouring out an +apology.</p> + +<p>"I ought to be tarred and feathered," she cried breathlessly. "I don't +know what made me say such a thing, Honey."</p> + +<p>"I know," said Betty gently, "and that's why it didn't go very +deep—what you said."</p> + +<p>"You're a darling!" cried Mollie. She gave the Little Captain another +bear's hug, then sat down in the sand again with her arms clasped about +her knees. "It's this everlasting uncertainty and the feeling of +helplessness that gets on one's nerves so. I always did hate to wait for +anything—especially with my imagination."</p> + +<p>"What's that got to do with it?" asked Amy, surprised.</p> + +<p>"Why, it—the imagination, I mean—just goes running around in circles, +thinking up all the horrible things that might have happened until I +almost go crazy. If I only didn't have to think!"</p> + +<p>"You never used to have any trouble that way," said Grace, with a weak +attempt at a joke that ended in dismal failure.</p> + +<p>"Isn't that the boy with the mail?" asked Betty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> after a minute, as the +rumble of an antiquated vehicle and a masculine voice addressing in no +uncertain tones a pair of invisible mules came to their ears. "Perhaps +he's bringing good news to us. Come on, we'll meet him half way."</p> + +<p>Relieved at the prospect of action, the girls sprang to their feet, +dusted off the clinging sand, and scrambled up the bluff. A minute more +and they were running down the hill pell mell toward the oncoming team.</p> + +<p>They had scarcely reached the bottom of the hill when the long-eared and +long-suffering animals rounded a turn in the road and ambled slowly +toward them.</p> + +<p>The driver, the same gauky, red-headed country lad who had brought them +their trunks, drew rein as the fleet-footed girls reached him and swept +off his crownless hat with a gallantry that left nothing to be desired.</p> + +<p>"I'm bringing your provisions," he began, adding loquaciously, for he +loved to talk and seldom got the opportunity: "Sorry I couldn't get 'em +to you yesterday, but Abe up to the store took sick and he says to me, +'Jake,' he says, 'guess mebbe you'll have to be storekeeper an' delivery +boy both to-day. Shake a leg,' he says, 'an' I might mebbe give you a +dollar extry. You never can't tell,' he says. He's that generous like, +Abe is," the boy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> shook his head sadly at the thought of Abe's +generosity, "that he'd give a whole chicken to a kid dyin' of hunger, +pervided he knowed the chicken had the pip."</p> + +<p>The girls chuckled at this last sentence, uttered with a sort of +ferocious sarcasm, even though they had been standing on one foot with +impatience during the rest of his long speech.</p> + +<p>Now, seeing that he was about to begin again, Betty cut in quickly.</p> + +<p>"It didn't bother us a bit, you're not coming yesterday," she said, +adding, as she leaned forward eagerly: "What we do want to know is—did +you bring any mail?"</p> + +<p>"Sure," he said, good-naturedly, reaching behind him for a small package +of letters which Betty took eagerly. "An' there was a telegram too, came +yesterday—"</p> + +<p>"Yesterday!" Mollie interrupted with a groan. "And I'm just getting it +to-day!"</p> + +<p>"But I was telling you," he started all over again patiently, "as how +Abe took sick and says to me: 'Jake—'"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, we know," interrupted Mollie, reaching impatiently for the +crumpled yellow envelope which he took from his pocket, smoothed out +carefully, and handed to her with maddening deliberation. "Oh, if +anything terrible has hap<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span>pened I'll never forgive myself for not going +to the station yesterday!"</p> + +<p>"But it was raining so hard, and we expected the boy any minute." Amy +thus tried to console her but it is doubtful if Mollie even heard her. +She had torn open the envelope and was devouring the message whole while +the girls looked at her anxiously.</p> + +<p>The red-headed orator, seeing that his presence was no longer in demand, +clucked to his team and jogged off reluctantly. A telegram is rather a +rarity in Bluff Point and they might have taken pity on a fellow and +given him at least a hint of its contents. But there, he didn't want to +know anyway—wouldn't if he could! Still, these out-landers were mighty +mean, close-mouthed folks!</p> + +<p>"Nothing," said Mollie, in response to the unspoken question of the +girls. "They haven't found a trace of either of them yet, but the police +are confident that it is a case of kidnapping and that they will be able +to round up the criminals in a short time. Poor little Dodo! Poor little +Paul! If nothing worse happens to them they will be scared to death. Oh, +if I could only get hold of those kidnappers I'd—I'd kill 'em!" She +clenched her hands passionately and her lips shut in a straight, grim +little line.</p> + +<p>"I guess we'd all be glad to," said mild little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> Amy, with a look in her +eyes that showed she meant it.</p> + +<p>As they started back down the road Betty suddenly remembered the packet +of letters in her hands. The excitement about the telegram had put them +completely out of her mind.</p> + +<p>"To think I could forget letters!" she marveled, as she distributed them +to their rightful owners. "Here's one for you, Amy, and two for you, +Grace. One for Mrs. Ford and one for Mollie and—and—two for me—"</p> + +<p>She looked so surprised that they paused in the act of opening their own +letters to look at her.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" Grace asked.</p> + +<p>"Why here's one addressed to me in a perfectly strange hand," she +answered, turning the letter over and over in her hand. "I can't +imagine—"</p> + +<p>"What's the postmark?" asked Amy.</p> + +<p>Betty looked and then colored prettily as she realized who her unknown +correspondent was.</p> + +<p>"Why—why," she stammered, amazed at her own confusion, "it's sent from +Bensington, but—"</p> + +<p>"Bensington!" Grace echoed, then her eyes twinkled as the truth came to +her. "So it's as bad as that, is it?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you mean," said Betty, trying to look dignified and +failing utterly, while Mollie and Amy continued to stare their +amaze<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span>ment. They had forgotten completely that night spent under the +hospitable roof of Mrs. Barnes, and even her son's engaging personality +had faded from their minds. There had been so many things to think about +and worry about. So now they both said together:</p> + +<p>"What in the world are you two talking of?"</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say you really don't know?" queried Grace in a superior +tone. "Have you so soon forgotten our knight of the wayside, Joe +Barnes?"</p> + +<p>"Joe Barnes," they repeated weakly, then turned their astonished gaze on +Betty.</p> + +<p>"Well, I can't help it," retorted Betty, feeling vaguely the need of +defense. "I didn't ask him to."</p> + +<p>"But how did he get your address?" asked Mollie, still staring. "Who +gave it to him?"</p> + +<p>"I told him where we were going," cried Betty desperately, driven into a +corner. "But I had no idea he was going to write to me until—until—" +hesitating as a picture of Joe Barnes, standing beside her car and +asking if he might tell her "how things were with him" came vividly +before her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Until?" they baited her, forgetting for a moment the dark shadows +hanging over them in the fun of this unexpected discovery.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Until the morning we came away," Betty answered, seeing that she could +not get away from these pitiless inquisitors until she had satisfied +their curiosity.</p> + +<p>"Did he ask to write to you then?" probed Mollie relentlessly.</p> + +<p>"I don't see what right—" Betty was beginning spiritedly when she +caught Mollie's eye and ended in a little helpless laugh. "I suppose +I'll have to tell you all about it or you'll turn a simple little +molehill into a mountain."</p> + +<p>"Quite right," said Grace cheerfully, and even Betty had to laugh at +her.</p> + +<p>"Make a clean breast of it," ordered Mollie.</p> + +<p>"But there really isn't anything to make a clean breast of," protested +Betty. "He simply asked me if he might write and tell me how he—how +he—"</p> + +<p>"How he what?" they queried.</p> + +<p>"But I don't know whether I ought to tell you about that or not." Betty +was really in earnest. "You see, what he told me was sort of in +confidence."</p> + +<p>"In confidence!" repeated Grace, adding wickedly: "Now we know it's a +serious case."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense," said Betty, almost crossly. "He simply said he hadn't been +allowed to get into the army because of ill health, but now that he +felt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> well again he was going to try once more. It was that he wanted to +write and tell me about. And because I was really interested, I said he +might. That's all."</p> + +<p>"How romantic!" cried Mollie irrepressibly. "For goodness sake, hurry up +and read it, Betty, and relieve our curiosity."</p> + +<p>"I'll read it," said Betty firmly, "when I get good and ready, and not +one minute before!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>SERIOUSLY WOUNDED</h3> + + +<p>They walked the rest of the distance to the house in absorbed silence, +reading as they went. Then suddenly Betty gave a little cry of +amazement.</p> + +<p>"I thought this was for me," she said, holding up a letter. "But it +isn't. It's for your mother, Grace. I don't see how I could have made +such a mistake!"</p> + +<p>But Grace only heard the first part of Betty's speech. The last of it +passed right over her head.</p> + +<p>"A letter for mother?" she cried. "Oh, give it to me, Betty. It may be +from dad. Oh, it is! It is!" she exclaimed, as she saw her father's +familiar writing. "He must have heard about Will. Mother! Mother—" she +broke away from the girls and took the porch steps two at a time, waving +the letter wildly as she went.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if it's only good news, if it's only good news!" Betty found +herself saying over and over again as she, with Mollie, followed Grace +into the house.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>They found Mrs. Ford in the living room, pale and trembling a little, +holding the envelope in her hand as though she dared not open it. Grace +had collapsed in a chair and was gazing up at her mother with such +agonized pleading in her eyes that the girls could not look at her.</p> + +<p>Then very slowly Mrs. Ford tore open the envelope. At the same moment +the girls seemed to sense that they might be in some manner intruding, +and with one accord they moved over to the window and stood looking out.</p> + +<p>After a wait that seemed interminable they heard Grace say in a +strained, far-away little voice:</p> + +<p>"Mother, what is it? Can't you tell me? I think I'll die if I have to +wait any longer."</p> + +<p>"Read it," they heard Mrs. Ford say in a choked voice, as a rustle of +paper told that she had handed the letter to Grace. "I can't tell you +dear. Oh, my boy, my boy!" And she sank down in a chair and covered her +face with her hands.</p> + +<p>The girls turned from the window and started to leave the room, for they +felt that the moment was too sacred for even them who were so intensely +interested, to share.</p> + +<p>Just as they reached the door they paused, arrested by a cry from +Grace.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Seriously wounded!" she read in a muffled voice. "Oh, Mother, for all +we know, that may mean Will is—dead!"</p> + +<p>They were startled by a muffled sob, and turned in time to see Amy rush +from the room. Poor little Amy! In the excitement and grief of the +moment they had forgotten that she might also be affected by this news +of Will!</p> + +<p>Betty and Mollie ran upstairs after her, leaving Grace and her mother +together.</p> + +<p>"And I was so hoping," said Betty as she closed the door softly and +Mollie flung herself on the bed, "that it would be good news."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mollie, staring moodily out the window, "it does seem that +everything terrible that can happen to us is happening all at once. I +wonder what's next."</p> + +<p>"There isn't going to be any next," said Betty, but in her heart she was +not so sure. Almost everyone in the world was suffering, one way or +another, and it was only to be expected that they would get their full +share.</p> + +<p>And as she thought of Allen a hot wave of fear went over her, leaving +her faint and sick. Out there in the very thickest of the fight, it +would be a miracle if he should be saved to come back to her.</p> + +<p>But he must come back, he <i>must</i> come back,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> her heart cried over and +over again. Hadn't he said he would? And Allen always kept his word.</p> + +<p>Then she shook herself, and with an effort brought her wandering thought +back to this new trouble—or rather, confirmation of an old one.</p> + +<p>From the time <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Mr.'">Mrs.</ins> Ford had received the telegram telling of Will's +wound, they had hoped against hope that it had been a mistake, or that +at least, the wound had not been serious.</p> + +<p>But this new report from Washington seemed to put an end to that hope, +and there was nothing to do but to face the terrible reality. Will was +seriously wounded in some hospital in France, and, as Grace had said, +that might mean that even now he was in a critical condition, perhaps, +for all they knew, he had died out there away from all his dear ones and +the friends that loved him.</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose there is any use acting as though he were dead +already," said Mollie, breaking in upon her unhappy reverie. "There have +been several thousand wounded soldiers over there who have recovered."</p> + +<p>"Yes, only to be sent back again to the firing line and have it done all +over," said Betty bitterly, for, for a time at least, her staunch +optimism had deserted her and she was ready to see the blackest side of +everything.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, it does seem that once a soldier has gone down to the very gates +of death, he should be exempted," sighed Mollie, adding dispiritedly: +"But I suppose if they made that a rule they wouldn't have any armies +left after awhile."</p> + +<p>"And the boys themselves don't want to be exempted," said Betty, feeling +a little thrill of pride in spite of her heartache. "Their one biggest +reason for getting well is to be able to get another 'whack at the +Hun.'"</p> + +<p>"Shall we go and see if we can cheer up Amy?" she asked after an +interval filled with gloomy meditation. "She is so brave and quiet about +everything that you never have a chance to guess how hard she is taking +her trouble. Poor girl!"</p> + +<p>"I do feel awfully sorry for her," agreed Mollie, shifting unhappily, +"but I must say I don't feel very capable of cheering anybody up myself. +I never felt so horribly discouraged in my life."</p> + +<p>"Well, it doesn't do any good to think about it," said Betty. "Maybe if +we try to make poor Amy feel better we'll help ourselves at the same +time."</p> + +<p>"I suppose it won't do any harm to try," agreed Mollie, rising wearily. +"But I wish somebody would lend me a smile for a little while till I get +mine back again. I might be able to play the role of merry little +sunshine better."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> + +<p>She gave Betty a wry little smile, and arm in arm they started down the +hall to Amy's room.</p> + +<p>The found the door shut, and tapped lightly upon it. When there was no +response they rapped again, then tried the knob and found the door was +locked.</p> + +<p>"Whatever in the world—" Mollie was beginning apprehensively, when a +plaintive voice in the room behind the closed door interrupted her.</p> + +<p>"Who is it?"</p> + +<p>"It's we, Dear—Mollie and Betty," answered Betty quickly. "Can't you +let us in?"</p> + +<p>"I—I'd rather not," replied the voice falteringly. "I'm all right, and +I'll be out in a minute. Please don't worry about me. You ought to be +used to my making a goose of myself by this time." This last accompanied +by a pitiful little attempt at a laugh.</p> + +<p>"All right, Honey," Betty spoke sympathetically, for she had often seen +the time when even her best friend would have been in the way. "We only +wanted to help, that's all. When you want us we'll be in my room."</p> + +<p>Amy murmured something in reply, and they slipped back again into the +other room and closed the door.</p> + +<p>"I guess she feels it even worse than we thought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> she did," said Mollie +pityingly. "When Amy cries she is pretty well cut up."</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess all we can do now is just sit still and wait till +somebody wants us," said Betty, sitting down irresolutely and folding +her hands. It was this last action that reminded her of the letter from +Joe Barnes which she had not yet read. Although she had been holding it +in her hand all the while, she had completely forgotten there was such a +person as the writer.</p> + +<p>At her exclamation Mollie looked up rather listlessly.</p> + +<p>"That's so," she said. "You never did find out whether or not Joe Barnes +had been accepted. Tell me about it. I'd welcome a diversion—a cyclone +or a tidal wave or anything—if it would only get my mind off our +troubles."</p> + +<p>"I'll guarantee it would be effective," returned Betty absently, as she +took up the closely written pages. "It would be like burning yourself to +make you forget you have a toothache."</p> + +<p>There was silence for a long while, broken only by the sound of the +waves breaking on the shore and the crackling of the paper as Betty +turned page after page.</p> + +<p>It was a long letter, filled with youthful enthusiasm. In it the youth +spoke his pleasure in meeting her and his hope that she would not only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +answer this letter but would allow him to write to her often.</p> + +<p>But over and above all the great fact stood out that he had been +accepted! The doctors had looked him over and declared him fit in every +respect to serve his country.</p> + +<p>As Betty read the last glowing sentence a sob broke from her and she +buried her head in her arms. Mollie went over to her quickly.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" she asked anxiously, putting an arm about the Little +Captain. "You haven't had bad news too, have you, Betty?"</p> + +<p>"N-no," sobbed Betty, raising eyes that were shining through her tears. +"I just love them so—all those splendid boys that are so crazy to give +their lives for their country, that my heart gets too full sometimes, +that's all."</p> + +<p>"Then I take it that Joe Barnes has been accepted," Mollie rather stated +than asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Betty, feeling for a handkerchief. "And he is simply wild +with joy, Mollie," she added, while the color flooded her face. "The +Germans simply can't last long with that spirit against them. It makes +our boys indomitable!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>BETTY CONFESSES</h3> + + +<p>Betty woke up the next morning with a sense of deadly depression +weighing her down. For a few moments she lay staring up at the ceiling +trying to collect her thoughts. Then the events of the day before came +back to her and she frowned unhappily.</p> + +<p>The whereabouts of poor little Dodo and Paul was still a mystery, and +Will Ford, whom she had come to regard almost as a brother, was terribly +wounded somewhere in France. She probably would never see him again.</p> + +<p>And there was Allen too, to worry about every minute of the day and +night. She had not heard from him in—oh, ages. Yes, it must be every +bit of two weeks since she had read his last letter. For all she knew, +he might be worse off than poor Will.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," she sighed, and, turning on her side, looked out of the +window.</p> + +<p>There was no relief there from the gloom of her thoughts, for the sky +was leaden and overcast,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> looking as if it, too, were mourning for the +troubles of the world, and the surf beat loud and threateningly on the +shore.</p> + +<p>"Guess it's going to rain and make things still more cheerful," she +said, and at the sound Grace opened heavy eyes and turned over +restlessly.</p> + +<p>"What are you mumbling about?" she asked sleepily, closing her eyes +again and sighing a little.</p> + +<p>"Nothing but the weather," replied Betty, adding, with unusual +gentleness: "It's early, so you can turn over and get forty winks."</p> + +<p>"What has happened to you?" asked Grace, opening her eyes again in +surprise at this unheard of advice. Then as the full force of her +trouble came home to her she turned over noisily and burrowed her head +into the pillow.</p> + +<p>"Guess I will," she said in a muffled voice. "Don't any one dare wake me +up till they have some good news to tell me. I'm going to be another Rip +Van Winkle."</p> + +<p>"Goodness, I hope it won't be that long before we have any good news," +said Betty, trying to speak lightly. This would never do, she thought. +They simply had to find some way out of this terrible slough of +despondency before it mastered them completely.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to get up," she announced briskly,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> jumping out of bed. "I've +got to find something to keep me busy till that good news of ours feels +like coming along. I'm getting absolutely morbid just sitting around and +thinking."</p> + +<p>"Well, what is there to do?" asked Grace, rolling over and regarding her +listlessly.</p> + +<p>"There's the house to be put in order," Betty pointed out, recovering a +little of her old spirits, now that she had decided on a definite plan +of action. "And we never have really unpacked our trunks because Mollie +has been undecided about staying."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know. And my clothes are a perfect wreck. I haven't a thing to +put on that doesn't look as if it had been through the wars," Grace +agreed. "Not that it really matters," she added indifferently.</p> + +<p>"Of course it makes a difference," returned Betty sharply. She was +determined to rouse Grace out of her lethargy, no matter what means she +had to take. "Don't you know that when you are dressed neatly and +becomingly everything seems brighter and more hopeful? And, anyway," she +added, watching Grace out of the corner of her eye, "it isn't like you +to be careless about your dress."</p> + +<p>"Well, it isn't like me either to go moping around as if I had one foot +in the grave and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> other was slipping," retorted Grace, with a spirit +that showed the experiment had worked. "I don't think it's nice for you +to make remarks like that when you know how I'm feeling and the excuse I +have."</p> + +<p>"Nobody has any excuse for giving up and acting as if everything were +lost when it isn't," said Betty decidedly. "If our soldiers did that the +first time they had to retreat, how long do you suppose our army would +last?"</p> + +<p>"But Will isn't your brother," insisted Grace stubbornly. "If he were, +maybe you would feel differently."</p> + +<p>There was a moment's pause.</p> + +<p>"No he isn't my brother," returned Betty, knowing she was going to hurt +her friend but believing that the result would justify the means. "But +if he were I would try to behave so that when he came back he would have +a right to be proud of me."</p> + +<p>"Betty Nelson!" Grace sprang out of bed with her eyes blazing, "do you +know what you are saying? Do you mean that if Will should come back, he +wouldn't be proud of me?"</p> + +<p>"Not if you keep on taking your trouble lying down," said Betty, +sticking gamely to her guns, though she was a little frightened at the +success of her experiment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I may," she thought to herself, "have done not wisely, but too well."</p> + +<p>However, after one outraged and enraged stare at Betty, Grace pointedly +turned her back and began hastily to pull on her clothes. She finished +dressing before Betty, and without a word left the room.</p> + +<p>"Now you have done it, Betty, my dear," said Betty making a little face +at her pretty reflection in the mirror. "I shouldn't wonder if Grace +would never speak to you again. Poor Gracie, perhaps I shouldn't have +said what I did, but I simply had to start something."</p> + +<p>On her way downstairs she tapped at Mollie's door and found that she and +Amy were both up and dressing.</p> + +<p>"Come in," called Mollie; "I need your help. Amy's eyes are so swollen," +she explained, as Betty obeyed, "that she can't see to do me up. Just +the middle one, Betty. That's a dear."</p> + +<p>As Betty obligingly did the "middle one" she stole a glance at Amy, who +was absently doing up her hair without looking in the mirror.</p> + +<p>"Look out!" she cried suddenly, making both the girls jump. "You nearly +stuck that hairpin in your eye, Amy," she explained, as they looked at +her reproachfully, "and that isn't the place for it you know."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> + +<p>Amy smiled a crooked little smile and put the unruly hairpin in the +right place.</p> + +<p>"I'm apt to do anything to-day," she said, with a sigh that seemed to +come from her toes. "If any of you want to live, you had just better +keep out of my way, that's all."</p> + +<p>"Isn't it just wonderful weather?" said Mollie sarcastically, gazing out +at the leaden landscape. "Just the kind of a day to put the J into Joy."</p> + +<p>"If something doesn't happen pretty soon," put in Amy, with another deep +sigh, "I'll just naturally pass away. I wonder," she added, looking +really interested in the subject, "if anybody ever did die of the +blues."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe so—but there's always hope," said Betty dryly, adding +with sudden spirit; "Now look here, girls, something's got to be done +about this. We really will make ourselves sick if we don't try to look +on the hopeful side of things. It won't do anybody, least of all, +ourselves, any good to sit here and mope all day. We've just got to +fight against depression and cheer up."</p> + +<p>"That's all very well for you, Betty," Amy voiced almost the same +sentiment as Grace had only a few moments ago, "but you are the only one +of us who hasn't been hurt personally. Suppose it were Allen. Would you +feel the same<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> way then—about cheering up and taking it bravely?"</p> + +<p>Betty flushed angrily, at the same time feeling a wild desire to go away +and cry.</p> + +<p>"I hope I would," she said steadily. "And if I didn't, I would surely +feel ashamed of myself. It isn't," she paused at the door and looked +back at them, "as though Will or the twins were dead. We have hope in +both cases, so I don't see any use of giving up. You talk," she choked +back a sob, "as though I didn't sympathize, as if I were an outsider +just because nothing has happened to—Allen—yet—" her voice choked in +a real sob this time and she fled from the room.</p> + +<p>The girls gazed after her unhappily.</p> + +<p>"Did you ever!" gasped Mollie.</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean to make her feel bad. Betty, of all people!" said Amy, +conscience stricken. "And of course she's right about our trying to +cheer up. Only, I don't want to, someway."</p> + +<p>"Betty's a darling," said Mollie thoughtfully. "But of course she can't +quite realize how badly we feel. If it were her little brother and +sister, now—"</p> + +<p>And so gradually Betty came to feel herself more or less of an outsider +with these girls who were so close to her. And it was all because they +misunderstood her effort to cheer them up and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> thought she could not +feel for them because nothing terrible had happened to her yet.</p> + +<p>"I'll show them," she told herself fiercely, "if anything should happen +to Allen—" But she shivered and turned away shudderingly from the +thought. Allen—if only she could see him for five minutes—just five +minutes—</p> + +<p>Some way the days dragged through until a week passed, then part of +another. Still there had been no clue to the whereabouts of the twins, +nor any further news of Will.</p> + +<p>"And this is the wonderful vacation we planned!" said Grace with a wry +smile, breaking one of the long silences that had become common with the +Outdoor Girls these days.</p> + +<p>They were, as usual, sitting on the sand and trying to occupy their +minds with sewing or reading, yet always with an eye to the road in +readiness to rush to their red-headed combination of delivery boy and +postman whenever he saw fit to put in an appearance.</p> + +<p>Betty opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again. She had +learned that any suggestion she might make would be wrongly interpreted +by the girls who were engrossed in their own troubles, and so she had +wisely decided to say nothing.</p> + +<p>"I haven't heard from Frank for ever so long,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> said Mollie, as if the +fact had just occurred to her. "I wonder if anything can have happened +to him?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't see any name we knew in the casualty list last night," +ventured Betty.</p> + +<p>"Betty, is that what you read so carefully every night?" asked Mollie, +wide-eyed. "Oh, I don't see how you ever have the courage!" as Betty +nodded. "If I saw the name of anybody I—I—cared for in that dreadful +list, I don't know what I'd do."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know," returned the Little Captain, while a wistful light +grew in her eyes and her lips quivered. "When I don't find—what I'm +afraid to find—I feel like a criminal who has been reprieved, and it +gives me courage to face another day."</p> + +<p>Then suddenly the girls saw Betty in her true light. Why, she was +suffering too! Think of her reading that awful list every night with +fear in her heart! And in the light of this revelation, her brave +efforts to cheer them seemed suddenly heroic.</p> + +<p>"Betty dear," Mollie moved over toward her friend and put an arm about +her. "Do you care that much?"</p> + +<p>A little sob of pent-up misery broke from Betty and she dropped her head +on Mollie's shoulder.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, so much!" she whispered brokenly.</p> + +<p>Then everybody cried a little and the girls called themselves all sorts +of awful names for being "brutes" to their adored Little Captain, and +when the storm cleared up everything seemed brighter and they could even +smile a little.</p> + +<p>Then that night, when the little god of hope seemed about to take his +accustomed place in the hearts of the Outdoor Girls, there came another +blow, even more staggering than the ones that had gone before.</p> + +<p>As Betty was scanning the casualty list with terrified, yet eager, eyes, +she gave a little cry, half gasp and half sob that brought the girls +running to her.</p> + +<p>Her face was ashen pale, and she pointed with trembling finger to a name +half-way down in the column.</p> + +<p>"Oh, girls, it's come—it's come! Allen! Allen! It can't be true!" and +she dropped her head upon her arms, crumpling the paper in her hand.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>MISSING</h3> + + +<p>Mollie took the paper from Betty's unresisting hand, smoothed it out, +traced her finger down the column and finally came to the name she +sought.</p> + +<p>"Sergeant Allen Washburn," she read in a small, awed voice, while the +other girls crowded close to look over her shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Dead?" queried Grace breathlessly.</p> + +<p>"No," Mollie shook her head. "He's among the missing."</p> + +<p>"That means," said Betty, lifting a face so still and white that it +startled the girls, "that he is either dead or worse than dead. I would +a thousand times rather he were dead than have him taken prisoner by the +Germans."</p> + +<p>"But we don't know that he has been captured—"</p> + +<p>"That's what missing almost always means," insisted Betty, still in that +strange, lifeless voice. "That," she added, as though speaking to +herself, "was the column I always read first, because I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> was most afraid +of it. I think," she got up unsteadily, and Mollie ran around to her, +"that if you don't mind, I'll go upstairs a little while."</p> + +<p>She started for the door while the girls watched her dumbly, not knowing +what to do or say. Then suddenly Grace ran after her.</p> + +<p>"Betty, darling!" she cried, her own grief forgotten in her pity for her +chum, "let me come too, won't you? I don't suppose I'd be any good to +you just now, but I'd do my best."</p> + +<p>"Let us all come, won't you, Dear?" begged Mollie, while Amy's eyes +silently pleaded.</p> + +<p>But Betty only shook her head, smiling a pitiful little white smile, at +them.</p> + +<p>"Not just now—please," she said. "After a while I'll—I'll call you."</p> + +<p>They watched her run upstairs and heard her door close quietly, oh, so +quietly, behind her.</p> + +<p>Left behind, the girls looked at one another with wide frightened eyes.</p> + +<p>"Girls, she worries me," said Mollie, speaking in a whisper, almost as +if there were death in the house. "She is so quiet and still. And when +one knows Betty—"</p> + +<p>"If she could only cry a little," said Grace, speaking in the same tone. +"It makes things so much worse when you keep them bottled up that way."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Betty's so proud and so brave," said Amy gently, as she sank into a +chair and looked up, wide-eyed, at the other two. "Only this afternoon +she let us see how terribly she cared."</p> + +<p>"And no wonder," said Grace, for there was real grief in her heart. +"There never was a finer fellow than Allen. He made us all love him."</p> + +<p>"But there we go again, speaking as if he were dead," protested Mollie. +"There is always hope, since his name is only among the missing."</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course; but it is generally as Betty said," returned Grace. +"Nine-tenths of the men reported missing are either dead or have fallen +into the hands of the Germans."</p> + +<p>Mollie shuddered.</p> + +<p>"Poor little Betty," she said. "The very thought of it is enough to +drive her crazy."</p> + +<p>"If she would only let us comfort her," sighed Amy.</p> + +<p>"I—I really think that if she doesn't call us in a few minutes, we'd +better go up anyway," said Grace nervously. "She looked so terribly +queer and unlike herself that I'm worried to death. Hark! Did you hear +something?"</p> + +<p>The girls listened, but all they could hear was the sighing of the wind +about the house. Then, far off in the distance, came a soft rumble of +thunder.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope it doesn't storm," cried Amy, shivering. "That would be +about the last straw."</p> + +<p>And upstairs, in the room that Betty shared with Grace, grief and fear +and horror stalked about unfettered and gazed upon the little figure on +the bed.</p> + +<p>So still and white and rigid it was that the girls would have been still +more frightened could they have seen it. For, propped on her elbows, +with grim, set face supported by her clenched fists, Betty was gazing +unseeingly out at the darkness beyond the square of window pane.</p> + +<p>"Somewhere he's out there," she kept saying over and over to herself. +"If he's dead, there's the mud and grime—" she shuddered "—and blood +too—rivers of it. But if he's captured—Oh, I can't think—I mustn't +think—"</p> + +<p>And then she would begin all over again—</p> + +<p>"Allen is lying out there—" over and over again, till her brain whirled +and her head ached and she felt faint and sick. Still she could not cry.</p> + +<p>Her heart was frozen—that was it. And how could one cry when one's +heart was frozen? Oh, Allen! Allen! How could she go on living without +him? If she could only cry—if she could only cry!</p> + +<p>What was that? Thunder. The artillery of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> heaven! Did they have war in +heaven, she wondered. With a queer little laugh she got up and walked to +the window.</p> + +<p>A flash of lightning greeted her, illumining the world outside, flashing +into bold relief the familiar objects of the little room. She <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'knealt'">knelt</ins> down +by the window, regardless of danger, and lifted her face to the rising +wind.</p> + +<p>She welcomed the storm. It seemed, in some mysterious way, to quiet the +tumult within her. She stretched out her arms to it and cried aloud her +misery.</p> + +<p>"Allen, my Allen, you will come back to me, won't you, dear? You +promised. Oh, Allen, if you're alive are you thinking of me now? Are you +thinking of Betty?"</p> + +<p>A sharper clap of thunder seemed to answer her, and then quite suddenly +the ice melted from about her heart. Her head went down upon her arms +and great sobs shook her from head to foot.</p> + +<p>It was so the girls found her a few minutes later, and with cries of +pity lifted her to her feet and half-led, half-carried her back to the +bed.</p> + +<p>"We didn't know whether to come up or not," Mollie said hesitatingly. +"But we <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'though'">thought</ins> maybe you would need us, Dear. If you would rather be +alone—"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Betty shook her head and reached out an unsteady little hand which +Mollie instantly took in her warm clasp.</p> + +<p>"No, I want you to stay," she said, trying desperately to choke back her +sobs. "If some one will—just please—give me a—h-handkerchief."</p> + +<p>Amy slipped one into her hand, and Betty <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'dabbbed'">dabbed</ins> fiercely at the tears +which still would come.</p> + +<p>"Don't try not to cry, Honey," whispered Mollie, putting an +understanding arm about the Little Captain's shoulders and holding her +close. "Tears are just the very best things in the world to help one +through a crisis."</p> + +<p>"Yes," added Grace, gently smoothing the hair back from Betty's hot +forehead, while Amy sprinkled some toilet water on a fresh handkerchief +and slipped it unobtrusively into Betty's other hand, "we'll just sit +here and wait till you're all through."</p> + +<p>"Then we're going to take you down and give you some hot tea and toast +and love you a little," finished Amy.</p> + +<p>All of which loving sympathy very nearly caused a fresh outburst on +Betty's part. However, she finally got the better of the storm within +her and even managed a little smile for the benefit of the girls.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then she wiped away the last tear, sighed, and walked over to the +window.</p> + +<p>"The storm didn't amount to much after all," she said, after a while, +very quietly. "Perhaps," and her voice was very wistful, "it's a good +omen. We'll all hope so, anyway."</p> + +<p>"Betty, Betty, you're so wonderful," cried Mollie adoringly. "I never +saw any one so brave. You make me ashamed of myself."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but I'm not brave," denied Betty, turning back to them. "I'm not +the least little bit brave. I—I went all to pieces a few minutes ago. +But he isn't reported dead," she added, drawing herself up, while two +defiant spots of color burned in her face. "And until he is, I'm going +to hold on to the hope that he is coming back. Nobody can take that from +me, anyway!"</p> + +<p>"Now, you're making me ashamed of myself," said Grace in a small voice, +while the tears glistened in her eyes. "Here I've been imagining the +very worst, while you— Oh, Betty, forgive me, won't you, Dear?"</p> + +<p>Betty looked at her in real surprise.</p> + +<p>"I haven't anything to forgive," she said.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>A NARROW ESCAPE</h3> + + +<p>The next day dawned gloriously bright, and the girls chose to take it as +a good omen. Following Betty's example, they stopped moping about and +imagining the worst, and, although there was not a minute of the day +when their hearts were not aching, they managed to smile when the others +were looking and to speak hopefully of the future. Under Betty's gallant +leadership, they had set up hope in their hearts and refused to give +despair a foothold.</p> + +<p>"What do you say to a swim?" Mollie suggested, looking out over the +sparkling white sand to the inviting water beyond. "We've only been in +swimming twice since we've been here."</p> + +<p>"That is a terrible record for Outdoor Girls," Betty agreed. She was +bustling busily about the cheerful kitchen making a tempting blueberry +pie. There were circles under her eyes and she looked very pale for +Betty, but her voice was bright and cheery.</p> + +<p>"Can't you stop making pies for a few<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> minutes?" asked Mollie, turning +to look at her. "It's too nice outdoors to waste time in cooking."</p> + +<p>"I imagine you wouldn't say that to-night," retorted Betty, fluting the +edges of her pie crust. "I notice you generally like the results of my +labor."</p> + +<p>"Who wouldn't?" returned Mollie. "I only know of one person who can make +better pies."</p> + +<p>"And that's yourself, of course." Betty made a little face at her and +slipped the pie into the oven. "Just for that you can have only one +piece to-night!"</p> + +<p>"I don't care, if you'll only stop working and come along," insisted +Mollie. "If I stay in the house much longer I'll start thinking +again—and you know what that means."</p> + +<p>Betty gave her a quick side-glance, hastily dusted the flour from her +hands and took off her apron.</p> + +<p>"I'm all ready," she announced. "Where are the other girls?"</p> + +<p>"In the living room, reading and eating candy—or at least Grace is +doing the candy part. Amy has sworn off, you know."</p> + +<p>The girls agreed eagerly to the proposed swim, and in a few minutes had +donned their suits and caps and pronounced themselves ready.</p> + +<p>"I ought to get a letter from mother to-day,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> said Mollie, as her feet +sank in the soft sand. "She said yesterday that the detectives had +picked up a clue and thought they were on the right trail at last."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you tell us?" Betty demanded.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know," Mollie replied wearily. "I didn't think there was +any use telling you until I had something really definite. You know the +chief business of a detective is nosing out false clues," she finished +scornfully.</p> + +<p>"Well, I know once we met a perfectly capable detective," remarked +Betty. By this time they had reached the water and she put one toe into +it experimentally.</p> + +<p>"Ouch—it's cold," she said.</p> + +<p>"When did we meet a capable detective?" queried Mollie, looking +interested.</p> + +<p>"Just after we went to Camp Liberty when Will traced the German spy," +Betty reminded her. "Did you ever see prettier detective work in your +life?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was splendid," Mollie admitted, but the reference proved to be +an unfortunate one. It brought back vividly the picture of Will as he +had been then, at the height of his triumph over the apprehension of the +spy—in which the Outdoor Girls had also played an important part—and +jubilant at the prospect of being able to join<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> the colors at last and +fight in the army of democracy.</p> + +<p>Try as they would, they could not enter into the fun as they would have +done a few weeks before. They swam about <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'lanquidly'">languidly</ins> and found to their +surprise that they became quickly and easily tired.</p> + +<p>"I never knew before how much influence mind has over matter," said +Mollie, after they had come out on the beach again. "I declare, even my +muscles feel depressed!"</p> + +<p>"As Outdoor Girls we're getting to be marvelous failures," remarked +Grace, as she wrung the water from her skirt and plumped down in the +sand. "I feel as weak as a rag."</p> + +<p>"I guess it isn't much use trying to enjoy ourselves," sighed Betty +plaintively. "I've done my best, but all the time I feel as if I were +just trying to kid myself, in the vulgar vernacular."</p> + +<p>"For goodness sake, don't you give up, Betty!" cried Grace, in alarm. +"If you get discouraged, then I don't know what we shall do."</p> + +<p>"I'm not really discouraged—" Betty began, when a terrified cry cut her +short and the girls sprang to their feet bewildered.</p> + +<p>"Where is it?" cried Mollie, but Betty caught her arm and pointed with +shaking fingers to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> an orange-colored cap bobbing on the water several +hundred feet from shore.</p> + +<p>"It's Amy!" she gasped. "Something must have happened. Come on, girls! +Who's going with me?"</p> + +<p>Without waiting for an answer, she was off like a shot with Mollie and +Grace close behind.</p> + +<p>They had not missed quiet little Amy, and if they had, would probably +have thought she had gone for an unusually long swim. And now had come +her frantic cry for help.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" Betty cried over and over to herself, as she put +all her strength into the long, powerful strokes. Amy was a splendid +swimmer, almost as good as Betty herself.</p> + +<p>For one terrible moment the thought of sharks dashed into Betty's mind +and she shuddered. But the next minute reason reasserted itself and she +realized that sharks had never been seen on this coast. Baby ones, +perhaps, but not the man-eating variety.</p> + +<p>She raised her head from the water and gazed in the direction of the +vivid cap. Yes, there it was! Thank heaven there was still time.</p> + +<p>"Amy! Amy!" she called, "I'm coming. Just hold on for a minute, Honey. +I'm almost to you."</p> + +<p>No answer came back to her, and when she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> looked again for the cap she +found to her horror that it was gone.</p> + +<p>"Oh," she moaned, "I'm too late. I'm too late. Oh, Amy, Amy, just +another minute—just a little minute—" she redoubled her efforts and +suddenly gave a shout of joy.</p> + +<p>There was the cap again, almost under her hand. In her frenzy of haste +she had covered the distance with almost unbelievable speed.</p> + +<p>Her shout seemed to rouse Amy, who had been struggling feebly to keep +her head above the water, and the girl turned a terror-stricken face to +her.</p> + +<p>"Can you put a hand on my shoulder?" gasped Betty, beginning to feel the +tremendous effort she had made. "Hang on to me, Honey, and we'll get out +of this all right."</p> + +<p>Amy clutched her shoulder, and slowly the Little Captain turned about, +saving her strength for the long swim back. She could not be too long +about it either, she thought desperately. Amy was almost exhausted and +had all she could do to keep her head above the water.</p> + +<p>It all depended on her, Betty. If she could get to shore, carrying the +double weight before Amy's strength left her and she gave up altogether, +all well and good. But if she could not—she groaned and set herself +grimly to her task.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span></p> + +<p>She had covered about an eighth of the distance back when her heart +leapt suddenly and she gave a sigh of relief. There were two other +bobbing caps on the water coming rapidly nearer—and those two caps +could belong to nobody but Mollie and Grace.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 257px;"> +<img src="images/p198.jpg" width="257" height="400" alt="TWO OTHER BOBBING CAPS WERE COMING RAPIDLY NEARER." title="TWO OTHER BOBBING CAPS WERE COMING RAPIDLY NEARER." /> +<span class="caption">TWO OTHER BOBBING CAPS WERE COMING RAPIDLY NEARER.</span> +</div> +<div class='center'><i>The Outdoor Girls at Bluff Point.</i> <i>Page 193.</i></div> + +<p>That meant help—and, oh, she did need help! She was putting forth all +her strength, but to her agonized fancy she was not going forward at +all. Amy's almost dead weight dragging at her shoulder seemed a +nightmare. Yet she dreaded beyond anything else to be relieved of the +weight for that would mean—. She refused to put the awful thought into +words, merely driving herself on more desperately. And all the time she +was gasping out words of hope and courage to the poor girl she +supported.</p> + +<p>Amy seemed beyond words, for she made no answer, merely clutching +Betty's shoulder more tightly and holding on with a grimness born of +terror.</p> + +<p>Then just as the gallant Little Captain felt her strength going and knew +she could not hold out much longer, Mollie came abreast of her with +Grace a few feet behind.</p> + +<p>Mollie shook the water from her eyes, gave one glance at Betty's face, +then gave peremptory orders.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Give her to me, Betty," she directed. "I guess you're about all in. +That's it, Amy; grasp my shoulder with your other hand. Get a good grip +before you let go of Betty. That's the way. Now we're all right. Between +us we'll have you in in a jiffy. All right, Betty? Do you need help +yourself?"</p> + +<p>But Betty shook her head, her long steady strokes keeping her even with +Mollie. In a moment Grace came up to them and directed Amy to put her +free hand on her shoulder, and in this fashion they finally reached +shallow water.</p> + +<p>They found that they were not a moment too soon, for as they got to +their feet and stooped to lift Amy, they found that she had fainted.</p> + +<p>"Thank heaven that didn't happen out there," cried Betty, with a +shuddering glance out over the treacherous water.</p> + +<p>Between them, fatigued though they were with the ordeal they had just +gone through, they got Amy to the shore and began to work over her.</p> + +<p>It did not take very long to bring her back to consciousness, for Amy +had a wonderful constitution and strong vitality. However, it seemed +ages to the anxious girls who worked over her, and when at last she +opened her eyes they were ready to cry with relief.</p> + +<p>"H-how do you feel?" asked Betty tremulously,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> for she was beginning to +feel the reaction. "Are you all right?"</p> + +<p>"Don't try to get up," commanded Mollie, as Amy tried weakly to raise +herself on her elbow.</p> + +<p>"Just lie still and you'll feel better in a minute," Grace added, while +Amy looked from one to the other of them with wide, bewildered eyes.</p> + +<p>"What happened," she asked, then, as memory came sweeping back to her, +she gave a little cry and covered her eyes with her hand.</p> + +<p>"Oh, girls," she cried, "I thought I was going to die!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, we know," said Betty soothingly, as though she were talking +to a little child, "but you're all right now, dear."</p> + +<p>"Don't try to tell us about it unless you want to," added Mollie.</p> + +<p>"I swam out farther than I meant to," Amy went on, as though they had +not spoken. "And when I tried to get back I found that something was +wrong with my right leg." She was shivering with exhaustion and the +memory of the awful experience she had gone through, but when the girls +tried to stop her she would not listen and hurried on feverishly.</p> + +<p>"It was a cramp I guess, and the harder I tried to get rid of it the +worse it got till finally I got panic-stricken. I called to you girls, +but you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> didn't seem to hear me. Then—" she paused, and the girls held +their breath as she looked around at them. "Then—I went down. I came up +again and called, and—and—I saw you, Betty. Oh, it was terrible!"</p> + +<p>"Then," cried Betty, her voice trembling, "when you went down that last +time—"</p> + +<p>"I didn't go down," Amy contradicted her. "I struggled so hard that I +succeeded in getting my head above water and—that was when you reached +me—Betty—"</p> + +<p>"Thank Heaven," said Betty, with a little sob, "that I was there!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>DARKNESS BEFORE THE DAWN</h3> + +<p>"Well," said Mollie, with a sigh, "I fancy there isn't very much use of +our sitting around here in our bathing suits. I, for one, don't feel +like swimming any more to-day."</p> + +<p>"Nor I," agreed Grace.</p> + +<p>"And I," said Amy, turning away with a shudder from the water where she +had so closely come to death, "feel as if I never wanted to see the +water again."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but you will get over that," Betty assured her quickly. "I don't +blame you a bit for feeling that way now—I do myself—but after a while +you will be just as crazy about it as ever."</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Amy slowly. "When you have once come face to face +with death like that, you are not anxious to do it again in a hurry."</p> + +<p>"But you have never had a cramp before," reasoned Mollie, "and you +probably never will have one again."</p> + +<p>"But I am not sure of that," insisted Amy.</p> + +<p>"There's no reason why you can't be sure of it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> after a while," Betty +pointed out. "You see, we girls are pretty well out of practice. It's a +long time since we did any swimming to amount to anything, and our +muscles are weak and flabby. Why, we all got tired out to-day twice as +quickly as we ordinarily would."</p> + +<p>"And you tried to swim too far," added Mollie. "That's the reason your +poor old muscles protested."</p> + +<p>"It might have happened to any one of us," Grace agreed. "All we need is +a little practice to swim as well as ever again."</p> + +<p>"Oh, do you think so?" asked Amy eagerly, while the color came back into +her pale cheeks. "If I could only be sure of that!"</p> + +<p>Betty was about to reply, but at that minute a voice hailed them from +the direction of the house and they jumped up to see what was wanted.</p> + +<p>"It's mother," said Grace. "And she seems to be <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'waiving'">waving</ins> something at us."</p> + +<p>"It's an envelope," cried Mollie. "It <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'maybe'">may be</ins> a letter from mother."</p> + +<p>She started running toward the house, with Grace, thinking of Will, at +her heels, while Betty helped Amy to her feet.</p> + +<p>"Are you feeling stronger now?" she asked. "Or would you rather rest a +little longer?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm all right," Amy assured her, though<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> for a minute she had to +cling to Betty for support.</p> + +<p>They made their way rather slowly after the others. Before they had +reached the foot of the bluff Mollie came scrambling down again and ran +toward them wildly.</p> + +<p>"What do you think has happened now?" she cried, taking Amy's other arm +and helping her along.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mollie," cried Amy, standing stock still to gaze at her, "what—"</p> + +<p>"The twins haven't been found?" Betty questioned eagerly, but Mollie +shook her head.</p> + +<p>"No such luck," she returned. "But we have found out one thing. Those +blessed little twins are alive, anyway."</p> + +<p>"How do you know?" they queried breathlessly.</p> + +<p>By this time they had reached the top of the bluff and were all, Mrs. +Ford included, hurrying toward the house.</p> + +<p>"They received a letter," Mollie explained, sinking down on a step of +the porch while the others crowded about her eagerly, "from some old +rascal—oh, if I could only get my hands on him!" she paused to glare +about her ferociously, but they impatiently hurried her on.</p> + +<p>"Yes! But the letter!" Betty urged.</p> + +<p>"It was from a man who demanded twenty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> thousand dollars—" she paused +again, while the girls gasped and crowded closer, "for the return of the +twins."</p> + +<p>"Then they were kidnapped!" cried Grace.</p> + +<p>"Yes. But they ran away first," explained Mollie, almost beside herself +with anger and excitement. "And this old—brute! found them, and, I +suppose because they were well dressed, thought he saw a way to make +some easy money. Oh, my poor darlings! My poor little Paul and Dodo! +Girls, we've just got to find them, that's all. I can't sit here and do +nothing a minute longer."</p> + +<p>"But the police—" Amy suggested.</p> + +<p>"Oh, the police! Of course they are on the job—or think they are," +interrupted Mollie scornfully. "But I don't believe they will be able to +find our babies in a thousand years. And every time I think of them, +frightened to death! Oh, our precious babies!"</p> + +<p>"I wonder how he found out where they lived," broke in Grace, who had +been following her own train of thought.</p> + +<p>"They told him, of course," said Mollie. "Poor little trusting angels, +of course they would think any grown person was their friend. Oh, if +they had only fallen in with some respectable person instead of +that—that—" she could think of noth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span>ing bad enough to call the man who +had stolen the twins.</p> + +<p>"Of course," said Mrs. Ford—it was the first time she had spoken—"your +mother showed the letter to the police."</p> + +<p>"Of course," Mollie agreed, two angry spots of color in her cheeks. "And +equally of course they have promised to do all in their power to +apprehend the villain. But it makes me wild to just sit here and do +nothing!"</p> + +<p>"But I don't see what there is to do," said Amy.</p> + +<p>"Neither do I," cried Mollie, jumping to her feet and beginning to pace +restlessly up and down the porch. "That's the worst of it. I feel so +absolutely helpless. And all the time I have no way of knowing what +horrible thing may be happening—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, the man is probably treating them pretty decently," said Betty, +adding, reasonably: "If he hopes to get all that money from your mother +he isn't going to take a chance on losing it by harming the twins."</p> + +<p>"I know," cried Mollie, stopping in her restless promenade to regard +Betty. "But how in the world is mother going to raise any such sum of +money? Twenty thousand dollars—why, we haven't that much ready cash in +the world!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But he doesn't know that," Grace pointed out. "And as long as he keeps +on hoping—"</p> + +<p>"But how long is he going to keep on hoping?" cried Mollie, turning on +her. "He knows mighty well that if mother had that much money she would +move heaven and earth to get it together and get the twins back. And the +very fact that she hasn't—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, but that doesn't always follow," Betty broke in eagerly. "There are +a great many people who, even if they had the money, would try to bring +the rascal to justice before they submitted to blackmail."</p> + +<p>"But not my mother," Mollie insisted.</p> + +<p>"But the kidnapper doesn't know that," Grace put in. "And he will +probably lie mighty low for a few weeks, knowing that the police are +hunting for him."</p> + +<p>"For the next few weeks, yes," admitted Mollie. "But he isn't going to +wait forever, and when he finds out that mother can't raise the money +what would be the natural thing for him to do? Get the twins out of the +way, of course," she said, answering her own question.</p> + +<p>"But there is always the chance—yes even the probability—" insisted +Betty, "that before very long the police will be able to find the fellow +and recover the twins."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes," Grace added, "that kind of criminal is never very clever, you +know. They are bound to leave something undone that will incriminate +them."</p> + +<p>Mollie groaned and sank into a chair.</p> + +<p>"And in the meantime," she said, "all I have to do is just to sit here +and wait and act as if nothing had happened. Oh, I can't! I've simply +got to do something!"</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm sure I don't know how a girl can do anything that the police +can't," sighed Grace, adding wistfully: "Goodness, wouldn't I like a +chance to be happy again!"</p> + +<p>"I guess we all would," said Mollie moodily.</p> + +<p>They were silent for a long time after that, each one busy with her own +unhappy thoughts and no one noticed that the sun had gone under a cloud +and that the wind was rising.</p> + +<p>It was the increasing thunder of the waves on the rocks that finally +startled them into a realization of the present.</p> + +<p>"There's a fearful storm coming up!" cried Grace, springing to her feet. +"Look at those banks of clouds."</p> + +<p>"And I'm getting cold," added Amy, shivering, and then they suddenly +realized that they still had on their bathing suits.</p> + +<p>"I guess we're going crazy—and no wonder,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> said Grace, as they started +indoors to change their things.</p> + +<p>"Has any one any idea what time it is?" asked Mollie. "I'm sure I +haven't."</p> + +<p>"It must be after twelve, for I'm beginning to feel hungry," Betty +answered.</p> + +<p>"And I'm feeling faint," Amy added. "I shouldn't wonder if a cup of tea +would go awfully well."</p> + +<p>"You poor little thing," said Betty, putting an arm about her. "No +wonder you feel faint. We should have given you something to strengthen +you long ago. I don't know what we've been thinking of!"</p> + +<p>"It's all my fault," said Mollie contritely, noticing suddenly how white +Amy's face was and how dark were the circles under her eyes. "I let my +own affairs make me forget everything else. Why didn't you say +something, Amy?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't think of it myself," Amy answered truthfully, "until Betty +spoke of being hungry. Girls," she paused outside her door to sniff +inquiringly, "do I smell something, or am I dreaming?"</p> + +<p>"I'll say you smell something," Grace answered, sniffing hungrily in her +turn. "It's mother getting lunch, of course. I don't know what we ever +would have done without her."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> + +<p>While the girls were dressing the threatened storm was coming nearer, +and toward the end they had to put on the light to see to fix their +hair.</p> + +<p>Even had the sun been shining brightly, they would have felt depressed, +what with Amy's accident and the bad news Mollie had received; but with +the wind wailing dolefully and black darkness in the middle of the day, +they felt themselves growing utterly discouraged.</p> + +<p>Grace had heard no further news of Will, and the one straw of hope that +she clutched so desperately was that he had not died, or surely her +father would have heard. In this case, no news was good news to a +certain extent.</p> + +<p>And as for Betty, brave as she had tried to be since that terrible night +when she had read Allen's name among the missing, even she felt her +courage slipping—slipping, and began to wonder if after all, hoping did +any good.</p> + +<p>To-day, as she stood before the mirror, mechanically putting up her hair +and looking through and past her own reflection, her eyes suddenly lost +their preoccupied stare and became focused upon herself. For the first +time in days she was seeing herself without the mask of cheerfulness she +had so determinedly assumed. And as she looked, her eyes suddenly filled +with tears—tears almost of self-pity.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p> + +<p>For the mirror told her, what she had scarcely realized, just how much +she had suffered. Her eyes, usually so bright and merry, were dark and +brooding. Her face looked thin and drawn, and her lips—those lips that +had always seemed to smile even when her eyes were grave—had a +pathetic, wistful droop, and there were lines, yes, actually lines, +about them.</p> + +<p>"If Allen should see you," she told herself tremulously, "he probably +wouldn't know you, Betty."</p> + +<p>Yet all the while she knew that if it were possible for Allen to see her +or for her to see Allen, the face in the mirror would disappear as if by +magic and the old Betty would return, for joy would have taken its place +in her heart.</p> + +<p>With a little sob she turned from the mirror and switched off the light. +The noise of the surf beating against the rocks came to her menacingly +and the wind wailed shrilly around the house.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Allen, Allen!" she cried, stretching out her arms in an agony of +entreaty. "Somewhere you must hear me calling you. Allen, come back to +me, dear!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>THE SHADOW LIFTS</h3> + + +<p>"I wonder if it is going to rain forever," cried Mollie petulantly, +beating a restless tattoo on the window pane. "As if we weren't forlorn +enough without the old weather making things a hundred times worse."</p> + +<p>"They say troubles never come singly, and I guess they're right," sighed +Amy. She was sitting near the window in the brightest spot she could +find—which was not very bright at that—knitting and trying her best +not to think of Will. The result was that he was never for a minute out +of her mind.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Grace—I mean more than usual?" Betty laid aside her +book and looked over at Grace questioningly. "I don't believe you've +said three consecutive words all day long."</p> + +<p>"And left to myself I wouldn't say that much," returned Grace moodily, +adding, as they turned to stare at her: "It seems as if I never open my +mouth these days but what I say something unpleasant, so I made up my +mind last night that I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> wouldn't talk till I had something cheerful to +talk about."</p> + +<p>"Then you're apt to be dumb till doomsday," retorted Mollie, with such a +depth of pessimism that the girls had to smile at her.</p> + +<p>"What an awful thing to happen to a girl," said Betty, with a wry little +smile.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you didn't say what girl," retorted Grace, and therewith +subsided into her gloomy meditation again.</p> + +<p>Betty took up her book and Amy went on with her knitting while the rain +came down in torrents and the surf thundered and roared.</p> + +<p>Mollie turned from the window and looked at them, and the whole +situation suddenly appealed to her rather hysterical sense of humor. She +began to laugh, and the longer she laughed the harder she laughed till +she sank into a chair and shook with mirth.</p> + +<p>The other girls first looked surprised, then alarmed.</p> + +<p>Betty threw down her book and went over to her.</p> + +<p>"For goodness sake, Mollie, what's the joke?" she asked, as Mollie +looked up at her with red face and watery eyes.</p> + +<p>"If it's as funny as all that I think you might share it with us," added +Grace.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, it isn't funny," gasped Mollie, "it's h-horrible."</p> + +<p>Then as suddenly as she had begun to laugh, she began to cry with great +sobs that tore themselves from her and seemed utterly beyond her +control.</p> + +<p>Alarmed, the girls soothed and patted and comforted her till finally the +storm had passed and she became more quiet.</p> + +<p>"You must think I'm a p-perfect idiot," she sputtered, raising swollen +eyes to them. "I don't know what in the w-world g-got into me. I just +went all to pieces."</p> + +<p>"So we see," said Betty, while she gently wiped Mollie's eyes with a +clean handkerchief. "But please don't do it again," she added +whimsically. "I don't believe we could survive another one."</p> + +<p>"But it's made me feel better," said Mollie, a minute later, as though +the discovery surprised her. "It's made me feel lots better," she added.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if we couldn't all try it," suggested Amy.</p> + +<p>"Yes, how do you get that way," added Grace, with interest. "I'm willing +to try anything once."</p> + +<p>"It—it isn't pleasant while it lasts," said Mollie, adding with a +suggestion of a smile: "And I doubt if I could give you the recipe."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I wonder," Amy suggested shyly after a little while, "if perhaps a +little music wouldn't help out. Won't you play for us, Betty?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Betty, please!" Grace took up the suggestion eagerly. "It would +take our minds off ourselves."</p> + +<p>"Yes, do, Betty. You know you never refuse," urged Mollie, jumping up +and escorting the Little Captain to the piano.</p> + +<p>Betty obediently sat down to the piano, but her fingers wandered over +the keys uncertainly. She did not want to play. Music, good music, +always roused in her a feeling of exquisite sadness, a pain that was +akin to joy, and in her present mood she was afraid to play.</p> + +<p>But the girls had asked her to, and if it would make them feel any +better—</p> + +<p>She struck a chord of exquisite harmony, and every fibre in her seemed +yearningly to respond. She had meant to play something bright and +cheerful, but almost against her will her fingers wandered into Grieg's +"To Spring."</p> + +<p>The elusive, plaintive melody floated throbbingly out into the room, +while the girls sat motionless, fascinated. They had never heard Betty +play just this way before, and instinctively they knew that she was +showing them her heart.</p> + +<p>She played it through to the last whispering<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> note, then dropped her +head upon her arms and sobbed as though her heart would break.</p> + +<p>"You shouldn't have asked me," she said, when they tried to comfort her. +"I knew I couldn't play without making a f-fool of myself. It was the +one—Allen loved best—" the last words so low that they had to bend +close to hear them.</p> + +<p>"Poor little Betty!" cried Mollie, stroking her hair gently. "It was +selfish of us to ask you, but you did play it wonderfully," she added +with a sudden little burst of enthusiasm. "You had us all hypnotized."</p> + +<p>"And then I had to go and spoil everything by making a baby of myself," +Betty lamented. "Goodness, I've cried more in the last week than in all +the rest of my life before."</p> + +<p>"Well, you have had plenty of company," said Grace dryly. "Though what +comfort that is, I never could see."</p> + +<p>Betty sat up, dabbed a last tear from her eyes, and looked about her +with a weak little attempt at a smile.</p> + +<p>"Well," she said, "now that Mollie and I have entertained the company, I +wonder who's next?"</p> + +<p>"I'll recite that little ditty entitled, 'The Face On the Barroom +Floor'," Amy volunteered. "Some kind person wished it upon me when I was +too young to object."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't you dare," said Grace, alarmed. "If you do I'm going out, rain or +no rain—"</p> + +<p>"And get drowned."</p> + +<p>"Well, there are worse things."</p> + +<p>"No there aren't," denied Amy, with a shiver. "I know, because I tried +it."</p> + +<p>At that moment came an interruption in the shape of a sharp rapping at +the kitchen door.</p> + +<p>The girls looked at one another questioningly.</p> + +<p>"Mercy, I wonder who's calling upon us in this weather?" said Mollie.</p> + +<p>"It might be a good idea to look and see," Betty returned dryly, and ran +to the kitchen, followed closely by the others.</p> + +<p>She flung open the door, letting in a gust of wind and a flood of rain +as she did so, and a tall figure in a rubber coat almost fell into the +room.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's our delivery-boy-mail-carrier!" cried Betty, as the young +giant recovered himself and pulled off his dripping hat.</p> + +<p>"Yes'm," he replied, with a good-natured grin that stretched from ear to +ear. "The very same, an' at your service."</p> + +<p>"But how did you manage to get here?" cried Betty, too astonished even +to offer the unexpected visitor a seat. "You never could drive through +that awful mud."</p> + +<p>"No'm, I reckon mos' likely I couldn't," he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> answered amiably, adding +with a return of the loquacity that was his most marked failing: "I +remember one year we had a storm near's bad as this, an' Luke Bailey, he +got kind of short o' pervisions—campin' in the woods he was—an' he +tried to drive his team into town—"</p> + +<p>"But you said you didn't drive out!" Grace interrupted. "And if you +didn't drive, you must have walked all the way."</p> + +<p>"Yes'm, reckon I did. Well, Luke he got jest about as fur—"</p> + +<p>"But why did you come?" broke in Mollie, unable to bear the suspense any +longer.</p> + +<p>"I got this here package of letters," he replied, seeming suddenly to +remember the cause of his errand. "Some o' them came a couple o' days +ago, but I said to myself I might jest as well wait an' see if the +weather didn't clear up—"</p> + +<p>"And so when it didn't, you walked away up here in all the rain," Betty +finished for him, real gratitude in her voice. "It was most awfully kind +of you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that ain't nothin'," he denied, fidgeting uneasily, while Mollie +hastily sorted the letters. "I ain't never finished tellin' you what +happened to Luke Bailey—"</p> + +<p>He was off again, and the girls were vaguely conscious of his voice +rambling on and on while<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> they eagerly scanned the handwriting on their +letters.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly Betty gave a little cry and stumbled back against the +table, holding on to it for support.</p> + +<p>"Betty! Honey! What is it?" cried Amy. "You look as white as a ghost."</p> + +<p>"A letter," she gasped, holding out an envelope with the familiar red +diamond in the corner. She was shaking from head to foot. "Girls, oh, +girls, it's from Allen!" Then she turned and fled from the room.</p> + +<p>Luke Bailey's biographer stared after her stupidly while the girls +gasped and looked wildly at one another for confirmation of what they +had heard.</p> + +<p>"A letter!" she had said. "From Allen!"</p> + +<p>Then he was not dead—their dazed brains comprehended that fact. And he +could not be missing either. After a minute that stupefying fact became +equally clear.</p> + +<p>Then slowly they regained the use of their tongues.</p> + +<p>"Did you hear what I heard?" asked Mollie, looking from Grace to Amy and +back again.</p> + +<p>"I think I'm awake," Grace answered, with the same incredulous look in +her eyes.</p> + +<p>"She said," Amy repeated slowly, "that she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> had received a letter from +Allen. Then the report that he was missing must have been a mistake."</p> + +<p>"It looks that way," said Mollie, two spots of color beginning to burn +in her face. Then she turned to the boy who was still staring stupidly +from one to the other of them. Even the story of Luke Bailey had been +temporarily driven from his mind.</p> + +<p>"Miss Nelson," Mollie explained, taking pity on his bewilderment, "has +received the most wonderful news, and we can't thank you enough for +bringing it to her. Can't we get you a cup of tea or something?" she +offered, rather vaguely.</p> + +<p>But the boy refused, and seeing that they were all tremendously excited +about something, he finally took his leave, feeling very much abused +that his story of Luke and his adventures had not been listened to with +the attention it deserved.</p> + +<p>Once the door was closed behind this angel in disguise, the girls rushed +after Betty and were met and nearly bowled over by that delirious little +person herself.</p> + +<p>"He's not missing—never was!" she cried, waving the letter wildly in +the air, beside herself with relief and joy. "He's just as well as ever +he was, and Grace darling, and Amy, too, he says, he says—"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, what?" cried Grace, her face growing white while Amy clutched the +back of a chair.</p> + +<p>Betty tried to pull herself together. She turned the pages of the letter +in search of a particular place. Finding it, she began:</p> + +<p>"He says that Will—Oh read it," she cried, thrusting the letter into +Grace's hands. "There it is—that paragraph. Read it aloud, Grace. Oh, I +think—I think—I'll die of joy!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>HIS THREE SWEETHEARTS</h3> + + +<p>Grace's eyes filled with tears of sheer weakness, but she brushed them +away impatiently. Then she read, brokenly at first, then radiantly as +the marvelous truth came home to her.<br /><br /></p> + +<p>"'Poor old Will certainly did have a narrow +escape,'" she read, "'but thanks to the gods he is +out of danger now. I went to see him +yesterday—got leave for the first time in +weeks—and he was looking mighty chipper. No +wonder, with the good looking nurse he had.'"<br /><br /></p> + +<p>Amy gave a little involuntary sound and then blushed scarlet when the +girls looked at her.</p> + +<p>"Never mind!" cried the joy incarnate that was Betty, putting an arm +about her. "Just wait till you hear what he says later on. Go on, +Gracie."<br /><br /></p> + +<p>"'But do you know what that old boy said when I +happened to comment upon the excellent nursing he +must have had?'" Grace read on,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> while Amy tried +hard to look unconcerned. "'He reached under his +pillow and pulled out three pictures. "Those are +my three girls," he said, and I swear there was +moisture in his eyes. "You probably won't believe +me, old man, but there isn't a girl or woman over +here who could make me look twice at her unless +she resembles one of those," and he pointed to the +photographs I still held.</p> + +<p>"'And when I opened them there was Mrs. Ford's +face smiling up at me as sweet as life, and Grace +with her best Gibson Girl expression—you can tell +her from me that that is some picture of her—And +who do you think the third was?'"<br /><br /></p> + +<p>Grace paused again and looked over slyly at Amy, who turned away her +face, only just showing the tip of one furiously blushing ear.<br /><br /></p> + +<p>"'It was Amy Blackford,'" Grace read on, "'And it +was one fine picture of her too. Gosh, I didn't +know it was as serious as all that, did you, +little girl? But then the war does make a fellow +feel about ten years older than he really is, and +the girls at home suddenly seem the most desirable +and necessary things on earth. And Amy did look so +sweet and comfy and altogether like home that I +couldn't blame the old chap.</p> + +<p>"'Then I pulled out the picture of the most<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +beautiful girl in the world and we talked about +home and—other things, you know—until we were +ready to weep on each other's shoulders and the +handsome nurse put me out.</p> + +<p>"'Do you know what I'm going to do the first +minute I reach good old U. S. A. territory, Betty +de—'"<br /><br /></p> + +<p>But the sentence was never finished, for with a quick movement, Betty +snatched the letter away and hugged it to her breast while her face +flamed.</p> + +<p>"That's all you get," she cried, "the rest belongs to me. Oh, girls, did +you ever hear such wonderful news? Allen strong and well and Will +recovering splendidly, and both of them so sweet and loyal. Oh, I could +kiss that beautiful red-haired angel who brought all this happiness to +us. Where is he? Has he gone back again?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he has, and what do we care!" cried Grace wildly, her face +radiant. "Amy, you little goose, you're not crying are you? Don't you +know there isn't a thing in the world to cry about? Come on—laugh, you +sweet, comfy, little thing. Don't you know that Will is getting better +and keeps our pictures under his pillow? That darling, wonderful, +adorable boy. Great heavens!" She stopped suddenly and a dismayed +expression crept over her face. "Excuse me, please," and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> she was racing +up the stairs, leaving the girls to look after her, bewildered.</p> + +<p>"What in the world," began Betty, when Amy lifted a face, shining +radiantly through her tears.</p> + +<p>"Don't you know?" she said with an understanding born of her wonderful +happiness. "Grace has gone to tell her mother. You really can't blame +her for being in a hurry."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later Grace called down to Amy.</p> + +<p>"Come on up, Honey," she commanded. "Mother wants to speak to you."</p> + +<p>After Amy had left the room, Mollie and Betty looked at each other +questioningly.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if Mrs. Ford is going to welcome Amy into the family," +chuckled Mollie.</p> + +<p>"I hardly think so, since there isn't anything definitely settled yet," +said Betty absently. She was thinking of Allen and what he had said in +the part of his letter she would not let Grace read. Her eyes shone +mistily and her heart sang. Allen, her Allen, was safe, and, oh, those +wonderful things he had said!</p> + +<p>"It must be nice to be as happy as they are," Mollie said, with a little +sigh, and with a start Betty came out of her preoccupation.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mollie, dear, I—I forgot," she confessed, putting an arm about her +chum. "I was so sel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span>fishly taken up with my own happiness that I didn't +think!"</p> + +<p>"It isn't your fault," said Mollie, smiling bravely. "You just can't be +happy enough to suit me. You know that, don't you, Betty?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I do, you perfect brick!" said Betty, hugging her fondly. +"But we can't any of us be really happy until we know you are. But even +that is coming out all right, I'm sure of it," she finished gayly, her +old optimism fully restored.</p> + +<p>Mollie started to shake her head moodily, thought better of it, and +smiled instead.</p> + +<p>"I won't be a death's head at the feast," she told herself savagely. "I +suppose I'm awfully wicked, but now that they are all so happy, it makes +me feel dreadfully lonesome. I'm glad from my very heart for them, of +course. But, oh, Paul! Oh, little Dodo! If you will only come back to +Mollie, she will never go away from you again, never, never!"</p> + +<p>Dinner that night for the other girls was a joyful occasion. The girls +dressed up in their prettiest and best, Mrs. Ford and Betty cooked a +most appetizing supper, and if it had not been for the one dark cloud +still hanging over them, the evening that followed would have been the +happiest they had ever spent.</p> + +<p>Mollie kept her promise to herself and entered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> into the gayety with the +best of them, and no one—except Betty, perhaps—realized how much she +was suffering.</p> + +<p>However, when the lights were out that night and everybody but herself +was asleep, Mollie's brave barrier broke down and she sobbed miserably +into her pillow.</p> + +<p>"I want to go home!" she cried, heart brokenly. "I can't keep this up +day after day! I can't! If I don't hear some good news soon, I'll die—I +know I shall."</p> + +<p>Only the sound of the waves pounding angrily on the shore and the +shrilling of a rapidly rising wind answered her, and after a while she +sank into a troubled, uneasy sleep.</p> + +<p>And how could she know as she lay there, restlessly tossing from side to +side and muttering incoherently to herself, that the wind and waves were +actually sending her an answer which, in her wildest moments, she could +never have imagined?</p> + +<p>Toward morning something, she could not tell what, roused Betty and she +sat up suddenly in bed, every nerve taut, every sense alert.</p> + +<p>The wind had increased in fury while they slept, till now it was howling +fiercely about the house, rattling the windows and whistling shrilly +through the cracks, which together with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> pounding of the waves, made +an almost deafening uproar.</p> + +<p>And the rain! It came down in sheeting torrents and was driven by the +rushing wind in maddened gusts against the window panes until it seemed +they must give beneath the strain.</p> + +<p>"What a storm!" cried Betty, pressing her hands against her ears to keep +out the noise of it. "I wonder if that was what wakened me."</p> + +<p>Then, becoming fully awake, she suddenly realized that she was very +uncomfortable, and, looking down, discovered that the bed spread was +wet.</p> + +<p>"Mercy, it's raining in all over us!" she tried aloud, and, springing +out of bed, ran over to the window and closed it with a bang. When she +came back she found Grace sitting up in bed and staring at her.</p> + +<p>"For goodness sake, what's happening?" asked the latter sleepily: "Is it +the end of the world?"</p> + +<p>"Search me," returned Betty, inelegantly. She had to almost scream to +make herself heard above the noise of the storm. Furthermore, her feet +were wet and her nightgown was wet, which did not serve to lift her +spirits. In fact, she was feeling decidedly grumpy. "The only thing I do +know," she shouted, "is that I'm nearly drowned."</p> + +<p>"Don't you know that getting drowned at night<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> is strictly forbidden?" +Grace began severely, but was promptly smothered by an avenging pillow. +"Why don't you get in bed?" she asked, when she had succeeded in +disentangling herself. Betty was sitting disconsolately on the dry side +of the bed, which happened to be that occupied by Grace.</p> + +<p>"If you want to know, just feel the covers," Betty answered. "Next time +I'm going to make you sleep on the side near the window. Think I'll go +in and see if Mollie and Amy are drowned yet," she added, starting for +the door. "Goodness, but this is a heavy storm!"</p> + +<p>However, when she started to close the window in the next room she +noticed to her surprise that the rain had slackened, had almost stopped. +But not so the wind. If anything, it had increased in fury.</p> + +<p>She was about to turn back and tiptoe out of the room, hoping that she +had not roused the girls, when her eye was caught and held by a vivid +flash of red somewhere out to sea.</p> + +<p>Startled, she stood stock still, staring out in the direction from which +that light had come. It seemed weird, eery—that lonesome light sending +its signal out into the storm-whipped darkness. For that it was a +signal, she did not for a minute doubt.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then it came again—green this time—a light that shot up rocketlike +toward the sky, then, bursting, dived to instant annihilation in the +turbulant water.</p> + +<p>Another followed, and another, and then the truth came home to Betty. +Somewhere out there In that foaming sea a ship had met with disaster, +perhaps at this moment was sinking and her crew, were sending out +desperate appeals for aid.</p> + +<p>For a moment she felt almost sick with pity and excitement. Then she +controlled herself and ran over to wake the girls.</p> + +<p>"Mollie! Amy!" she cried, her voice shrill even above the shrieking of +the wind. "Wake up, wake up! Oh, why don't you wake up?" as the girls +opened sleep-laden eyes and stared at her stupidly.</p> + +<p>"Wh-what's the matter," stammered Mollie, suddenly sensing almost +hysterical excitement in Betty's voice and realizing that something +terrible had occurred.</p> + +<p>"Is anybody sick?" queried Amy almost fretfully, for she had been +enjoying the first good sleep she had had in weeks.</p> + +<p>"No. But somebody may be if we don't hurry up," cried Betty, wild with +impatience. "Don't lie there asking foolish questions when people may be +dying."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Dying," they echoed, still staring at her stupidly.</p> + +<p>"There's a wrecked ship out there," Betty explained, her words stumbling +over each other as she tried to make the girls understand. "They are +sending up signals for help, and if we don't get it for them right away +it may be too late. Oh, girls, for all we know, it may be too late now!"</p> + +<p>Mollie and Amy, at last fully awake and almost as excited as Betty +herself, sprang out of bed and rushed to the window to see for +themselves the signals the distressed vessel was sending up.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<h3>JOY</h3> + + +<p>What happened in the next hour the girls never afterward clearly +remembered. In what seemed a nightmare, they found their clothes, and, +after turning things wrong side out, getting the left shoe on the right +foot, and various other mishaps calculated to wreck the most +well-balanced nervous system, they finally succeeded in getting them on.</p> + +<p>"Where shall we go?" Mollie gasped out, as, clad in oilskins, they +rushed madly down the stairs.</p> + +<p>"There's a farmhouse about a mile down the road," explained Grace, "and +all the farm hands sleep on the premises. We can get them. And there's +the life-saving station only a little way beyond. They may have seen the +signals and be on their way already."</p> + +<p>"All right—let's go," said Betty grimly, as she flung open the door.</p> + +<p>A terrific gust of wind greeted her and sent her staggering back upon +the other girls.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's even worse than I thought," she gasped, regaining her balance. "We +will have to do some fighting to get there, girls."</p> + +<p>"A mile against that wind!" groaned Grace. "Betty, I don't think we can +ever make it."</p> + +<p>"We've got to—or at least make the attempt," cried Betty, pulling her +coat more tightly about her. "If nobody else will come, I'm going +alone," she added, and the girls knew her well enough to be sure she +meant it.</p> + +<p>"Come on," cried Mollie, who had never yet been known to ignore a +challenge. "We'll do our best, anyway, even if we die trying."</p> + +<p>"Bravo! Spoken like an Outdoor Girl!" cried Betty, and at the challenge +in her voice, Grace and Amy instinctively straightened up.</p> + +<p>"We're all Outdoor Girls," said Grace stoutly.</p> + +<p>"And we'll show you," Amy added, with a ring in her voice, "that we are +not afraid to go any where that you can go."</p> + +<p>"Fine!" cried the Little Captain, her eyes shining. "Come on, then. What +chance has a pesky old wind against four Outdoor Girls, I'd like to +know!"</p> + +<p>She opened the door again, and this time, being prepared for the +onslaught of the wind, merely gritted her teeth and ducked her head and +plunged gamely into it. And without a minute's hesita<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span>tion, the others, +who were "also Outdoor Girls," followed her.</p> + +<p>The fight with the wind that followed was all they had expected it would +be—and more. Their clothes were whipped about their legs as if about to +disengage themselves and fly away from their owners forever. And several +times they were forced to stop and turn their backs to catch their +breath and gather strength to go on.</p> + +<p>But on they did go until the welcome vision of a gaunt old farmhouse +rising ghostily from the early morning mist rewarded them and set their +hearts to beating high with hope.</p> + +<p>As they fought their way step by step up to the porch, they tried to +call out, but found that whatever sound they were able to make was +drowned in the roar of the wind.</p> + +<p>They found an old-fashioned knocker on the big front door, and worked it +with all their strength. After what seemed to them an age of waiting, +the door itself opened and a head popped out at them.</p> + +<p>"Well, what in time—" the owner of the voice was beginning, when Betty +pushed impatiently past him, the girls following close behind her.</p> + +<p>It took a surprisingly short time—seeing that the girls all insisted +upon talking at once—to make the farmer understand the situation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We're going on to the life-saving station," Betty told him, trembling +with excitement.</p> + +<p>"All right, but my boys'll beat 'em to it," he promised, a glint in his +grey eyes.</p> + +<p>Then the girls were on their way again, pushing desperately against a +wind that seemed to rise higher and higher with every minute, while in +the east the greying sky grew light.</p> + +<p>"A—clear—day!" Mollie gasped, pushing back the wind-blown hair from +her face. "At last!"</p> + +<p>"Do you hear anything?" Betty shouted back. "It seems to me I—"</p> + +<p>They listened, and then, above the wind, it came to them +unmistakably—the sound of voices, masculine voices.</p> + +<p>"The life-savers!" gasped Grace. "We don't have to go any farther. +Let's—let's—wait for them."</p> + +<p>They had not long to wait, for almost before Grace had finished speaking +half a dozen men carrying life-saving paraphernalia broke through the +underbrush and came running down the path toward them.</p> + +<p>They stopped at sight of the panting girls, but Betty waved them on +impatiently.</p> + +<p>"The wreck!" she cried. "We came for you! Hurry!" and without another +word the men<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> hurried on, leaving the girls to follow them more slowly.</p> + +<p>However, they accomplished the return trip in about half the time it had +taken them to fight their way against the wind, and as the first bright +rays of the sun gilded the country side, they found themselves back at +the house, where Mrs. Ford was anxiously awaiting them.</p> + +<p>She had some breakfast prepared for them, which they ate standing, then +rushed headlong down to the beach. The life-savers were already busily +at work launching their sturdy boats, and as the girls followed the +direction they were taking out to sea they suddenly saw the wrecked +ship.</p> + +<p>Driven by the hurricane wind, it had been caught on one of those +treacherous bars so common along this part of the coast. Part of the +bottom had been torn away, and if the ship had not been so tightly +wedged upon the bar it must certainly have sunk hours before. As it was, +the starboard deck stood high in the air while the port side almost +touched the water and was constantly swept by mountainous combers.</p> + +<p>The girls shivered as they looked.</p> + +<p>"If the waves should wash it loose—" Betty began, then checked herself. +The possibility was too horrible to contemplate.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Look!" cried Mollie, clutching her arm, "They are filling the first +boat. Oh, Betty, they'll certainly be swamped! I can't look!" She turned +away but the next minute her eyes were fixed strainingly upon the wreck +again.</p> + +<p>"They're gone! They're gone!" cried Amy, jumping up and down in her +excitement as the boat sunk in the hollow between two huge combers and +was lost to view. "No, they're not! They're up again," as the boat, +looking pathetically tiny in comparison to the vastness of the ocean, +rose gallantly on the crest of a big wave and came rushing toward them, +reeling from side to side. The next moment they were lost to view again.</p> + +<p>"Oh, they'll never make it, they'll never make it," moaned Grace. "It +isn't possible."</p> + +<p>But the gallant little boat came on and out fighting its bitter fight +with the elements, till, rising on one last long comber, it swept +magnificently in and grounded on the shore.</p> + +<p>The girls were already racing eagerly toward it, and a few minutes later +were welcoming the poor bedraggled survivors back to safety. There were +nine of them in all, four women, one young girl, three men and a little +boy. The child was sobbing and clung to his mother's skirts, terrified.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></p> + +<p>Betty drew Grace aside.</p> + +<p>"Some one will have to take them up to the house, let them dry out, and +give them something to eat," she whispered. "Will you do that, Grace?"</p> + +<p>Grace nodded, and Amy, who had overheard the request, begged to go with +her. Mollie and Betty remained behind to watch the rest of the rescue +work.</p> + +<p>Luckily the ship was a merchant vessel and carried very few passengers, +so that the life-savers were confident of saving all those on board. +Also the wind was beginning to abate and the sea was becoming less +angry—all of which helped them in their work.</p> + +<p>The two girls were standing side by side, eagerly watching the progress +of the second boat, when they were startled by a hail from behind and +turned to find Grace and Amy flying down toward them.</p> + +<p>"Mollie!" Amy gasped, trying to catch her breath while her cheeks flamed +with excitement, "we just heard something we thought you ought to know. +You know the woman with the little boy," she hurried on as Mollie was +about to speak, "well, while she was comforting her own child, she +happened to speak of two other children on board—"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Who cry a great deal," Grace put in eagerly. "They are in charge of a +man who looks like a Spaniard, and they seem to be in mortal terror of +him—"</p> + +<p>"Girls," the word burst through dry lips as Mollie took a step toward +them, "what are you telling me? Oh, I can't bear to hope if—" she +grasped Grace's arm and shook it, not realizing how she hurt. "Tell me," +she cried, "are they boy and girl—"</p> + +<p>"Yes," Grace answered trembling. "I don't know, Mollie, dear, of course, +but from her description, those two children sounded an awful lot like +the twins!"</p> + +<p>Mollie waited to hear no more, but was off like a whirlwind down the +beach toward the second boat that was just coming in to shore. And while +she ran she was praying with all her fervent young heart.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Lord, give me back those babies!" she cried sobbingly. "If you only +will I'll never, never, <i>never</i> ask you for anything again as long as I +live."</p> + +<p>Then she saw them!</p> + +<p>A big, vicious looking man with black hair and black bushy eyebrows was +lifting Dodo—her little Dodo—out of the boat. And while she looked, +her heart beating wildly, hardly able to believe the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> evidence of her +eyes, the man stretched out his hand for the boy, who sat crouched in +the back of the boat. Then followed something that made Mollie cry out +in rage.</p> + +<p>Because the boy hung back in evident terror, the man struck him across +the face, and, seizing his hand, jerked him roughly out of the boat.</p> + +<p>"Dodo! Paul!" screamed Mollie, racing down toward them, unmindful of wet +feet and sodden clothing. "Babies, it's Mollie! Your own Mollie who—"</p> + +<p>But her voice was drowned in a shriek from the twins as they tore +themselves loose from the man and flung themselves upon her. She dropped +to her knees in the sand and strained them to her, laughing, crying, +sobbing out endearments while they clung to her frantically, burying +their faces in her neck.</p> + +<p>"Don't let wicked man get Dodo!" sobbed the little girl. "He's bad man! +He hurt Dodo."</p> + +<p>With a cry Mollie jumped to her feet, an arm about each of the twins, +and looked about for the man. The passengers who had also come ashore in +the boat stood looking on in bewilderment. But the Spaniard had +disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Where did that man go?" cried Mollie frantically. "There he is!" she +added, as she caught sight of him just approaching the foot of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +bluff, evidently bent on flight. "Don't let him get away! He's a +kidnapper!"</p> + +<p>Several of the men were already racing off in pursuit, and as the +Spaniard was a heavy man and not over agile, the foremost of them soon +overtook him.</p> + +<p>He seemed to put up little resistance, evidently realizing that he was +too heavily out-numbered. He surrendered to the inevitable and contented +himself with merely glowering.</p> + +<p>"Come on," cried Mollie, taking the beloved twins by the hand and +starting back along the beach while the girls joyfully accompanied her, +talking and ejaculating all at the same time, no one knowing what the +other was saying—nor caring. The wonderful fact was enough for them.</p> + +<p>When they scrambled up to the top of the bluff they found the men +awaiting them with the sullen captive in their midst.</p> + +<p>"What'll we do with him, Miss?" asked one of them respectfully, touching +his cap to Mollie.</p> + +<p>"Do with him?" cried Mollie, regarding the Spaniard with flashing eyes. +"There isn't anything bad enough to do to him. But for the present, +we'll have to be satisfied with locking him up. We have plenty of +evidence," she added, waving that part of it aside with a motion of her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +hand. "Letters and things, you know. He kidnapped my little brother and +sister," indicating the twins, who snuggled close against her and +regarded their former captor with terrified eyes, "and then demanded +twenty thousand dollars of my mother for their return."</p> + +<p>"Blackmail, eh?" growled one of the men, throwing a scornful look at the +Spaniard. "Well, you'll get paid up this time, old boy. Get on there, +will you?"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>It was many hours later and the dusk was falling softly over the land. +The passengers of the wrecked ship had long ago started villageward, +there to entrain for the city, leaving two of their number behind.</p> + +<p>These two were seated at the head of a long table in the little house at +Bluff Point, devouring chicken and rice before an audience of admiring +and joyful Outdoor Girls. Only Mollie very often could not see them for +the tears that dimmed her eyes.</p> + +<p>Quite suddenly Betty stopped in the very middle of a sentence to stare +at Mollie.</p> + +<p>"Your mother!" she cried. "You forgot to let her know!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, I didn't," Mollie answered. "I sent a telegram by one of the +boys who took that dirty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> Spaniard to the station. And, oh, girls," she +leaned forward suddenly while the tears overflowed and slowly trickled +down her face, "if she does as I begged her to, she will be here +to-morrow. Darling little mother!"</p> + +<p>At the love in her voice the girls felt their own eyes grow wet.</p> + +<p>"What a difference!" said Betty softly, looking around the table. "A few +nights ago we were utterly miserable. Now we are wildly happy. We have +the darling twins back again, and our boys 'over there' are safe. +Girls," she cried, suddenly springing to her feet and raising her cup on +high, "let's drink a toast—"</p> + +<p>"To what?" they cried, rising with one motion.</p> + +<p>"To the time when our boys come home!"</p> + +<p>And so, in the midst of their happiness, with the dark clouds rolled +away and the sun shining through, we will once more wave farewell to our +Outdoor Girls.</p> + + +<h2>THE END</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><i><span class="u">This Isn't All!</span></i></h2> + +<div class='blockquot2'>Would you like to know what became of the good friends you have made in +this book?<br /> +<br /> +Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures and +experiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the same author?<br /> +<br /> +On the <i>reverse side</i> of the wrapper which comes with this book, you +will find a wonderful list of stories which you can buy at the same +store where you got this book.<br /></div> + + +<h3><i>Don't throw away the Wrapper</i></h3> + +<div class='blockquot2'><i>Use it as a handy catalog of the books you want some day to have. But +in case you do mislay it, write to the Publishers for a complete +catalog.</i></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By LAURA LEE HOPE</h3> + +<div class='center'>Author of "The Blythe Girls Books"</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'><b>Every Volume Complete in Itself.</b></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>These are the adventures of a group of bright, fun-loving, up-to-date +girls who have a common bond in their fondness for outdoor life, +camping, travel and adventure. There is excitement and humor in these +stories and girls will find in them the kind of pleasant associations +that they seek to create among their own friends and chums.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES"> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS OF DEEPDALE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT RAINBOW LAKE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A MOTOR CAR</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A WINTER CAMP</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT OCEAN VIEW</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN ARMY SERVICE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON PINE ISLAND</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT THE HOSTESS HOUSE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT BLUFF POINT</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT WILD ROSE LODGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN THE SADDLE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AROUND THE CAMPFIRE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON CAPE COD</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT FOAMING FALLS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ALONG THE COAST</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT SPRING HILL FARM</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT NEW MOON RANCH</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON A HIKE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON A CANOE TRIP</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT CEDAR RIDGE</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP, <span class="smcap">Publishers</span>, NEW YORK</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE BLYTHE GIRLS BOOKS</h2> + +<h3>By LAURA LEE HOPE</h3> + + +<div class='center'>Author of The Outdoor Girls Series</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'><b>Illustrated by Thelma Gooch</b></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>The Blythe Girls, three in number, were left alone in New York City. +Helen, who went in for art and music, kept the little flat uptown, while +Margy, just out of business school, obtained a position as secretary and +Rose, plain-spoken and business like, took what she called a "job" in a +department store. The experiences of these girls make fascinating +reading—life in the great metropolis is thrilling and full of strange +adventures and surprises.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="THE BLYTHE GIRLS BOOKS"> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BLYTHE GIRLS: HELEN, MARGY AND ROSE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BLYTHE GIRLS: MARGY'S QUEER INHERITANCE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BLYTHE GIRLS: ROSE'S GREAT PROBLEM</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BLYTHE GIRLS: HELEN'S STRANGE BOARDER</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BLYTHE GIRLS: THREE ON A VACATION</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BLYTHE GIRLS: MARGY'S SECRET MISSION</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BLYTHE GIRLS: ROSE'S ODD DISCOVERY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BLYTHE GIRLS: THE DISAPPEARANCE OF HELEN</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BLYTHE GIRLS: SNOWBOUND IN CAMP</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BLYTHE GIRLS: MARGY'S MYSTERIOUS VISITOR</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BLYTHE GIRLS: ROSE'S HIDDEN TALENT</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP, <i>Publishers</i>, NEW YORK</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE LILIAN GARIS BOOKS</h2> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'><b>Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself.</b></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>Among her "fan" letters Lilian Garis receives some flattering +testimonials of her girl readers' interest in her stories. From a class +of thirty comes a vote of twenty-five naming her as their favorite +author. Perhaps it is the element of live mystery that Mrs. Garis always +builds her stories upon, or perhaps it is because the girls easily can +translate her own sincere interest in themselves from the stories. At +any rate her books prosper through the changing conditions of these +times, giving pleasure, satisfaction, and, incidentally, that tactful +word or inspiration, so important in literature for young girls. Mrs. +Garis prefers to call her books "juvenile novels" and in them romance is +never lacking.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="THE LILIAN GARIS BOOKS"> +<tr><td align='left'>JUDY JORDAN</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>JUDY JORDAN'S DISCOVERY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>SALLY FOR SHORT</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>SALLY FOUND OUT</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A GIRL CALLED TED</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>TED AND TONY, TWO GIRLS OF TODAY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>CLEO'S MISTY RAINBOW</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>CLEO'S CONQUEST</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BARBARA HALE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BARBARA HALE'S MYSTERY FRIEND</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>NANCY BRANDON</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>NANCY BRANDON'S MYSTERY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>CONNIE LORING</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>CONNIE LORING'S GYPSY FRIEND</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>JOAN: JUST GIRL</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>JOAN'S GARDEN OF ADVENTURE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>GLORIA: A GIRL AND HER DAD</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>GLORIA AT BOARDING SCHOOL</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP, <i>Publishers</i>, NEW YORK</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CAROLYN WELLS BOOKS</h2> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'><b>Attractively Bound. Illustrated. Colored Wrappers.</b></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h3>THE PATTY BOOKS</h3> + +<p>Patty is a lovable girl whose frank good nature and beauty lend charm to +her varied adventures. These stories are packed with excitement and +interest for girls.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="THE PATTY BOOKS"> +<tr><td align='left'>PATTY FAIRFIELD</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PATTY AT HOME</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PATTY IN THE CITY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PATTY'S SUMMER DAYS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PATTY IN PARIS</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h3>THE MARJORIE BOOKS</h3> + +<p>Marjorie is a happy little girl of twelve, up to mischief, but full of +goodness and sincerity. In her and her friends every girl reader will +see much of her own love of fun, play and adventure.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="THE MARJORIE BOOKS"> +<tr><td align='left'>MARJORIE'S VACATION</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>MARJORIE'S BUSY DAYS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>MARJORIE'S NEW FRIEND</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>MARJORIE IN COMMAND</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>MARJORIE'S MAYTIME</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>MARJORIE AT SEACOTE</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h3>THE TWO LITTLE WOMEN SERIES</h3> + +<p>Introducing Dorinda Fayre—a pretty blonde, sweet, serious, timid and a +little slow, and Dorothy Rose—a sparkling brunette, quick, elf-like, +high tempered, full of mischief and always getting into scrapes.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="THE TWO LITTLE WOMEN SERIES"> +<tr><td align='left'>TWO LITTLE WOMEN</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>TWO LITTLE WOMEN AND TREASURE HOUSE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>TWO LITTLE WOMEN ON A HOLIDAY</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h3>THE DICK AND DOLLY BOOKS</h3> + +<p>Dick and Dolly are brother and sister, and their games, their pranks, +their joys and sorrows, are told in a manner which makes the stories +"really true" to young readers.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="THE DICK AND DOLLY BOOKS"> +<tr><td align='left'>DICK AND DOLLY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>DICK AND DOLLY'S ADVENTURES</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP, <i>Publishers</i>, NEW YORK</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE NANCY DREW MYSTERY STORIES</h2> + +<h3>By CAROLYN KEENE</h3> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'><b>Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself.</b></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>Here is a thrilling series of mystery stories for girls. Nancy Drew, +ingenious, alert, is the daughter of a famous criminal lawyer and she +herself is deeply interested in his mystery cases. Her interest involves +her often in some very dangerous and exciting situations.</p> + + +<div class='center'>THE SECRET OF THE OLD CLOCK</div> + +<div class='blockquot2'><p>Nancy, unaided, seeks to locate a missing will and finds herself in the +midst of adventure.</p></div> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE</div> + +<div class='blockquot2'><p>Mysterious happenings at an old stone mansion lead to an investigation +by Nancy.</p></div> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE BUNGALOW MYSTERY</div> + +<div class='blockquot2'><p>Nancy has some perilous experiences around a deserted bungalow.</p></div> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE MYSTERY AT LILAC INN</div> + +<div class='blockquot2'><p>Quick thinking and quick action were needed for Nancy to extricate +herself from a dangerous situation.</p></div> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE SECRET AT SHADOW RANCH</div> + +<div class='blockquot2'><p>On a vacation in Arizona Nancy uncovers an old mystery and solves it.</p></div> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE SECRET OF RED GATE FARM</div> + +<div class='blockquot2'><p>Nancy exposes the doings of a secret society on an isolated farm.</p></div> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE CLUE IN THE DIARY</div> + +<div class='blockquot2'><p>A fascinating and exciting story of a search for a clue to a surprising +mystery.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP, <i>Publishers</i>, NEW YORK</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>TED SCOTT FLYING STORIES</h2> + +<h3>By FRANKLIN W. DIXON</h3> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'><b>Illustrated. Each Volume Complete in Itself.</b></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>No subject has so thoroughly caught the imagination of young America as +aviation. This series has been inspired by recent daring feats of the +air, and is dedicated to Lindbergh, Byrd, Chamberlin and other heroes of +the skies.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="TED SCOTT FLYING STORIES"> +<tr><td align='left'>OVER THE OCEAN TO PARIS;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>or, Ted Scott's Daring Long Distance Flight</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>RESCUED IN THE CLOUDS;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>or, Ted Scott, Hero of the Air</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>OVER THE ROCKIES WITH THE AIR MAIL;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>or, Ted Scott, Lost in the Wilderness</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>FIRST STOP HONOLULU;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>or, Ted Scott Over the Pacific</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE SEARCH FOR THE LOST FLYERS;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>or, Ted Scott Over the West Indies</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>SOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>or, Ted Scott On a Secret Mission</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>ACROSS THE PACIFIC;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>or, Ted Scott's Hop to Australia</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE LONE EAGLE OF THE BORDER;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>or, Ted Scott and the Diamond Smugglers</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>FLYING AGAINST TIME;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>or, Breaking the Ocean to Ocean Record</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>OVER THE JUNGLE TRAILS;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>or, Ted Scott and the Missing Explorers</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>LOST AT THE SOUTH POLE;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>or, Ted Scott in Blizzard Land</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THROUGH THE AIR TO ALASKA;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>or, Ted Scott's Search in Nugget Valley</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>FLYING TO THE RESCUE;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>or, Ted Scott and the Big Dirigible</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>DANGER TRAILS OF THE SKY;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>or, Ted Scott's Great Mountain Climb</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>FOLLOWING THE SUN SHADOW;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>or, Ted Scott and the Great Eclipse</i>.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP, <span class="smcap">Publishers</span>, NEW YORK</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE REX LEE FLYING STORIES</h2> + +<h3>By THOMSON BURTIS</h3> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'><b>Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself.</b></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>The author of this series of exciting flying stories is an experienced +aviator. He says, "During my five years in the army I performed nearly +every sort of flying duty—instructor, test pilot, bombing, +photographing pilot, etc., in every variety of ship, from tiny scout +planes to the gigantic three-motored Italian Caproni."</p> + +<p>Not only has this author had many experiences as a flyer; a list of his +activities while knocking around the country includes postal clerk, +hobo, actor, writer, mutton chop salesman, preacher, roughneck in the +oil fields, newspaper man, flyer, scenario writer in Hollywood and +synthetic clown with the Sells Floto Circus. Having lived an active, +daring life, and possessing a gift for good story telling, he is well +qualified to write these adventures of a red-blooded dare-devil young +American who became one of the country's greatest flyers.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="THE REX LEE FLYING STORIES"> +<tr><td align='left'>REX LEE; GYPSY FLYER</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>REX LEE; ON THE BORDER PATROL</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>REX LEE; RANGER OF THE SKY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>REX LEE; SKY TRAILER</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>REX LEE; ACE OF THE AIR MAIL</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>REX LEE; NIGHT FLYER</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>REX LEE'S MYSTERIOUS FLIGHT</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>REX LEE; ROUGH RIDER OF THE AIR</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>REX LEE; AERIAL ACROBAT</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>REX LEE; TRAILING AIR BANDITS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>REX LEE; FLYING DETECTIVE</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP, <i>Publishers</i>, NEW YORK</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>GREAT SPORT STORIES</h2> + +<h3>For Every Sport Season</h3> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h3>By HAROLD M. SHERMAN</h3> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>Here's an author who knows his sports from having played them. Baseball, +football, basketball, ice hockey, tennis, track—they're all the same to +Harold M. Sherman. He puts the most thrilling moments of these sports +into his tales. Mr. Sherman is today's most popular writer of sport +stories—all of which are crowded with action, suspense and clean, +vigorous fun.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="GREAT SPORT STORIES"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="u">The Home Run Series</span></td><td align='left'><span class="u">The Gridiron Series</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bases Full!</td><td align='left'>Goal to Go</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Hit by Pitcher</td><td align='left'>Hold That line!</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Safe!</td><td align='left'>Touchdown</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Hit and Run</td><td align='left'>Block That Kick!</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Double Play</td><td align='left'>One Minute to Play</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Batter Up!</td><td align='left'>Fight 'Em, Big Three</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br /><span class="u">The Basketball Series</span></td><td align='left'><br /><span class="u">The Ice Hockey Series</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Mayfield's Fighting Five </td><td align='left'>Flashing Steel</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Get 'Em Mayfield</td><td align='left'>Flying Heels</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Shoot That Ball!</td><td align='left'>Slashing Sticks</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><span class="u">Other Stories of Sport and Adventure</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Land of Monsters</td><td align='left'>Ding Palmer, Air Detective</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Beyond the Dog's Nose</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Cameron McBain,<br /> Backwoodsman</td><td align='left'>Don Rader, Trail Blazer No. 44</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP, <span class="smcap">Publishers</span>, NEW YORK</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BUDDY BOOKS FOR BOYS</h2> +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> +<div class='center'><b>Illustrated. Individual Coloured Wrappers.</b></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>Tales of Western pioneer days and the California gold fields; tales of +mystery, humor, adventure; thrilling stories of sports and aviation. +There is a wide range of subjects in this list of titles—all by +well-known authors of books for boys.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="BUDDY BOOKS FOR BOYS"> +<tr><td align='left'>HOT DOG PARTNERS</td><td align='left'>By William Heyliger</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>YOUNG EAGLE OF THE TRAIL</td><td align='left'>By J. Allan Dunn</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE LAND OF MONSTERS</td><td align='left'>By Harold M. Sherman</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>QUARTERBACK HOTHEAD</td><td align='left'>By William Heyliger</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>LEFTY LEIGHTON</td><td align='left'>By Percy Keese Fitzhugh</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>NUMBER 44</td><td align='left'>By Harold M. Sherman</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BILL DARROW'S VICTORY</td><td align='left'>By William Heyliger</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE STORY OF TERRIBLE TERRY</td><td align='left'>By Percy Keese Fitzhugh</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BEYOND THE DOG'S NOSE</td><td align='left'>By Harold M. Sherman</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>DING PALMER, AIR DETECTIVE</td><td align='left'>By Harold M. Sherman</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BEAN-BALL BILL</td><td align='left'>By William Heyliger</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>CAMERON MacBAIN, BACKWOODSMAN </td><td align='left'>By Harold M. Sherman</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>FLYING HEELS</td><td align='left'>By Harold M. Sherman</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>FLASHING STEEL</td><td align='left'>By Harold M. Sherman</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BUFFALO BOY</td><td align='left'>By J. Allan Dunn</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE CLOUD PATROL</td><td align='left'>By Irving Crump</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>SPIFFY HENSHAW</td><td align='left'>By Percy Keese Fitzhugh</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE PILOT OF THE CLOUD PATROL</td><td align='left'>By Irving Crump</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>DON RADER, TRAIL BLAZER</td><td align='left'>By Harold M. Sherman</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>TUCK SIMMS, FORTY-NINER</td><td align='left'>By Edward Leonard</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>WIGWAG WEIGAND</td><td align='left'>By Percy Keese Fitzhugh</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>HERVEY WILLETTS</td><td align='left'>By Percy Keese Fitzhugh</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>SKINNY McCORD</td><td align='left'>By Percy Keese Fitzhugh</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP, <i>Publishers</i>, NEW YORK</div> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors corrected.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. +Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p> +</div> + + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT BLUFF POINT***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 20324-h.txt or 20324-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/3/2/20324">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/3/2/20324</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Outdoor Girls at Bluff Point + Or a Wreck and a Rescue + + +Author: Laura Lee Hope + + + +Release Date: January 10, 2007 [eBook #20324] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT BLUFF POINT*** + + +E-text prepared by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, J. P. W. Fraser, Emmy, and +the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team +(https://www.pgdp.net/c/) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 20324-h.htm or 20324-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/3/2/20324/20324-h/20324-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/3/2/20324/20324-h.zip) + + + + + +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT BLUFF POINT + +Or + +A Wreck and a Rescue + +by + +LAURA LEE HOPE + +Author of "The Outdoor Girls of Deepdale," "The +Moving Picture Girls," "The Bobbsey Twins," +"Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue," "Six +Little Bunkers at Grandma Bell's," Etc. + +Illustrated + + + + + + + +New York +Grosset & Dunlap, +Publishers +Made in the United States of America + + + * * * * * + + +BOOKS FOR GIRLS + +BY LAURA LEE HOPE + +12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. + + +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS OF DEEPDALE + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT RAINBOW LAKE + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A MOTOR CAR + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A WINTER CAMP + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT OCEAN VIEW + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON PINE ISLAND + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN ARMY SERVICE + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT THE HOSTESS HOUSE + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT BLUFF POINT + + +THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS SERIES + + THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT OAK FARM + THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS SNOWBOUND + THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS UNDER THE PALMS + THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT ROCKY RANCH + THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT SEA + THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS IN WAR PLAYS + + +THE BOBBSEY TWINS SERIES + +(Twelve Titles) + + +THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES + +(Eight Titles) + + +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS SERIES + +(Five Titles) + + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + * * * * * + + +Copyright, 1920, By +Grosset & Dunlap + + + +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT BLUFF POINT + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I TO THE FRONT 1 + + II BAD NEWS 11 + + III MAKING PLANS 17 + + IV GRACE SURPRISES HER CHUMS 27 + + V A PROBLEM SOLVED 37 + + VI LIFE AND DEATH 47 + + VII THE RACE 56 + + VIII RED RAGS 65 + + IX THUNDER AND MUD 75 + + X THE KNIGHT OF THE WAYSIDE 85 + + XI MYSTERY 95 + + XII NEARLY AN ACCIDENT 104 + + XIII OUTWITTING A CRANK 114 + + XIV BLUFF POINT AT LAST 123 + + XV THE TELEGRAM 132 + + XVI THE SHADOW OF DISASTER 142 + + XVII JOE BARNES AGAIN 152 + + XVIII SERIOUSLY WOUNDED 162 + + XIX BETTY CONFESSES 170 + + XX MISSING 180 + + XXI A NARROW ESCAPE 187 + + XXII DARKNESS BEFORE THE DAWN 197 + + XXIII THE SHADOW LIFTS 207 + + XXIV HIS THREE SWEETHEARTS 217 + + XXV JOY 227 + + + + +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT BLUFF POINT + + + + +CHAPTER I + +TO THE FRONT + + +"I know it's utterly foolish and unreasonable," sighed Amy Blackford, +laying down the novel she had been reading and looking wistfully out of +the window, "but I simply can't help it." + +"What's the matter?" asked Mollie Billette, raising her eyes reluctantly +from a book she was devouring and looking vaguely at Amy's profile. "Did +you say something?" + +"No, she only spoke," drawled Grace Ford, extricating herself from a +mass of bright-colored cushions on the divan, preparatory to joining in +the conversation. "I ask you, Mollie, did you ever know Amy to say +anything important?" + +"Why yes, I have," said Mollie unexpectedly. "In fact, she is about the +only one of us Outdoor Girls who ever does say anything +important--except Betty, perhaps." + +Amy withdrew her gaze from the landscape and looked at the speaker with +a twinkle in her eyes. + +"What will you have, Mollie?" she asked whimsically. "When you become +complimentary, you are apt to rouse my suspicions." + +"Well, whatever you were going to say, please say it, and let me get +back to my book," returned Mollie, ignoring the imputation. "I was in +the most interesting part--" + +"Why, I'm just plain homesick," said Amy, adding quickly, as the girls +looked at her in surprise. "For Camp Liberty and the Hostess House, you +know. I miss the work and the long hours of entertaining and cheering +people up. I feel," she looked around at them as though finding it hard +to explain just what she meant, "sort of--lost." + +The three chums, Mollie Billette, Grace Ford, and Amy Blackford were +gathered in the comfortable library of Betty Nelson's home--Betty being +the fourth of the merry quartette, dubbed the "Outdoor Girls" by the +people of Deepdale, because of their love of the open and of outdoor +sports. + +The girls, as my old readers will doubtless remember, had helped +establish a Hostess House at Camp Liberty, and since then had given all +their strength and time and youthful enthusiasm to the great work of +cheering our young fighters, entertaining their loved ones, and, in the +end, sending them with fresh courage and happy memories to the "other +side" for the great adventure. + +And now the girls, completely worn out in their loving service to +others, had been sent, much against their will, home to Deepdale for a +rest that they sorely needed. + +To-day they had gathered in Betty's house to discuss the rather hazy +plans for their brief vacation. And Amy had simply voiced what was in +the thoughts of all the girls. They were, undeniably and heartily, +homesick for Camp Liberty and their work at the Hostess House. + +"Lost?" Mollie repeated Amy's expression thoughtfully. "Yes, I guess +that would pretty well describe the feeling I've had for the last few +days. Sort of restless and aimless--wondering what to do next." + +"Goodness!" cried Grace whimsically, stretching her arms above her head +and smothering a yawn, "this is terrible, you know. If we don't look +out, we'll be forgetting how to enjoy ourselves." + +"That would be queer, wouldn't it?" agreed Mollie, with a chuckle as she +started to resume her reading. "Especially for the Outdoor Girls, who +used to know how to enjoy themselves remarkably well." + +A brief silence followed, broken only by the rustle of paper as one of +the girls turned a page. Then, so suddenly that Mollie jumped nervously +and Grace almost upset a box of chocolates at her elbow, Amy threw down +her book and sprang to her feet. + +"I can't stand it another minute!" she exclaimed desperately. "Girls, I +must get out and do something--this loafing is getting on my nerves." + +"Goodness, the child's mad," declared Mollie, looking at her chum with a +mixture of amusement and sympathy in her eyes. "What do you want to do, +Amy, start a fight, or set the town on fire? Whatever it is, I'm for +you, as Roy would say." + +"Oh, I guess I must be crazy," said Amy, subsiding and seeming a little +ashamed of her outburst. "Only, after so much band music and parades and +bugle calls--everything in Deepdale seems so quiet." + +"Well, if all you want is noise, we'll easily fix that," said Mollie +briskly, running to the piano and gathering in Grace and Amy on the way. +"Sing," she commanded, "and I'll make as much noise as I can on the +piano." + +Half laughing, half protesting, the girls obeyed while Mollie +conscientiously made good her threat with the piano, and it was into +this uproar that Betty Nelson stepped a moment later. + +"Have mercy!" she screamed above the noise, both hands clapped over her +ears while she laughed at them. "I thought they had turned the house +into a lunatic asylum or something." + +The music, if such it can be called, stopped so suddenly that Betty's +last words rang out with absurd distinctness. + +"Or something," Mollie mimicked, whirling around and catching the +newcomer in a bear's embrace. "Come over to the couch, Betty Nelson, and +explain yourself. Where have you been and why did you keep us waiting?" + +Laughingly the Little Captain, as she was often called by the girls +because of her talent for leadership, permitted herself to be dragged +over to the couch by the impulsive Mollie, while Amy and Grace seated +themselves on the arms. + +"What would you?" protested Betty, looking from one accusing face to +another. "I said I would meet you here at two-thirty, and it is only +quarter past now." + +"Only quarter past!" exclaimed Amy. + +"Oh, is that all?" asked Mollie, in astonishment, adding, as Betty +lifted her wrist watch for inspection: "Goodness, I thought we had been +waiting ages." + +"I'm glad you wanted to see me so much," chuckled the Little Captain, +adding, with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes: "I imagine you would +have been still more impatient if you had known--" she paused wickedly +and just looked at them. + +"Don't tease, Betty! What is it?" they implored in chorus, fairly +pouncing upon her, while Grace added, eagerly: + +"Is it possible you have anything really interesting to tell us?" + +"I shouldn't wonder if you would think so," Betty teased, adding quickly +to forestall the outburst she saw was coming, "It really isn't anything +at all--only--I met the postman on my way--" + +"Betty!" they cried, unable to contain their impatience another moment. +"You have letters! Letters from our soldier boys!" + +"How did you guess it?" said Betty, her eyes dancing as she brought from +a convenient pocket three--yes, three--fat letters, each containing the +longed-for foreign postmark. + +"How much will you give me?" teased Betty, holding the precious missives +behind her back. + +"Not one other word, Betty Nelson!" they cried, and after a merry but +brief struggle the letters were seized and delivered to their rightful +owners. + +"Now I wonder," drawled Grace with a twinkle, as she hastily tore open +her envelope, "who could possibly be writing to us from the other side?" + +"Now I wonder," chuckled Betty, as she happily drew from the convenient +pocket the last, but in her estimation decidedly not the least, fat +letter and proceeded to devour its contents without delay. + +And indeed the Outdoor Girls had little reason to wonder who their +correspondents might be, for as regularly as clockwork those precious +letters with the strange foreign postmarks were delivered to their eager +hands. + +There were other letters with that foreign postmark, too, for in +addition to their work at the Hostess House, the girls had faithfully +kept up a large correspondence with the brave boys who had already +crossed the water and were waiting impatiently for their chance "at the +Huns." + +But the four special letters were from their closest friends--boys who +had lived in Deepdale before the war and were now in France preparing +for the last stage of their journey. + +Allen Washburn, on his way to make a great name for himself in the law +before the war put a temporary check upon his ambitions, had been in +love with the Little Captain for--oh, yes, ever since he could remember, +while Betty--but Betty would never really admit anything, not even to +herself. + +Then there was Will Ford, Grace Ford's brother, who was not only devoted +to his pretty sister, but, in spite of Amy's flushed protestations to +the contrary, to Amy Blackford, also--although in quite a different +manner! + +Frank Haley was a high school chum of Will's, who from the time of his +first meeting with Mollie Billette had seemed inclined to become her +shadow, to the latter's secret gratification and outward indifference. + +The last of the quartette was Roy Anderson, one of the Deepdale boys, +who was chiefly distinguished by his very open admiration for Grace. + +The boys had shared in many of the adventures of the Outdoor Girls, and +of course had been among the very first to volunteer to help "lick the +Boche" as they slangily but ardently put it. The girls had gloried in +their patriotism, and it was their assignment to Camp Liberty that had +first given Betty the idea of working in the Hostess House there. + +They had been very happy, fired as they were by enthusiastic patriotism, +until the fateful day had come when the boys had entrained for +Philadelphia and from there to the Great Adventure. Then for the first +time the girls had had the real and terrible meaning of war brought home +to them. And the boys, so merry and care-free when they had first +entered the service, had seemed suddenly older, more important, more +manly, only the fire of enthusiasm in their eyes showing their +indomitable youth. + +Several months had passed since that day of mingled tears and pride and +heartache, and the girls had had time to get used to the separation a +little--a very little. And now Betty had brought them the letters they +were always hungry for, anxiously eager, yet always, at the very back of +their hearts, a little haunting fear of what they might contain. + +For several minutes they sat engrossed while occasionally one of them +read a funny or characteristic extract over which they laughed happily. + +"Listen to this," chuckled Mollie, while the girls looked up +expectantly. "Frank says that Roy is getting terribly fat in spite of +all the exercise--" + +"Horrors!" interjected Grace. + +"And when he, Frank, ventured to remonstrate with him the other day and +advised him to cut down on his chow, Roy said: 'Nothing doing! I've got +a definite end in view, old man. This khaki outfit has acquired so much +terra firma it's beginning to stand alone, but if I get so fat I can't +wear it they'll have to give me another one--see?'" + +The girls laughed, but there was just a shade of wistfulness in their +laughter, for they knew that the boys were only skirting the outer edge +of the hardships they would be called upon to encounter later on. + +Then suddenly Betty gave a little cry of dismay. + +"Oh, girls," she cried when they looked up at her fearfully, "it's come! +What we've been dreading so long! The boys have been ordered to the +front!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +BAD NEWS + + +The girls stared wide-eyed at Betty while slowly the color drained from +their faces. It was true they had been dreading just this news for a +long, long time, yet now that it had come they felt strangely quiet and +numb. They had much the same feeling as one who had received a stunning +blow. Until the paralysis had passed there could be no pain. That would +come later. + +"How do you know?" asked Mollie at last, in a voice that sounded strange +even to herself. "Frank hasn't mentioned it." + +"He will probably, toward the end," Betty explained, while slowly her +heart contracted and the tears welled to her eyes. "Allen didn't--not +till the last sentence. It's only a line, but th-that's enough. He says +not to be alarmed if his letters are delayed--it may be hard to get them +through." + +"They are going to the front," Amy repeated dazedly, as if she found it +hard to really believe. "When--did he say when, Betty?" + +"No, he didn't," said Betty slowly. "But you know Allen. He wouldn't +have said anything about it if the time hadn't been pretty close at +hand." + +"Why," cried Grace, catching her breath as though the thought had just +occurred to her, "they may be in the front line trenches now! They may +be--they may be--" + +And while the girls gazed at her in tragic silence, imagining terrible, +unbelievable things, a moment will be taken to sketch briefly for the +benefit of new readers the various exciting or amusing adventures which +had befallen the Outdoor Girls in the days before the grim shadow of war +had spread itself over the land. + +In the first volume of the series, entitled "The Outdoor Girls of +Deepdale," the girls had formed a camping and tramping club and had +tramped for miles over the country, meeting with many interesting +adventures on the way. + +After this, one good time had followed hard on the heels of another, +first at Rainbow Lake, then at a winter camp where they had novel and +interesting experience on skates and ice-boats. + +At Ocean View some time later the Outdoor Girls had cleared up a mystery +centering about a strange box they had found in the sand. Then had +followed that splendid summer at Pine Island, when the girls had +accidentally discovered a gypsy cave and had succeeded not only in +rounding up the band of gypsies but in recovering several valuable +articles that had been stolen from them. The four boys who were now +facing the enemy in France had shared in their fun that summer, pitching +camp near the bungalow of the girls. + +Their next adventure found the girls and boys again at Pine Island, but +under greatly altered circumstances. America had just entered the great +war, and the four boys had responded eagerly to the bugle call. Later +they were sent to Camp Liberty for training, to which the girls soon +followed them to work in the Hostess House. + +Will Ford, the brother of Grace, had caused the girls, and especially +his sister, anxiety and uneasiness because of his failure to enlist with +the other boys. In the end he justified himself, however, by delivering +a German spy to justice and enlisting in the service of his country +immediately afterward. The girls also recovered some valuable jewelry +that the spy had stolen from them. + +Then in the volume directly preceding this, entitled "The Outdoor Girls +at the Hostess House," the girls had befriended an old woman who had +been knocked down by an unscrupulous motorcyclist. They later learned +the secret tragedy in the life of their little old lady. + +Now the girls had come home to Deepdale for a much needed rest, only to +be confronted with the terrible, though, naturally, expected, news that +the boys had been ordered to the front. + +"Yes they may be, probably are, facing death at this minute," said +Mollie slowly, finishing the broken sentence. "Perhaps at the very +minute we were playing and singing and enjoying ourselves--" + +"Mollie, don't!" cried Amy brokenly. "I don't feel as if I could ever +enjoy myself again." + +"Well, we've got to, whether we can or not," said Betty, striving to +control her quivering lips and tilting her little chin at a brave angle. +"We can't just lie down at the very first shot, you know." + +"You talk as if we were on the firing line," said Grace hysterically. + +"I suppose in a way we are," returned the Little Captain slowly, wishing +desperately that those troublesome tears would stay where they +belonged--her eyes were so misty she could hardly see Grace! "Only ours +is a harder kind of battle, because it's made up mostly of waiting and +working without any of the thrill and excitement of the real fight to +help us. But I'd like to know," and there was a little ring of pride and +renewed courage in her voice, "what the real fighters would do without +us anyway. We're just as much soldiers as they are, and if we don't do +our share, they can't do theirs." + +"Of course you are right, Betty dear, you always are!" cried Mollie, +taking heart and even smiling a little. "We can't do anybody good by +moping." + +"No," added Grace with a philosophy unusual in her. "That's why we have +the hardest share, I guess--because we have to keep gay and bright, no +matter how we feel." + +"And we still have our work at the Hostess House," Amy reminded them. +"Maybe," she added, a little wistfully, "if we work hard enough we'll be +able to forget--" + +"What's all this about working and forgetting?" cried Mrs. Nelson, +coming gayly into the room. "I thought you had come home for a +vacation." + +The girls explained, and Mrs. Nelson looked pityingly at their grave +young faces. + +"So that is it," she was beginning, when Mollie sprang to her feet with +a cry. She was staring at the paper that Mrs. Nelson had carelessly +thrown on the table. + +"What is it?" they cried, as she snatched it up and read the glaring +headlines. + +"The Hostess House!" gasped Mollie. "Gone! Burnt up! Read this!" + +Dazedly the girls obeyed, the big type seeming to strike them in the +face as they read: + +"Great Fire at Camp Liberty! Hostess House and Several Barracks +Buildings Burned to the Ground!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +MAKING PLANS + + +"I can't seem to get used to it," sighed Mollie several days later, as +she ran up the steps of her porch and opened the screen door for the +girls. "To think that no matter how much we want to go back to the +Hostess House--" + +"There is no Hostess House to go back to," finished Grace, sinking down +in a luxurious porch swing and plumping the cushion behind her back. +Grace always had a gift for finding the soft places. "It is rather +discouraging." + +"Just as we were going to work hard and forget how unhappy we were, +too," added Amy plaintively. + +"Goodness, but we're not going to be unhappy," put in Betty, rocking +vigorously. "I thought we decided that three days ago." + +"I know. But when we think--" + +"But we musn't think," Betty interrupted quickly, adding with a little +twinkle: "About being unhappy, that is. All we have to do is just hold +on to the belief that the boys are coming back a year from now, maybe +less--coming back without a hair less than they had when they went +away." + +"We didn't count 'em," said Mollie drolly. "The hairs, that is, so how +can we tell?" + +"Isn't she funny?" drawled Grace, catching the pillow Mollie threw at +her and depositing it calmly behind her back. "Thanks, old dear," she +said. "I just needed another one." + +"I thought we came to talk over the plans for our vacation," Amy put in +mildly, adding with a little laugh: "We have to take one now whether we +want it or not." + +"But we haven't the slightest idea what we're going to do," protested +Grace. "I guess we'd just better stay at home and do nothing." + +"My, aren't you encouraging?" cried Mollie, looking up indignantly from +the pair of socks she was knitting. "You might at least suggest +something." + +"Ooh, there you are!" + +They turned suddenly to see a mischievous little face peeping at them +from around the corner of the porch. + +"Dodo, you little wretch, come here," cried Mollie, trying to look +severe and failing utterly. + +"Now what mischief have you been up to?" + +"No," protested Dodo, shaking her curly head vigorously, as she +reluctantly abandoned her vantage point and came slowly toward Mollie. +"No mischief 'tall. Me an' Paul jus' playin'." + +This was Dora, nicknamed Dodo, and Paul, Mollie Billette's small brother +and sister, who were nearly always getting into some sort of mischief +from the time they stepped their little feet out of bed in the morning +till the time they slipped the same little feet, tired out with getting +into trouble, into bed at night. + +"You darling!" cried Betty, catching the little figure to her and +administering a bear's hug. "You're terribly bad, but we can't help +loving you." + +"Uh-uh," denied Dodo, wriggling free of Betty's embrace and looking at +her earnestly. "Me's never bad--only Paul." + +"Ooh, Dodo Billette!" cried Paul, bursting in upon them from no one +could quite tell where. "You's a big story teller!" + +"You's the big 'tory teller," cried Dodo, coming sturdily to the rescue +of her reputation. "You just go 'way. Mol--lie, oh, Mollie, make him go +'way!" + +"Oh, dear!" cried Mollie, half amused and half vexed as she put aside +her knitting and took Dodo on her lap. "I thought you and Paul promised +to play with the bunnies all the afternoon and not bother sister. Can't +you see she has company?" + +"Yes," smiled the little girl, reaching up to pat Mollie's cheek +ingratiatingly. "Me an' Paul got tired playin' wiv bunnies an' came to +see you. We want," she added succinctly, "tandies!" + +"Well, you won't get any, not this time," said Mollie definitely, trying +not to smile, while the other girls were not even trying. It was always +hard not to laugh at the twins, naughty as they often were. + +"Why?" demanded Dodo severely. + +"Never mind why," returned Mollie, putting the little girl down and +taking up her knitting again. "Now run off, both of you, we want to +talk." + +"But we want tandies," repeated Dodo, looking surprised that Mollie had +not understood the first time. "Dive Paul an' me tandies--lots of +tandies--an' we'll go 'long. Shan't we, Paul? Ooh--" the question ended +in an anguished wail as Dora's eyes rested on her faithless twin. + +The latter had extracted Grace's half-filled candy box from under a +cushion where she had hastily hidden it at the first threat of invasion +by the insatiable twins and was at the moment busily engaged in +devouring its contents. Grace had been too busy watching Dodo to notice +him. + +"Ooh, you bad boy! You bad boy!" wailed the little girl, making a dash +for Paul, who deftly evaded her and took refuge behind Betty's chair, +"Div me dos tandies--dive 'em to me." + +"Can't," mumbled Paul, his mouth full, adding by way of explanation a +convincing: "All gone." + +"Paul Billette, come here this minute," commanded Mollie sternly, while +Betty and Amy tried hard to check their rising mirth and Grace looked +bereft. "Come here I say." + +"Make Dodo go 'way then," bargained Paul, adding in an explanatory tone: +"Last time she pulled my hair." + +"An' me's goin' do it 'dain," declared Dodo vengefully, when Betty +reached over suddenly and pulled the little girl into her lap. + +"Stay here a minute, Honey," she coaxed, and as Dodo tried vainly to +wriggle loose added: "Sister wants to speak to Paul." + +"An' I," said Dodo soberly, "want to pull his hair." + +Again the girls had to strangle their mirth while Mollie reiterated her +command to Paul. The latter, after regarding the wriggling Dodo for a +minute uncertainly, reluctantly left his refuge and stood before Mollie, +head hanging. + +"I'se sorry," he said in a small voice, trying to forestall the +scolding he knew was coming. "Me never do it any more!" + +"That," said Mollie sternly, though the corners of her mouth twitched +and there was a twinkle in her eye, "is just exactly what you say every +time you're a bad naughty boy. Now, just to make you remember how +naughty you were, you shan't have another piece of candy for a whole +week." + +Paul's protest was drowned in a wail from Dora. + +"But me wants some tandies," she cried. "Me didn't take any." + +"She would, if Paul hadn't seem them first," murmured Grace, but Mollie +shot her a warning glance. + +"No," she said, "and just for being such a good girl, sister's going to +give you six big chocolates all for yourself." + +Dodo gave a shout of glee and disengaging herself with one last frantic +wriggle from Betty's embrace, precipitated herself upon Mollie like a +young cyclone. + +"Ooh dive 'em to me, dive 'em to me quick," she demanded, then as Mollie +made good her promise the little girl turned upon the erring Paul a look +of conscious virtue and said gravely; "If you were a dood boy I would +div you one, but now me's goin' eat 'em up, every one till dey's all +gone." + +Then she took to her heels, scurrying down the steps and around the +corner of the house with Paul in hot pursuit. + +"Dodo," they heard him crying plaintively, "I'll let you play wiv my +best bunny if you will div me one candy, just one--" + +"I wouldn't give much for his chances," chuckled Mollie, adding with a +sigh that was a mixture of exasperation and amusement. "Aren't they +perfectly terrible? There isn't a minute of the day when they're not in +some mischief." + +"No, they're adorable," cried Betty fondly. "I wouldn't give two cents +for children that didn't get into mischief all the time." + +"I don't care so much about the mischief," said Grace, eyeing her empty +chocolate box ruefully, "if they would only leave my candies alone." + +"Never mind, Gracie," replied Mollie, laughing at her, "you shall have a +whole box of mine, so you shall." + +"Fine," agreed Grace, adding with a chuckle as Mollie handed over the +almost full box: "Since my candies were more than half gone, I don't +call it such a bad bargain at that." + +"I'll say it wasn't," dimpled Betty. + +"Just the same," said Mollie, after a little pause, "even though the +twins are a great deal of trouble, Mother said she just wouldn't have +known what to do without them--especially after I went to Camp +Liberty--the house would have been so frightfully dull." + +"I should think so," said Grace, adding suddenly, as though she had +thought of it for the first time: "Why she would have been all alone, +wouldn't she? How awful!" For Mollie had no father, he having died +several years before. + +"And the other day she said the strangest thing," Mollie continued, +suddenly earnest. "You know how she adores Paul. Well, I caught her +looking at him with the most wistful expression, and when I asked her +what the matter was she looked up at me and I saw there were tears in +her eyes. + +"'It's Paul,' she said softly. 'Of course I'm thankful he is so little +that I can keep him safe at home with me, but sometimes when I think of +my dear country and the terrible wrongs she has suffered, I almost wish +that my little son were old enough to bring retribution upon those +hideous Germans. Sometimes I feel cheated--yes, you needn't stare--that +I have not a son "over there".'" + +"Oh, Mollie!" cried the Little Captain softly, "what a wonderful thing +to say. And yet I think she would die if anything happened to either of +the twins." + +"That's just it," said Mollie, her eyes glowing with pride. "Loving them +as she does, she almost wishes it were possible to make the supreme +sacrifice for her country." + +"It was that spirit," said Grace thoughtfully, "that won the battle of +the Marne." + +For a long time after that the girls worked quietly, each busy with her +own thoughts. It was Amy who finally broke the silence. + +"And here we are," she said plaintively, "letting another whole +afternoon slip by without deciding what we are going to do on our +vacation. Can't somebody suggest something?" + +"I have already suggested half a dozen things, only to be laughed to +scorn," said Mollie, adding decidedly: "I'm through." + +"And nothing I can say seems to meet with approval," added Betty +plaintively. + +"Well," said Grace, stretching herself, sitting up in the swing, and +looking important, "nobody asks me whether I have anything to suggest," +adding as they turned a battery of surprised and eager glances her way: +"I don't know whether I can be persuaded to tell you now or not." + +"Tell us!" they cried, piling into the swing till the supporting ropes +creaked with the strain. + +"Can't we bribe you with candy?" pleaded Amy. + +"No. I just made an advantageous trade in that article, you will +remember," was the answer. + +"Anyway, we don't bribe, we command," put in Betty. "Grace, we refuse to +be trifled with. What have you to suggest? Out with it!" + +"You'd better hurry," added Mollie, raising her knitting needle +threateningly, "before I spit thee like a pig!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +GRACE SURPRISES HER CHUMS + + +"I'm not a pig," cried Grace, striving to look dignified, which is a +rather difficult procedure when one is being hugged by three pairs of +arms at once. "I don't care how many times you spit me, whatever that +is, Mollie, but you shan't call me a pig." + +"Of course she shan't," said Betty soothingly. "If she does it again, +we'll try our hand at this spitting business--" + +"Goodness, sounds like a cat fight," chuckled Grace, but Mollie +unceremoniously shook her into attention. + +"Grace, behave and tell us," she ordered. + +"What?" asked Grace aggravatingly, but added hastily as Mollie again +raised the knitting needle at a threatening angle: "All right, if you'll +just give me space enough to breathe I'll do any little thing you ask." + +With that the three jumped from the swing so suddenly that Grace, the +only occupant left, bounced into the air and landed with a thump on the +cushions. + +They laughed and drew up three chairs in a semi-circle in front of her +to make escape impossible. Then three pairs of merry eyes focused +commandingly upon her. + +"I didn't know it myself till last night," she said in response to the +tacit order. "Then it was patriotic Aunt Mary who proposed it." + +"Proposed what?" they cried. + +"Well, that's what I'm going to tell you if you give me half a chance. +She said she felt as if she owed something to us girls for having stood +so loyally behind Uncle Sam, and had decided to offer us her cottage at +Bluff Point to use as long as we wanted it." + +"Bluff Point!" cried Betty, while her eyes began to sparkle. "Why Grace! +isn't that the place you were telling us about--" + +"Where the quaint little house stands on a bluff--" added Amy eagerly. + +"Overlooking a sparkling white beach that leads down to the ocean?" went +on Betty. + +"The very same," nodded Grace, and they heaved a sigh of pure excitement +and happiness. + +"Isn't it wonderful," cried Mollie joyfully, "how somebody is always +doing something to make us happy?" + +"Yes, but when I said that to Aunt Mary last night she smiled and looked +wise--you know how sweet she is--and said that that was the way +happiness always came to us--by helping others to be happy." + +"But we haven't done anything to make anybody happy--particularly that +is," said Mollie wondering. + +"I said that too," nodded Grace. "But she only went on smiling, and I +realized she must have meant our work at the Hostess House." + +"It's strange how everybody persists in calling it work and giving us so +much credit when it was all such fun," said Betty. "But girls," she +added, laughing breathlessly, "the great fact is that we are going to +have another adventure in the open. The very thought of it makes me want +to roll in the buttercups." + +"Goodness, there's one open in the back meadow," suggested Mollie. "You +can roll in it, if you want to." + +"Well, I don't--I want a whole patch of them!" cried Betty, while the +rest laughed at Mollie's picture. "My, I feel younger already." + +"Well of course you need to," drawled Grace, adding with a fond glance +at the glowing Little Captain: "You look so terribly like a dried-up +ancient, dear." + +"But when shall we start?" cried Mollie, coming back to the +all-absorbing topic at hand. "Goodness, I'd like to throw a few clothes +in a suitcase and start right away--quick--this minute--I can't wait!" + +"Do you think it's catching?" asked Grace, anxiously. + +"From the way I feel I should say it was already caught," twinkled +Betty, adding eagerly: "How long do you suppose we will have to wait, +Grace? Did your Aunt Mary say when we could have the cottage?" + +"As soon as we want it," replied Grace, looking surprised. "Didn't I +tell you?" + +"No you didn't," mimicked Mollie, adding as she sprang to her feet +impatiently: "I'd like to know what we're waiting for anyway! Why don't +we get started?" + +"Now I know she's crazy," cried Betty, seizing her chum and pulling her +down upon the arm of her chair. "Why we haven't decided anything yet." + +"What is there to decide?" cried Mollie, trying to be patient and +looking like a martyr. + +"Why we don't even know how we're going to get there yet," explained +Betty soothingly. + +"In the automobile, of course," cried Mollie, jumping up again. + +"Oh, can we?" cried Grace, forgetting to be languid and bouncing eagerly +in the swing. "Mollie, that would be wonderful." + +"Why of course we'll go in the car!" it was Mollie's turn to look +surprised. "What did you think we were going to do--walk?" + +"There are railroads, you know," Grace reminded her, relapsing into +irony. "And as to walking--well, we did that too before you got your +car, Mollie." + +"Yes, and got sore feet," added Mollie. + +"Well, now that we've decided not to go on the railroad or walk," Amy +broke in unexpectedly, "I really don't see what we are waiting for." + +"My goodness, there's another lunatic," cried Grace, looking +despairingly at the Little Captain, whose eyes twinkled merrily. "What +do you expect us to do--go just as we are?" + +"No, but we can throw some things into a suitcase--" + +"How long do you suppose it will take us to get there?" asked the Little +Captain, coming to Grace's rescue. + +"Why, even in Mollie's car it will take two days," said Grace, turning +to Betty with the relief of one who at last had a sane person to reckon +with. "Mollie and Amy evidently expect to make it in a couple of +hours." + +"Oh well, I didn't know it was so far away," murmured Mollie, somewhat +taken aback. "Of course, then, we can't go until to-morrow." + +The girls laughed merrily, and Betty hugged her. + +"We might," chuckled the latter, "even be forced to wait till day after +to-morrow." + +"I won't do it!" cried Mollie, jumping up again. "There's no reason in +the world why we can't start to-morrow." + +"But, Mollie dear," insisted Betty mildly, "we haven't even asked our +folks whether we may go or not--" + +"As if we didn't know what they will say," broke in Mollie, but Betty +went on without heeding her. + +"And we must have a chaperone, you know." + +"Oh, I suppose so," sighed Mollie sinking down in her chair resignedly, +"but it's horribly tiresome. I want to go now." + +"You sound like Dodo with her candies," remarked Grace, amiably helping +herself to a luscious milk chocolate filled with nuts. "Have one, +Mollie--it may make you feel better." + +"It won't, but I will," said Mollie rather enigmatically, reaching out a +hand for the proffered sweet. "Thank you, dear." + +"But whom shall we have for a chaperone?" cried Amy impatiently. "I'm +almost as bad as Mollie--I can hardly wait till to-morrow." + +"Why," said Grace, nibbling daintily, "I thought maybe you girls +wouldn't mind if I asked mother to go with us." + +"Mind!" echoed Betty, while the others looked at her in surprise. "Why +of course we'd love to have her! You know that. But I never imagined she +would care to go, she is so interested in Red Cross work and her +clubs--" + +"That's just it," said Grace, sitting up quickly. "She's entirely worn +out with work and worry about Will, and I thought a little vacation with +us girls would help her out wonderfully. I'm not sure she will go--I +haven't asked her yet." + +"Well, let's," cried Betty impulsively, jumping to her feet. "She simply +can't refuse if we all ask her at once." + +"Now you're saying something!" cried Mollie fervently, albeit slangily, +as she flung her arm about the Little Captain and dragged her down the +steps. "Action is what we need--action, and plenty of it." + +The girls fairly ran the short distance from Mollie's home to Grace's, +and the people they met on the way, greeted them heartily, musing as he +or she turned to go on: "There's probably something interesting in the +air--the Outdoor Girls always look like that when they have some new +adventure in tow." For Deepdale was very proud and fond of its Outdoor +Girls. + +Mrs. Ford was just coming down the stairs dressed to go out when the +quartette burst in upon her. She did look very tired and worn, as Grace +had said, but the smile that lighted her face at sight of the girls made +her appear ten years younger. + +"Mother," said Grace, taking one of her mother's carefully gloved hands +in her own and leading her gently but firmly into the library, "we have +something very important to say to you." + +"Will it take long?" queried Mrs. Ford, smiling at the other girls over +her shoulder. "Because, if it will, I'm very much afraid I can't wait. +I'm a little late now." + +"That," said Grace decidedly, as her mother sank into a chair and the +other girls grouped themselves about her, "is exactly what we have come +to talk about. We think you need a little vacation." + +"Vacation!" cried the lady, half rising from her chair. "Why, my dear! +how can I take a vacation when my hands are so full of work now that I +am--" + +"You don't have to take it," Grace interrupted argumentatively, "we'll +just give it to you." + +Mrs. Ford laughed helplessly and regarded the eager young faces with +amusement. + +"Out with it, girls," she commanded. "I know you are plotting some +terrible thing. What do you intend to do, kidnap me?" + +"No, we're keeping that for a last resort," returned Betty, and Mrs. +Ford laughed outright at the confession. + +"We want," explained Grace, speaking fast for fear of being interrupted, +"to have you go with us to Bluff Point. We need a chaperone, you know." + +"I've no doubt of it," retorted her mother, laughing, adding, with +another anxious glance at the clock: "But I'm afraid you will have to +get someone else, Honey. If I were free, I should like nothing better, +but you see how rushed I am--" + +"But you're terribly tired, Mother, you know you are," said Grace with +unusual gentleness, adding diplomatically: "What good will you be to the +Red Cross or to anyone else, I'd like to know, if you let yourself get +sick?" + +"But I'm not sick," protested her mother, then added with a sudden +longing as the wild solitude of Bluff Point rose before her eyes +suggesting utter peace and quiet, a chance to rest tired nerves and +gather strength for the last great drive: + +"You're right, I am tired, terribly tired," and the lines of weariness +returning to her face. "I'd love it, girls, but there's my work!" + +It took the girls about five minutes of the hardest work they had ever +done in their lives. But they did what they had set out to do. At the +end of that time Mrs. Ford consented to start with them whenever they +were ready. + +"Day after to-morrow?" asked Mollie, her eyes shining. + +"I don't know why not," said Mrs. Ford, then sprang to her feet with a +cry of dismay. "Girls, I completely forgot to telephone the Red Cross. +What will they think of me?" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A PROBLEM SOLVED + + +"I wish," said Mollie, sitting back to view approvingly the shining +black hood of her car, "that we had another machine. I'm afraid by the +time we've packed our bags and things into the tonneau we'll find it +rather crowded. And for such a long trip we ought to have plenty of +room." + +"That's what I was thinking," agreed Amy, rubbing a bit of nickel to a +gleaming polish, for the girls had gathered at Mollie's to help her put +the car in shape for the anticipated trip to Bluff Point. And they had +gone to their work with a will, rubbing and polishing the big machine as +they would have groomed a well-loved horse. "We will have our trunks +sent, of course, but we shall have to take our nighties and combs and +brushes and such things. We might put 'em on the roof," she added +hopefully. + +"Yes, and we might wear 'em," said Grace scornfully. "That is a +brilliant idea." + +"Well, I have one worth two of that," said Betty, trying not to look +mysterious. + +"Betty, are you going to spring anything on us?" cried Mollie, while the +other two paused with dust cloths uplifted. + +"Not if you don't want me to," returned the Little Captain demurely. + +"Betty, dear, I love you so," crooned Mollie, running around the car and +putting a rather oily hand about Betty's waist. "You wouldn't want such +an ardent admirer to drop dead at your feet, would you, now?" + +"It would have the charm of novelty," chuckled Betty, only to add +quickly as Mollie made a threatening gesture: "No, please don't kill me +yet. Come over here on the steps and I'll tell you all about it." + +"Yes, yes, go on," they cried, obediently ranging themselves on the +steps of the back porch and fixing eager eyes upon her. + +"Shoot!" Mollie commanded inelegantly. + +"Well," said Betty speaking slowly to add to the effect of her +announcement, "I have a car!" + +"A car!" they echoed, and Grace added: "Now I know she's crazy!" + +"When?" demanded Mollie, her eyes round and black, as they always were +under excitement. + +"If you mean, when did I get it," answered Betty, enjoying their +surprise to the full, "I might tell you that up to six o'clock last +evening I had no more idea of owning a car than you did. However, at +six-fifteen, I owned it," and her eyes danced with the pride of +ownership. + +Then the girls fell upon her, all demanding explanation of the miracle, +till she raised her hand pleadingly. + +"Give me a chance," she begged. "How can I tell you anything when you're +making such a noise?" + +The girls seemed impressed with the common sense of this. At any rate, +they stopped talking for the space of a half a minute. + +"It was last night at dinner," explained Betty hurriedly, seizing her +opportunity. "Dad came in a little late, and as he sat down he +laughingly asked us how we would like a racing car in the family." + +"A racing car!" they echoed. + +"Of course we thought he was joking," continued Betty, "but when we +found he was very much in earnest of course we went wild with +excitement." + +"I should think so," breathed Amy. + +"But, Betty darling, how--" Mollie was beginning when Betty cut her +short by hurrying on with her story. + +"That's what we wanted to know, of course," she said. "It seems that one +of Dad's clients owed him a good deal of money, and although he, the +client, that is, had plenty of money, it was all tied up in such a way +that he couldn't get hold of it right away, so he offered to give Dad +his almost new racing car in exchange. And," here Betty came to the most +wonderful part of her story, "since mother doesn't care for that type of +car--he gave it to me!" + +"Betty, how mar-ve-lous!" breathed Mollie, while Amy and Grace just +stared. + +"Can we see it? Have you got it at home?" asked Amy, after a few minutes +during which the girls had been getting used to the wonderful idea of +Betty with a machine, and a racing machine at that. + +"Oh, Betty, lead us to it," added Mollie yearningly. + +"I don't know whether it's come yet or not," explained the Little +Captain, as the girls threw aside dust rags and gingham aprons +preparatory to a concerted rush upon the new acquisition. "That's why I +didn't tell you about it sooner. I was going to surprise you by taking +you to it," she added, as they set off at a walk that was almost a run +for the pretty Nelson house; "but when Mollie spoke about another car I +just couldn't hold back any longer. Oh dear, I hope it has come!" + +"Won't it be fun?" cried Mollie joyfully, executing a little +irrepressible skip in her delight. "You can run it, Betty, of course, +and take Grace or Amy with you while our car comes behind--" + +"With the luggage," finished Betty wickedly. + +"Well you needn't be so conceited," retorted Mollie, her nose in the +air, while Betty looked innocent. + +"Wasn't that what you were going to say?" she inquired. + +However, there was no time for more conversation, for at that moment +they turned a corner, bringing Betty's house to sight, and what should +be going up the drive at that particular and ecstatic moment but the +graceful, low-bodied racer itself! + +With a shout the girls rushed forward. They overtook the driver as he +slowed to a stop, and fairly danced with impatience while the man pushed +up his goggles, took off his hat, wiped his perspiring forehead, and +slowly turned to smile at them. + +"This is where Mr. Nelson lives, isn't it?" he asked. "Mr. Todd asked me +to bring the car around--" + +"Yes, yes, we know all about it," interrupted Betty, then added with a +smile, as the man looked surprised: "I suppose you think I'm terribly +impatient, but, you see, the car is mine, and I can't wait to try it +out." + +The man whistled and descended with alacrity. The girls noticed rather +absentmindedly that he was a rather good looking young fellow, probably +one of the young men from Mr. Todd's office who had volunteered to run +this errand for him. + +"Well, I don't blame you a bit for being in a hurry," he said heartily, +eyeing the beautiful lines of the car with approval. "She sure is a +great little machine! You are Miss Nelson, I suppose?" he added, turning +to Betty. "You see," with evident embarrassment, "I promised to deliver +the car in person to Mr. Nelson--" + +"Here he is, so there ought to be no difficulty about that," said a +jovial voice, and they turned to find Mr. Nelson himself coming toward +them. "Good afternoon, Mr. Jameson. How do you like my new acquisition? +A beauty is it not?" + +"I say so!" agreed the young fellow, and after a few moments of general +conversation, Mr. Nelson led him off toward the house, leaving the girls +to themselves. And that, as Mollie afterward remarked, "was just the +most beautiful thing he could have done!" + +Before they had turned the corner of the house, Betty had clambered in +behind the steering wheel and was bidding the girls follow. + +In their excitement they all tried to climb in, forgetting that a car +designed to seat two people cannot by any stretch of imagination +accommodate four. Then suddenly realizing what an absurd picture they +must be making, they began to laugh. + +"Well, now what are we going to do?" wailed Mollie. "We can't all go at +once." + +"Of course you can," cried Betty busily examining her treasure, touching +a lever here, a button there, with loving fingers. "What, may I ask, is +the matter with the running boards?" + +"Betty, you don't mean--" + +"Yes, I do," firmly. + +"But we can't--" + +"Well, then I'll have to take one at a time," decided Betty, tooting the +horn experimentally. "Come on--who goes first?" + +"Oh, come on, we'll all go," cried Mollie dancing with impatience. "You +get in beside Betty, Grace, since you're afraid of the running board, +and Amy and I'll hang on somewhere. Come on, Amy. Be a sport, old girl." + +Amy wavered for a moment, but the challenge was too much for her, and +she nodded her head in assent. + +"Thank goodness I can only die once," was her cheerful comment. + +So Grace climbed in beside the Little Captain, while Amy and Mollie +scrambled up on the running boards and clung to the sides of the car. +Then Betty tooted the horn triumphantly and began slowly to back down +the drive. + +"I don't know about this," she remarked, as the car made rather +zigzagging work of it. "I've driven mostly on a straight road, you know, +and I'm not very expert, even if I do know all about a motor boat." + +"So we see," commented Mollie wickedly, as Betty nearly backed into a +flower bed at one side of the drive. + +"Don't you think we'd better get off?" asked Amy. "Till you turn into +the road, anyway, Betty?" she added. + +"Don't you dare," cried Betty, giving the wheel a nervous little twist +that caused Amy to groan and clutch the side of the car tighter. "If you +make me stop now, I'll never get started again. There!" as the car slid +into the roadway, hesitated a moment, then without a jar or a jerk, +glided swiftly along the smooth road, gathering headway as it went. "Now +we're all right." + +"That was pretty work, Betty," complimented Mollie, who, as an old and +experienced driver, felt capable of pronouncing judgment. "Now let's see +what this little car will do." + +"Not too fast," begged Amy, as Betty slid into high gear. "Remember +we're not used to this kind of traveling, and we're apt to find +ourselves sitting in the road if you're not careful." + +"Have you chosen your spot?" asked Betty, her eyes twinkling. + +"Just the same, it might have been a good idea to have brought some +cushions along," said Mollie ruefully. "We might have strapped them on +and used them the way you do life savers--in case of emergency." + +"My, you must be having a wonderful time," drawled Grace. "Have some +candy Mollie--it may help your courage." + +"My courage doesn't need any help, thank you," snapped Mollie, adding +wickedly: "Just for that we ought to make you ride out here." + +"Goodness, don't!" cried Betty, as she swung the car around a corner and +started once more toward home. "The punishment wouldn't fit the crime, +Mollie. Besides, we'll be back in a few minutes. Girls, she runs like a +dream!" + +"She's a wonder," agreed Mollie. "I guess there's just about no limit to +the speed she's capable of." + +"Do you want me to let her out?" queried Betty wickedly, but both Amy +and Mollie protested vehemently. + +"Some other time," said Mollie, "when we're not hanging on by our +eyelids!" + +A few minutes more, and they were again turning into the Nelson drive, +which, by the way, Betty took much more expertly this time. As the car +slowed, Amy and Mollie dropped off and Amy opened the door for Lady +Grace, who descended slowly. + +"Well, how do you like it?" cried Betty, jumping out in her turn and +regarding her new possession with shining eyes. "Do you think she'll +do?" + +"Do!" they cried, and Mollie added, patting the smooth side of the car +with admiring fingers: + +"She's a wonder, Betty--as Roy would say, 'a perfect pippin.' Good-bye," +she added suddenly, starting down the drive. + +"Where are you going?" cried Betty, as they looked after her surprised. + +"Home," she answered, adding with a chuckle: "I've got to finish +cleaning my old car. It's poor old nose must be terribly out of joint." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +LIFE AND DEATH + + +The next morning Betty awoke to the sound of the telephone ringing +imperatively in the hall. She got up, dragged the instrument from its +stand and spoke drowsily into the receiver. + +"Hello--who--why, Grace, how did you happen to wake up?--Why, Grace, +what is the matter, dear?--You have heard what?--Will is wounded?--Oh, +Honey, how awful! Is it serious?--Never mind, don't try to tell me about +it now. I'll get dressed just as fast as I can and come right over--Yes, +yes, in about five minutes." + +Mechanically Betty replaced the receiver on the hook and hurried back +into her room. Then swiftly she began to dress. + +Will! Dear old Will was wounded! That had been about all she had been +able to gather from Grace's sobbing message--but that was enough. He was +the first of the boys to fall out there in the trenches, and who knew +but what Allen might be the next! + +And here only yesterday they had been so happy, as happy as they could +be with that shadow always hanging over them. This was the day, too--the +incongruous thought struck Betty as she hastily pulled on her +clothing--the day they had set for their trip to Bluff Point. Well, of +course, it was all off now. Who wanted to go anyway? + +These thoughts and many more raced through Betty's head as she put the +finishing touches to her toilet and crushed a garden hat on her pretty +soft hair. She was a very attractive picture as she ran down the stairs, +but she neither knew it nor cared. + +"Why, Betty dear, what is the meaning of the hat?" her mother inquired, +smiling as her young daughter burst into the dining room. "You don't +need it to eat breakfast in, you know. Who called on the 'phone?" + +"I'm not going to eat breakfast, at least not right away. But there, of +course, you don't know," answering her mother's look of surprise. "Grace +called up and, oh, Mother, poor Will has been wounded! I don't want to +c-cry," her chin quivered and she turned away for a moment to get +control of the lump in her throat. + +"I know, dear," said her mother, putting an understanding arm about her, +"and so I'm not going to offer very much sympathy--just now. Were you +going over to see Grace, poor child?" + +Betty squeezed her mother's hand gratefully and nodded. + +"I'll be back in a little while," she said finally, getting the better +of that annoying lump. "I just want to find out all about it and give +Grace my sympathy." + +And the Little Captain found poor Grace in need of all the sympathy she +could possibly give her. She was sitting in the darkest corner of the +library, all crumpled up in a big chair, her eyes red with weeping and a +damp ball of handkerchief clutched tightly in one hand. + +At sight of Betty running toward her, she began to sob again, the tears +running down her face unnoticed. + +"Betty, Betty, I knew you'd come," she cried, as Betty knelt beside her +and put two loving arms about her. "I'm so m-miserable I just don't want +to live at all." + +"But, Honey, it isn't nearly as bad as it might be," said Betty, trying +to sooth while wanting desperately to know herself just how bad it was. +"You said he was only wounded, didn't you?" + +"That's what the telegram said," Grace answered, wiping her eyes +drearily. "But how do we know but what he may be dead by this time?" + +"We don't know, of course," returned Betty, recovering a little of her +optimism while she unostentatiously handed Grace a fresh handkerchief, +"but the chances are against it." + +"But perhaps they said he was just wounded to l-let us down easy," cried +Grace, evidently convinced that there was no bright side to look upon. + +"The Government doesn't do that; it hasn't time," argued Betty. "It +always lets you know the worst at once." + +A gleam of hope came into Grace's eyes. + +"Then you think there's a chance?" she queried, sitting up straight and +beginning to look a little more interested in life. "Do you think he may +get well?" + +"Why, of course," said Betty, adding reasonably: "If you would tell me +just what the telegram said, I'd have more to go on." + +"That's all it said--what I told you," replied Grace, relaxing wearily. +"Just said that he was wounded--nothing more. Dad is writing to +Washington to try to get more news. Of course, he has a great deal of +influence, being a lawyer with a good many friends in Washington, and he +may be able to find out something. I don't know." + +"Here come Mollie and Amy," said Betty, glancing through the window. "I +guess," she added thoughtfully, "Amy probably feels pretty bad too." + +"But she's not his sister," cried Grace, with a sudden flare-up of +jealousy that made Betty smile in spite of her heartache. She could not +help wondering how Grace would have taken it if it had been Roy instead +of Will who had been wounded. + +But Grace's little fit of jealousy did not last long at sight of Amy's +drawn, white face and the traces of tears in her eyes. Instead, she +opened her arms to this other girl who was not Will's sister, yet loved +him too, and for a moment they cried on each others shoulders. + +Meanwhile Betty and Mollie wandered over to the window and stood looking +thoughtfully out upon the lawn and not seeing any of it. + +"Goodness!" said Mollie after a moment, shrugging her shoulders a little +impatiently, "of course, it's terrible to have Will wounded, and I can +imagine Grace being all cut up about it, but she--and Amy too--act as if +he were dead." + +"I know," said Betty softly, then added, looking a little quizzically at +Mollie; "But you know I don't blame them so much when I try putting +myself in their place. Of course we love Will, but suppose it had been +Allen, for instance, or Frank." + +Mollie started and uttered a little cry of protest. + +"Oh, but that would be different," she said weakly, then catching +Betty's eye, added soberly: "I see what you mean, of course. I suppose +I would act just the same, under different circumstances." + +However, having had their cry out and feeling better and much more +cheerful in consequence, Grace and Amy called to them and they crossed +the room quickly. + +"We've decided," said Amy then, "that, since we can't find out any more +until Mr. Ford hears from Washington, we might as well make the best of +it." + +"And we want to talk about our trip," Grace added. + +"Our trip?" echoed Mollie. "Why I thought of course we would give that +up." + +"I did too," explained Grace. "But when I spoke of it to Dad, he said we +were to do nothing of the kind. He said we couldn't do poor Will"--in +spite of all her resolution her voice broke on the name--"any good by +staying at home and moping, and that he would let us know as soon as he +had any authentic word from Washington. And he insists on mother's going +too." + +And so it happened that a few hours later a very sober group of Outdoor +Girls started on what should have been a joyful trip, with heavy hearts +and gloomy foreboding. Even the new racer did not serve to liven the +party. + +The only time they laughed was when they found Dodo and Paul, the +incorrigible twins, hidden away under some raincoats in Mollie's car. + +"Oh, but we want to go 'long," Dodo protested vehemently when +discovered. + +"We just got to go 'long," Paul had added. + +"No, you mustn't 'got to,'" Mollie contradicted them, while the others +looked on amused. "Come, Dodo, honey, be a good girl for sister and come +down. You too, Paul. We're in an awful hurry." + +"But we not goin' to come down," Dodo insisted. + +"'Less," Paul added diplomatically, "we get tandies." + +"Lots of tandies," Dodo supplemented. + +"Here, take these," Grace offered, holding out a box of sweets which, +despite all her trouble, she had not forgotten. + +"Don't give them the box--just take out a few," Mollie suggested, but +Grace insisted, while her face clouded again. + +"I don't want them, anyway. I don't know why I took them. Habit, I +suppose." + +However, hope and optimism did not consent to be kept long in the +background on such a day as this when the sun shone its brightest and +the birds sang their hardest and the very wind seemed to be whispering +of happier times to come. + +"Well," sighed Amy at last, for she and Mrs. Ford were riding in +Mollie's car, while Grace was with Betty in the racer, "it's plain to be +seen that nature at least doesn't know that anything horrible or cruel +is happening 'over there.' I don't think I ever saw a more wonderful +day." + +"Maybe it is a good omen," said Mollie, quick to seize her opportunity. +"I feel it in my bones that it won't be long before we will hear good +news of Will--and you know my prophetic bones never lie." + +"I don't know anything of the sort," protested Amy, although the remark +brought a reluctant smile to her lips. "I've known those same prophetic +bones to slip up before this." + +"Which reminds me," Mollie cried, apropos of nothing in particular, +"that if we don't put on more speed we'll not reach our destination +before dark. I wonder why Betty doesn't hurry," for Betty and Grace in +the speedy little racer were taking the lead. + +She signaled the latter with three long and three short toots of the +horn. A moment later the racer slowed down and Betty turned around to +see what was wanted. + +"You're too slow," cried Mollie. "If you don't go a little faster, we'll +have to run over you." + +"Oh-ho, look who's talking!" gibed the Little Captain, adding wickedly: +"We were afraid to speed up for fear of leaving you too far behind." + +"Now I know we'll have to run over you," cried Mollie fiercely. "Toot, +toot--out of my way!" + +But Betty evidently had no intention of getting out of anybody's way, +for with a challenging blast of her horn she put the little car at high +and it sprang forward gleefully. + +Behind her, Mollie's car, like a big cat after a mouse, gave exultant +chase, fairly eating up the road. And yet Betty maintained the distance +between them--even drew away a little. + +"Goodness," cried Mollie suddenly, her eyes sparkling, "I may be +mistaken, but I think she wants a race!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE RACE + + +Then began some fun that was novel and exciting even to the Outdoor +Girls, who thought they had tried just about every sport there was. + +Mollie bent her straight little back over the steering wheel, gave her +more power and the big car fairly flew ahead, lessening perceptibly the +distance between it and the racer. + +However, Betty, looking behind, seemed not in the least concerned. On +the contrary, she waved her hand joyously as she recognized Mollie had +taken her challenge. Then she too bent over the wheel with her eyes +glued to the flying ribbon of road ahead. + +"Betty, Betty, stop it!" cried Grace, holding frantically to her hat and +the side of the car. "Suppose we should m-meet somebody--a wagon or a +m-machine." + +"So much the worse for it," retorted Betty gayly. "You keep your eye on +Mollie, Gracie dear, and tell me whether she's gaining--that's a good +girl." + +"If you think I'm going to help you break our necks--" Grace sputtered, +but Betty cut her short. + +"Well, if you don't I will have to look for myself," she said, adding +maliciously: "And then we will have a smash-up!" + +Grace groaned and looked behind her. + +"They're gaining," she cried, and then all at once the spirit of the +thing caught her--the contest of speed was getting into her blood. "Oh, +Betty, don't let 'em," she almost screamed, above the noise of the motor +and the rushing wind. "They're not more than fifty feet behind now!" + +Betty gave her a swift look, smiled to herself, and once more fixed her +dancing eyes on the road ahead. + +"All right," she crowed. "Just watch me run away from them. I wouldn't +have had the heart," she added with a chuckle, "if Mollie hadn't brought +it all on herself." + +"But they're still gaining," insisted Grace nervously, trying to look +behind, ahead, keep her seat, hat, and dignity all at the same time. +"Look, Betty, they're only about thirty feet behind!" + +"That's near enough," Betty decided, and leaning over suddenly, did +something to the car that Grace never quite understood. Anyway, it had +the desired effect. The little racer fairly leapt forward and, like a +horse that has been given his head for the first time, took the bit +between its teeth and bolted. + +Behind them Mollie looked her amazement. She was getting every bit of +speed out of her machine of which it was capable, and then, just as +victory was within sight, Betty was doing an inconceivable, unbelievable +thing--she was winning the race! + +Mrs. Ford and Amy had been enjoying the race tremendously, but now they +leaned forward in surprise. + +"Goodness, she's beating us," cried Amy. + +"No!" snapped Mollie sarcastically. "Who would have supposed it?" + +"Perhaps it is because Betty's car is so much lighter," suggested Mrs. +Ford consolingly. "We have all the luggage and wraps, too." + +"Oh, that wouldn't make so much difference," denied Mollie, who was too +good a sportsman to make excuses for herself. "Betty's racer has the +speed, that's all." + +"Well, they're just about out of sight now," said Amy, leaning back +resignedly. "I only hope Betty doesn't run into anything and have a +smash-up. She hasn't driven a car as much as you, Mollie." + +"Oh, Betty'll take care of herself," said Mollie, though she was +slightly mollified by this tribute to her superior experience, if not +superior speed. "I guess," she added, after a moment's reflection, "I'd +better sell this old car and get a racer too." + +Mrs. Ford laughed softly, the first time she had laughed or thought of +laughing since receiving the news of Will's being wounded. + +"Don't go back on an old friend for its first offence, Mollie," she +chided, adding diplomatically: "A racing car is just fine for speed, but +I think your automobile is much more sociable and comfy." + +"Well, I'm glad there's something nice about it," said Mollie, for she +had not yet recovered from her surprise and chagrin. "I hope," she +added, as a sudden thought struck her, "that Betty doesn't get too far +ahead. I don't know this part of the country very well and Betty has the +map." + +"That will be the next thing," said Amy, with a sigh, and Mollie looked +at her sharply. + +"What?" she demanded. + +"Why, that we'll get lost," Amy explained. "Wasn't that what you meant?" + +"Oh, I hope not," said Mrs. Ford, a little anxiously. "Perhaps we'll be +able to see them when we round this curve, Mollie." + +But they rounded several curves, and still no sign of Betty's car. Then +happened what Mollie had secretly been fearing would happen. They came +to a crossroads and a sudden stop at one and the same moment. + +"Now, what?" queried Amy, in the tone of resignation that never failed +to rub Mollie the wrong way. "Something the matter with the engine?" + +"No, the engine's all right," snapped Mollie, adding, irritably: "But +everything else is all wrong." + +"What, for instance?" queried Mrs. Ford soothingly. She knew that the +first defeat Mollie had ever experienced would be bound to rankle and +was prepared to make allowances. "If the engine is all right, why don't +we go on?" + +"Which way?" queried Mollie, spreading out her arms with a hopeless +gesture. "There are two roads, one looks as good as the other, and we +haven't the slightest idea in the world which to take." + +"Oh!" gasped Amy. + +Mrs. Ford gave a low whistle as she saw the fix they were in. + +"Then if Betty doesn't realize our predicament and come back pretty +soon, we'll either have to stay here indefinitely, or go back the way we +came, is that it?" + +"Yes," nodded Mollie, adding truthfully and more than a little +anxiously: "Only I'm not quite sure I know just how we came. As I said, +this is unfamiliar country to me." + +Amy groaned. + +"Then we shall be lost for fair," she said. "Oh, why did Betty do such a +foolish thing?" + +Mollie was about to retort when a cloud of dust in the distance and a +faint chug-chug made her swallow her words. + +"What's that?" she cried. "It sounds like a motor. I wonder--" + +"Yes, it is!" cried Amy, straining her eyes to see through the cloud of +dust. "It's only a little car, and it's coming at about ninety miles an +hour." + +At this reference to Betty's speed, Mollie winced a little but gave a +relieved sigh nevertheless. For by this time the car was near enough to +be identified beyond doubt. It was a racer, and there was a girl at the +wheel. + +A few moments later Betty herself, with a grin, hailed them. + +"Hello," she cried, adding as the car slowed to a standstill: "This time +the joke's on us. We were so busy running away from you that we took the +wrong road. This one ends about two miles up in somebody's farm." + +"It's lucky something stopped you," said Mollie dryly, adding as she +cocked one eye at the sun: "Well, let's be getting along. We'll have to +hurry and make up for lost time." + +"Do you still want to get ahead of us?" asked Betty, as a moment later +she swung her car into the right road. "Because if you do--" + +"Go on," cried Mollie, exasperated, yet beginning to laugh, for after +all Mollie was a good loser. "Some way or other I'll get even with you, +Betty Nelson. Meanwhile hustle!" + +And Betty hustled, with Mollie keeping just far enough behind to avoid +the cloud of dust the little car threw up. For an hour more the motors +purred rhythmically, eating up mile after mile, until finally the girls +were compelled by ravenous and healthy appetites to stop for lunch. + +They had brought two big hampers, packed full with sandwiches, fruit and +cake and also something to drink, and after the long ride in the open +the very thought of these delicacies brought, as Grace said, "the tears +of longing to their eyes." + +As Mrs. Ford handed one of the baskets over the seat to Mollie in front, +Betty and Grace tumbled out of their car and came running toward them. + +"Are you going to get out and eat, in romantic fashion, by the wayside?" +queried Grace, eyeing a pile of sandwiches hungrily. "Or are you going +to sit in state in the car and let us occupy the running board?" + +"We'll give you one of the hampers," offered Mrs. Ford, but Mollie +gasped in dismay. + +"Oh, please don't," she begged. "Don't you see--there are only two of +them to our three. And you want to give them half the lunch!" + +They laughed at her, and Betty offered a solution. + +"Far be it from us to rob you, Honey," she said soothingly. "We'll sit +right here on this rock--" + +"Oh, goodness! who cares where we sit as long as we get something," +groaned Grace. "Mollie, I'm dying." + +"Well as long as you die out there it's all right," retorted Mollie +unfeelingly. Nevertheless, she handed the sufferer a ham sandwich and a +hard boiled egg, which the latter came as near to grabbing as her good +breeding would permit. + +However, when they had finished the lunch, burned up what odds and ends +remained, and had once more started on their way, they found that the +shadow of unhappiness which the excitement of the race had almost +banished, was returning again. + +In front with Betty, Grace sighed so dolefully that the Little Captain +looked at her inquiringly, an action which almost brought about a +collision with a tree by the wayside. + +"Betty, what are you doing?" + +"Trying to kill us," replied Betty serenely. "And if you give any more +sighs like that, I'll do it." + +"I didn't know I sighed," said Grace gloomily. "But it wouldn't be any +wonder if I did. I feel as if I were made up of them--sighs, I mean." + +Betty was silent a moment, then she asked suddenly: + +"When does your father expect to hear from Washington?" + +"Not before the end of the week, anyway. And by that time," Grace paused +to control the trembling of her lips, "nobody knows what may have +happened. For all we know Will may be--dead." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +RED RAGS + + +"Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," +said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering +wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally. "Now if nothing +else happens--" + +The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she +put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty. The +latter stopped her car and came running back to see what had happened. + +"Tire," said Mollie laconically, forestalling the inevitable questions. +"I knew our luck had been too good to be true. Well," with the air of a +martyr accepting the inevitable, "I suppose there's nothing to do but +get busy and fix it, though, of course, this spoils our chances of +getting to Bensington to-night," Bensington being the town midway +between Deepdale and Bluff Point where they had planned to spend the +night. It was also the only town for miles around that boasted a hotel. + +"Oh, I don't know," said Betty in reply to Mollie's gloomy prediction. +"It won't be the first time we've accomplished the impossible." + +"But it will soon be dark." + +"Goodness! it won't be dark for hours and hours," Betty laughed at her. +"And this oughtn't to take us more than half an hour at the longest. +Come on now, let's get busy." + +Thus inspired, the girls "got busy," but they were tired with the long +drive and everything seemed to go wrong. Their usually skillful fingers +fumbled, the tire was "too big or too little or something," to quote +Amy, and at the end of a quarter of an hour's useless struggle their +tempers were worn to a frazzle and they were ready to cry. + +"Well, I never had anything act like that before," cried Mollie +irritably. "I'd like to give the person that wrote about the 'depravity +of inanimate things' a medal. The old tire's got a mean disposition, +that's all." + +"Well, it isn't the only one," Grace was beginning, when Mollie turned +and glared at her. + +"If you mean me--" + +"I meant all of us," Grace explained. "As long as we have been going +together, this is the first time I can remember when all of us have been +in the doleful dumps at once." + +This brought a reluctant smile even to Mollie's gloomy countenance, and +Betty laughed merrily. + +"Perhaps it's just as well," said the Little Captain, adding with a +chuckle: "It's the same way with onions--if everybody eats 'em, no one +can notice the unpleasantness in the other fellow." + +This brought a real laugh, and Mollie said fondly: + +"I always knew you were a 'philosophiker,' Betty, dear. But," she added, +vindictively kicking the tire that lay at her feet, "all the philosophy +in the world won't put this tire on for us. And we can't very well get +to Bensington on three wheels and a rim." + +"No!" cried Grace, sarcastically. "Who would have guessed it?" + +Mollie started to retort, but the threatened resumption of hostilities +was cut short by the sound of a motor in the distance. + +"Hark!" cried Mollie, a dramatic hand raised to a listening ear. "Do I +hear the approach of an angel?" + +"If you do, he has a pretty earthly means of transportation," laughed +Betty. "To me, it sounds like a machine or a motorcycle." + +"How can you?" cried Mollie, still dramatically poised. "It is an angel, +I tell you, come to help us out of our predicament." + +"It is a motorcycle," cried Amy excitedly. "The engine is making too +much noise for an automobile." + +"Well," suggested Mrs. Ford quietly, "whoever it is, I think it might be +a good idea to get out of the middle of the road." + +"But if we do," Grace protested, "he'll go right past us." + +"And if we don't we'll get run over," added Mrs. Ford. + +The girls looked at each other helplessly. + +"I tell you," cried Betty suddenly, her eyes sparkling with a new idea. +"Give me that old red rag we use for a duster, Mollie, and I'll go and +signal your angel." + +"Betty, you'll do no such thing," cried Amy, shocked, while Mollie dug +under the seat for the improvised signal flag. "Think of signaling a +strange man!" + +"But you forget he's an angel in disguise," laughed Betty, snatching the +dust cloth Mollie held out to her. "Anyway," she added, over her +shoulder, "desperate cases require desperate remedies," and was off +round the turn of the road. + +There wasn't much time to spare either, for when she had clambered up on +a rock by the side of the road, the motorcyclist was only a few hundred +feet away. + +At the unexpected sight of a red rag wildly waved by a very graceful +little figure in a gray traveling suit, he looked surprised but promptly +put on his brakes. He leapt from his machine and came running toward her +while Betty descended from her perch just in time to meet him at the +foot of the rock. + +"Is there anything the matter?" he asked, in a nice voice that Betty +immediately liked. In fact, she liked nearly everything about him, from +his sunburned face and merry blue eyes to his trim leather boots and +puttees. So she gave him a friendly little smile that showed all her +dimples, much to his secret admiration. + +"Why, yes, there is," she answered, adding with a chuckle: "If there +hadn't been, I shouldn't have been perched on that old rock, waving a +ridiculous red dust rag!" + +Then, as they made their way around the turn in the road toward the car +where Mrs. Ford and the girls were waiting for them, she explained the +situation, adding with another smile: "You see, I had to stop you some +way, so I chose the very first method I could think of." + +"It certainly was effective," he answered, smiling. + +Then after mutual introductions, by which the girls learned that their +new friend's name was Joe Barnes and that he had been on his way to +Deeming, a village about five miles away when Betty's red flag had +brought him to so sudden a stop, the youth went to work with a will at +the tire while the girls alternately watched him and helped by handing +him the tools he needed. + +In what seemed no time at all to the girls he had finished his task and +had pulled out a handkerchief and was wiping his begrimed hands with it. + +"My, you did do that in a hurry!" sighed Mollie, patting the new tire +happily. "You did in fifteen minutes what five of us couldn't do in half +an hour." + +"You were probably tired," he answered, glancing at the car, which gave +unmistakable evidence of the many miles they had come that day. "Are +you, have you--" he hesitated, evidently not knowing whether his +question would be taken in good part or not. "Are you going very much +farther?" + +"Only about a hundred miles," laughed Betty, then added in answer to his +startled glance: "Not to-night, though. We are just going as far as +Bensington." + +"But Bensington is about fifteen miles away," he protested, adding as he +glanced up at a lowering gray cloud overhead: "And if I know anything +about weather signs, you will have to use some speed to get there before +the storm." + +"The storm!" they cried simultaneously, following his glance, while +Mollie added petulantly: + +"Goodness, haven't we had enough troubles for one day without getting a +drenching into the bargain?" + +"But we haven't got the drenching yet," Mrs. Ford reminded her, adding, +with a cordial smile as she held out her hand to Joe Barnes: "We don't +know how to thank you Mr. Barnes, for taking all this trouble for us." + +"Please don't," he begged, flashing his nice smile upon them. "I am only +too glad to have been of assistance. And now, if I might suggest--" + +Another glance at the ominous cloud which had grown bigger and blacker +even in these few minutes, sent the girls scrambling unceremoniously to +their seats while Joe Barnes lifted his hat and stood waiting for them +to start. Once his eyes rested upon Betty, and there was so much +undisguised admiration in them that she flushed prettily and threw in +the clutch with a jerk that was not at all skillful. + +"Good-bye," they called, and "good-bye," he answered, as the two cars +sprang forward in a cloud of dust. Not until they were out of sight did +Joe Barnes turn away and retrace his steps toward his deserted +motorcycle. + +"Joe, my boy," he communed with himself, shaking his head over the +memory of Betty's dimples, "that little Miss Nelson is one girl in a +million. I wonder now," slowly mounting his machine and looking +reflectively at the road in front of it, "why I didn't ask if I might +call." Then the absurdity of the idea made him laugh at himself. "What +nonsense to think of taking advantage of an accident--Where was it they +said they were stopping for the night? Oh, yes, Bensington. Well, he +might go there and take a chance on seeing them--her. Fate might even be +kind to him and burst some more tires!" Then he laughed at himself again +and started his motor. + +Meanwhile Grace, who had noticed Joe Barnes' expressive glance in +Betty's direction and the latter's subsequent confusion, commented upon +the coincidence. + +"Goodness, Betty," she drawled lightly, "I always knew you were a heart +breaker, but I never saw you make a conquest in so short a time. Half an +hour and--poof--it's all over but the shouting." + +Betty gave an annoyed little laugh. + +"Don't be foolish, Gracie," she commanded adding reflectively as she +skillfully avoided a rock in the road: "He was awfully nice looking +though, and pleasant." + +"Of course!" + +"But I couldn't help wondering," Betty went on, as though talking to +herself, "why he was here at all when his country needs him." + +"Um--yes, that was rather strange," mused Grace. "One isn't used to +seeing a young, good-looking and apparently healthy boy on this side of +the water these days, unless he's in khaki. I wonder if our knight by +the wayside is by any chance one of those insects we term--" + +"Slackers?" finished Betty, adding in quick defense: "No, I'm quite sure +he isn't that kind. You know we have had a good chance to study both +types, and he doesn't look like a slacker." + +"Granted," agreed Grace, adding with a quick change of mood: "Just the +same, it makes me feel desperate to see any young fellow running at his +own free will about the country, evidently enjoying life, while our boys +are giving up everything--" + +"But, if Joe Barnes isn't a slacker," Betty reminded her gently, "he is +probably passionately envying our boys the right to 'give up +everything'." + +"Perhaps," replied Grace, eyes fixed moodily upon the flying landscape. +"But when I think of Will--" + +For a long time there was silence. Then Betty gave a little start and +regarded with disfavor a big drop that rested on the third finger of her +right hand. She immediately resigned the guidance of the car to her left +hand while she held up the right for Grace's inspection. + +"What's the matter with it?" queried the latter, who had been engrossed +in her not too happy meditations. + +"Rain," cried Betty succinctly, adding with a whimsical little smile: "I +don't know whether Joe Barnes is a slacker or not, but I do know he's a +good prophet. We surely shall have to put on some speed if we want to +reach Bensington before the storm!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THUNDER AND MUD + + +"You don't mean it's raining!" cried Grace, holding out a hand to see +for herself. "Oh, dear, and we have several miles to go before we even +reach the outskirts of Bensington. What shall we do now?" + +"I don't know," answered Betty, while a worried frown wrinkled her +pretty forehead. "I don't know just how far out we are. Oh, there's a +signboard. What does it say, Gracie? You can read it better than I." + +"Ten miles to Bensington," Grace read, leaning far out of the car. "Oh +Betty, we can't possibly make it! Listen to that!" + +"That" was an ominous rumble of thunder, and Betty's pretty forehead +puckered still more. + +"Well, we can at least put the top up," she said practically. "That will +keep the worst of it off anyway, and if we hurry we may have a chance of +beating it yet." + +Betty brought the car to a stop, jumped out on the road with Grace at +her heels, and waited for Mollie to come up. They had not long to wait +for a moment later Mollie stopped her car with a grinding of brakes and +came running up to her chums. + +"I was wondering how long you were going to ignore the warnings of +nature," she said, with a little grimace. "That cloud has been growing +with horrible rapidity for the last five minutes. What are your plans, +Captain?" and she favored Betty with a true military salute. + +"I wish I had some," said the latter, cocking a still more anxious eye +at the threatening cloud. "And all I've been able to think of so far is +the very original idea of putting up the top." + +"And side curtains," supplemented Mollie, with a chuckle. "Strange as it +may seem, even I have been favored with that inspiration." + +"Well, let's get busy," suggested Amy, with practical, though slangy, +emphasis. "We're apt to get drowned while we stand here talking." + +It was easy to see by the way they went to work that the girls agreed +with her. Even Mrs. Ford gave willing, though inexperienced, aid, and in +a very short time they had lifted the tops, adjusted the side curtains +and made all snug for the expected downpour. + +Nor did they have very much time to spare. While they had been working, +the thunder had grown louder and more insistent and now the rain began +to fall in earnest. + +"Duck!" cried Betty inelegantly, and they ran for shelter. + +"Well," said Betty, as she pressed the self-starter and the engine +purred evenly, "it's bad, but it might be a good deal worse. We can't +get wet unless it's an unusually heavy downpour." + +"Oh, it isn't getting wet that bothers me so much," said Grace, and +Betty looked at her in surprise. "It's the roads," she added by way of +explanation. "I've heard Aunt Mary say that they have terribly heavy +storms in this part of the country, and sometimes in half an hour the +roads get almost impassable. Many a machine has been known to sink three +or four inches in mud, and sometimes they get in so deep they have to be +hauled out." + +"What a cheerful prospect!" cried Betty, dismayed, adding, as the rain +beat against the windshield in steady, driving sheets: "Especially as +this storm bids fair to be a record breaker. Look how muddy the roads +are already." + +"And we haven't passed more than two or three wagons all the way out," +wailed Grace. "And they didn't look strong enough to pull a toy machine +out. Oh, Betty, look out!" + +The admonition was occasioned by a seemingly sudden wild desire on the +part of the car to stand on two wheels while it waved the other two +spinningly in the air. + +Betty, though undeniably frightened, succeeded in persuading the erring +wheels to the muddy road again. Then she slackened her speed and began +to laugh hysterically. + +"I don't see anything to laugh about," protested Grace, still breathless +with apprehension. + +"Neither do I," admitted Betty, adding whimsically. "But I had either to +laugh or cry, so I decided to laugh. After all, you must admit, it was a +wonderful skid." + +"The best of its kind," admitted Grace dryly. "But please don't try it +again, Honey, it has a wearing effect on my nerves!" + +They were silent for a while after that, while Betty regarded the +increasingly muddy road ahead of her with anxious eyes. She had been +forced to slacken her speed more and more until now they were barely +crawling along. + +"I'm afraid we're in an awfully tight fix," she said at last. "We're +just plowing through this mud, and if it's hard on us, what must it be +for Mollie, whose car is twice as heavy as this. Look behind, will you, +Gracie, and see how she's coming along?" + +"She is just coming, and that's all," reported Grace, after a prolonged +scrutiny through the rain-glazed window. "Goodness, we've been out in +storms before, but I never saw anything like this. And listen to that +thunder--o-oh!" + +A terrific clap of thunder caused Grace to clap her hands over her ears +with a little moan, while even steady-nerved Betty jumped in her seat +and took a tighter grip of the steering wheel. + +"Oh, what shall we do!" cried Grace, for she hated a thunderstorm worse +than she hated anything else on earth. "We can't go on this way, Betty. +We're likely to get struck any moment." + +"Well, I don't see that we'll be any less likely to get struck if we +stand still," retorted Betty, a little sharply, for the situation was +becoming wearing, to say the least. "If you can suggest any way that we +can get out of this fix--" the sentence was cut short by a still louder +and more terrifying clap of thunder. + +Grace huddled in her seat, miserably trying not to die of fright. + +"Is Mollie still following us?" asked Betty, after an interval of weird +flashes, crashing thunder, and rain beating relentlessly against the +glass in front and turning the road to a sea of mud. "If she should get +stuck I don't know what we would do." + +"Yes, she's still struggling," replied Grace. "But it's getting so dark +I can't more than just make out the lines of the car. Oh, Betty, don't +you suppose we must be pretty close to Bensington?" + +"No, I don't," Betty replied wearily. "You see how we've been +traveling--not more than a snail's pace, and it won't be very long +before we shall have to stop altogether. I'm surprised that Mollie has +been able to keep going so long. You will have to keep your eye on her +all the time, now, Grace, since it is getting so dark. We don't want to +lose her." + +"But," Grace suggested hesitantly, "I don't see that we could do them +very much good by staying here with them, if they do get stuck. Wouldn't +it be better to go on and try to make Bensington? Then we could send +help back to them." + +"I've thought of that," said Betty simply, "and it would work all right +provided we did manage to reach Bensington. But the probability is that +we would be forced to stop a little further on, and I must say I don't +exactly enjoy the prospect of spending the night alone on this deserted +road." + +Grace shivered, but answered with a nervous little laugh: "I don't know +but what we would be safe enough at that. If we can't get through, +probably nobody else could." + +"Just the same," said Betty decidedly, "I think I would rather cling to +the old theory that there is safety in numbers. Besides, probably your +mother would rather decide that for us. Are they still coming, Grace?" + +"Goodness, you remind me of Bluebeard's wife," Grace laughed +hysterically. "I thought you were going to say, 'Sister Anne, Sister +Anne, do you see a man'?" + +"Well, I see something better than a man," cried Betty suddenly, +straining her eyes through the darkness and the streaming windshield. +"Grace honey, do my eyes deceive me, or is that a light?" + +"A light!" cried Grace excitedly. "Oh, Betty, where--wait--yes, I see +it! It is a light! And there's another! Two lighted windows! Betty, +honey, we're saved!" + +"It's a house!" cried Betty jubilantly, while the hand that held the +steering wheel shook with relief. "You darling, wonderful house. Gracie, +dear, I think it showed on the horizon just in the nick of time. Look +behind once more." + +"Yes, they're still coming. Oh, if they only don't get stuck in front of +the door!" + +"Don't be a goose, Gracie," chided Betty, feeling in hilarious spirits +now that the end of their trouble was in sight. "You ought to get down +on your knees in thankfulness that there is a front door to get stuck in +front of!" + +"Oh, is that so?" mocked Grace, her own spirits reviving at the prospect +of relief. "Well, I'm thankful enough, but I certainly don't intend to +get down on my knees about it. There isn't room in here and you can see +it's too muddy outside!" + +Two minutes later Betty swung the little car from the, by this time, +almost impassable road on to a gloriously graveled driveway that led up +to the hospitably lighted house. + +"Now, if whoever lives here will only let us in," she sighed, as she +stopped the car and glanced behind to be sure Mollie was following them, +"we'll have nothing left to ask for." + +"Except something to eat," amended Grace hungrily. "I thought I had +eaten enough lunch to last me a week, but I see I'm muchly mistaken. +What shall we do, Betty?" as the latter started to open the curtain and +closed it quickly again as the rain beat in upon them. "We are apt to +get soaked just running that little distance to the porch." + +"And the umbrellas are all wrapped up in the back of Mollie's car," +lamented Betty, then added, with sudden decision: "I guess unless we +want to sit here all night we'd better chance it. I for one am so +hungry I'd be willing to brave more than a rain for the sake of +something to eat." + +"I'd say so!" groaned Grace, again reminded of her own state of +starvation. "You get out your side Betty and I'll get out mine and we'll +make a quick dash for it." + +[Illustration: GRACE AND BETTY MADE A QUICK DASH FOR SHELTER. _The +Outdoor Girls at Bluff Point._ _Page 83._] + +So they lifted the curtains and slipped out, thankful for the gravel +walk that, while it was wet and slippery, was still a delightful +contrast to the muddy sea of road they had left. They ran head down +against the blinding rain, and gained the bottom step of the porch at +the same time. + +A moment more, and they had climbed to the shelter of the porch itself, +out of breath but jubilant. + +"Thank goodness!" cried Grace. + +"And here come your mother and Mollie and Amy," chuckled Betty as the +trio followed their example and raced for the porch. "I guess none of +them ever knew she could run so fast in her life before. Hello, folks. +Beautiful weather, isn't it?" she inquired gayly, as the three +scrambled, panting, up on the porch. "You seem in a terrible hurry to +get somewhere." + +"Speak for yourself, John," gasped Mollie, shaking out her wet skirts +and trying to regain some of her dignity by putting her hat on straight. +"If you could know what I've been through for the last hour, just +coaxing the car along an inch at a time--" + +"Well," laughed Betty, as she turned to the front door and pushed the +bell, "I've been through a little bit of everything, myself, for the +last few hours, except a good square meal. And, judging from the +delightful aroma that hovers about this place," she added sniffing +hungrily, "I shouldn't wonder if that oversight wouldn't be swiftly +remedied!" + +Then the door opened and a tall, gray-haired lady stood in the lighted +doorway. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE KNIGHT OF THE WAYSIDE + + +The lady stared at the bedraggled party in amazed silence for a moment. +Then Mrs. Ford stepped impulsively forward. + +"I don't wonder you look surprised," she said in her sweetly modulated +voice, "for this is rather an unheard of calling hour. But you see we +were caught in this awful downpour and had to seek your house for +refuge." + +"Oh, I'm sorry!" exclaimed the lady, opening the door wider and +motioning them into the cheerfully lighted living room. "I didn't mean," +she added with a smile, as they most willingly accepted her invitation, +"that I was sorry you came, but that you were forced to come by such +conditions. Won't you take off your things? But you are wet!" she +exclaimed, as the girls started to remove their dripping wraps. + +"And we got it all," said Mrs. Ford with a wry smile, "just running +about twenty feet from our cars to your porch." + +"Your cars!" the hostess repeated. "Then you motored down. If I had +known that I shouldn't have been so surprised at seeing you. Pedestrians +are rather rare on a night like this." + +"Yes, and motorists, too, if they have any sense," said Mollie dryly, at +which they all laughed and their hostess looked still more interested. + +"Please sit down and dry out a little," said the lady, indicating a +grate fire which had evidently only recently been lighted on account of +the chill in the air. "I'm glad I had the fire made. I must have known," +she added with a gracious smile, "that you were coming to-night." + +Then she excused herself, and the girls held out eager hands to the +fire. + +"This is bliss," sighed Amy. + +"Well, this is some contrast to about five minutes ago," chuckled Grace. +"I thought we were in for a night in the mud at least." + +"I'll never say we aren't lucky again," agreed Betty, leaning an arm on +the mantel and getting her wet skirt as close to the fire as she could. +"We were just wondering," she added, addressing Mrs. Ford, "whether, if +Mollie's car got stuck, you would rather have Grace and me struggle on +to Bensington and get some help or stay and keep you company. Although," +she added ruefully, "if we couldn't pull through that mud, I don't know +what we could find in Bensington to do it." + +"Probably the only gasoline vehicles they have in the place are +jitneys," agreed Mollie, with a chuckle. + +"I wonder," Amy broke in, apropos of nothing, "who our charming hostess +is. She seems so lovely. It seems odd to meet a person like her and a +house like this out in the wilderness." + +"Yes, one does rather expect a farmer's wife and a rambling old +farmhouse so far out in the country," agreed Mrs. Ford. + +"Well, maybe her husband is a scientific farmer," suggested Mollie, +adding wickedly as she turned a merry eye on Grace: "The kind Roy once +said he'd like to be. Remember, Grace?" + +"Yes, I remember," Grace answered in a tone that indicated the memory +was not a pleasant one. "And I told him he had better drop that idea in +a hurry if he expected me--I mean--any girl--" she floundered, while +they laughed mockingly at her, "to have anything to do with him," she +finished rather weakly, while the girls giggled exasperatingly. + +"Well, I don't know," remarked Betty, in an altruistic effort to pour +oil upon the troubled waters, "that I would particularly mind marrying a +scientific farmer if they all have houses like this and acres of ground +with orchards and cows and chickens--" + +"And potato bugs," finished Grace, while the girls laughed merrily. + +"Well," remarked Mollie, with a desperate gleam in her eye, "I'd marry +just about anybody who would give me a square meal." + +"Goodness," remarked Betty, twinkling, "it's mighty lucky for Frank that +there aren't any young men of marriageable age on the horizon just now." + +The next moment she regretted her innocent little speech, for she could +see that the mention of the boys had brought more vividly to Grace and +Mrs. Ford and Amy the thought of Will--dear, bright, merry Will--lying +wounded in some far-away hospital, how badly wounded they could not +know, and dared not think. + +The silence that fell upon them was broken by the sound of their +hostess' voice, evidently issuing a command to some one in the kitchen. +Then the lady herself swept into the room. + +"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting so long," she apologized, "but I +have had to help the maid get dinner on the table. She is a new one, +and, oh, so utterly helpless. Then, too, I was hoping my son would come +home, but since everything is ready and I know you must be starving, we +won't delay dinner any longer. If you will come, please--" + +"But this is imposing upon good nature," protested Mrs. Ford, as the +lady held back the portiers and disclosed an inviting table set for +seven, elaborate with shining crystal and silver. "To drop down upon you +from a clear--or rather, a cloudy sky--" + +They laughed, and their hostess dismissed the protest with a little wave +of her hand. + +"It is a pleasure," she said, adding, as they took their places: "I am +only thankful that a lucky chance enabled me to entertain you well +to-night. I was expecting guests from the nearest farm, but since our +next door neighbors are five miles down the road, they hesitated to make +the trip because of the threatening weather. I guess it is just as well +for them they did not come," and she paused to listen to the rain which +was still pouring down in torrents. + +Mrs. Ford made an appropriate answer, and the two ladies entered into a +little confidential chat that left the girls pretty much to their own +devices. And they were trying their best not to disgrace themselves and +to pay decorous attention to what their hostess was saying, while their +hearty young appetites were crying their protests aloud. + +At last came the new maid whom their hostess had described as 'so +utterly helpless,' looking to the famished girls an angelic being, +bearing about her an aroma of tomato soup and fried chicken, more +tempting than ambrosia. + +Without any perceptible hesitation, the girls immediately began to eat +and continued the agreeable occupation without interruption to the end +of the meal, save for an answer to a question or two asked by their +hostess. + +The helpless maid was just bringing in an enormous layer cake to the +accompaniment of admiring glances from the girls when the sound of a +latch key in the door made the lady of the house look up with a start. + +"It must be my son!" she said, rising hastily, "if you will excuse me a +moment--" + +Then came the sound of a hearty greeting in a masculine voice, followed +by a slithery sound of wet clothing. Evidently the newcomer was +divesting himself of some uncomfortably damp apparel. They could hear +his mother speaking in a low voice--probably she was preparing him to +meet the unexpected guests. + +"By Jove! did you say two cars?" they heard him exclaim, and it suddenly +seemed to them there was something familiar about his voice. "Now I +wonder--all right, Mother. Just give me a minute to get some dry +clothes on and I'll be right with you. Gosh, but I'm starved!" + +The girls smiled sympathetically, for was it only half an hour ago they +had been in that identically uncomfortable state. + +"I bet he's nice," said Mollie to Betty, in a whisper just before their +hostess once more entered the room. "Anybody with an appetite like that, +has to be." + +"Oh, you shouldn't have waited for me," said the lady, noting that the +ice cream that had followed hard on the heels of the chocolate cake had +begun to melt. "I don't know what to do with that boy," she added, +smiling with a mixture of irritation and fond indulgence. "When he gets +out on his motorcycle, miles mean nothing to him and time means less. He +is always late to dinner." + +"I shouldn't think he would have found the riding very pleasant +to-night," said Betty smiling. "In fact, it is a wonder he could ride at +all--the roads are almost impassable." + +"Quite impassable, you mean," put in Mollie. + +"Oh, he has conquered that difficulty," their hostess explained, her +eyes once more lighting with pride in her son. "He has a sort of path +through the woods, which, while it perhaps lacks the comforts of a state +road, at least is not inches deep in mud. He did get caught that way +once and was several hours coming a few miles." + +"She said he rode a motorcycle," remarked Grace to Mollie with apparent +irrelevance as the lady turned to speak to Mrs. Ford. + +"Well, what about it?" inquired Mollie, as she proceeded with wonderful +concentration to spear one last small but delicious piece of chocolate +on the end of her fork. + +"Doesn't that convey anything to your benighted mind?" Grace was +drawling sarcastically when Betty leaned toward her eagerly. + +"I thought his voice sounded familiar," she said. "Of course we know who +he is now." + +"Good evening, everybody," said the familiar voice, and they turned to +find its owner strolling toward them across the room. + +"Mr. Joe Barnes!" cried Mollie impulsively, then checked herself and +slowly grew red. + +"That's who," sang out Joe Barnes slangily, and in the laughter and +greetings that followed Mollie forgot her embarrassment. + +Only Joe Barnes' mother looked completely surprised and taken aback. + +"You know each other, then," she rather stated than asked as there was a +lull in the conversation. "I had no idea--" + +"Of course you hadn't," agreed her son, as he took the vacant seat +beside her and turned upon her a pair of very handsome laughing eyes. "I +didn't either until a few minutes ago, and we haven't been acquainted +more than a few hours." + +"Your son did us the favor of helping us out of a difficulty this +afternoon," Mrs. Ford explained, taking pity on the lady's bewilderment. +"To be explicit, he performed the very disagreeable operation of putting +a new tire on the front wheel of our car." + +"Oh, so that's it," laughed Mrs. Barnes. + +"Mother, what do you say to cutting out ceremony and getting down to +brass tacks?" put in Joe Barnes, eyeing hungrily the plate of steaming +soup the maid had set before him. + +"We don't serve them," said his mother demurely. "But I shouldn't wonder +if what we have would prove more digestible." + +So Joe Barnes entertained them with fun and jokes while he devoured the +different courses with a thoroughness that awoke the admiration of the +girls. + +But no matter how conscientiously Joe did justice to the good things set +before him, there was not a moment when he was not conscious of +Betty--Betty on the other side of the table, dimpling and sending him +back sally for sally with ready wit. What lucky chance had prompted +nature to send a thunderstorm that afternoon? The jolly old lady was +certainly on his side! + +Then when Joe had decided that nothing remained to devour, the party +adjourned to the living room, where the former put some records on the +phonograph. + +The Barnes had a collection of very wonderful records, and for more than +an hour the girls sat entranced as, one by one, Joe produced for their +enjoyment, the greatest artists of the musical world. + +Finally some one suggested that Betty play some of the songs they had +loved in those service-filled days at the Hostess House. As the girlish +voices rang out in one patriotic song after another, Joe Barnes, who was +seated on the edge of a table with one foot swinging idly, fidgeted +uneasily, while over his face came a sober, almost sullen expression. + +"Gee, I wish they wouldn't!" he murmured to himself. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +MYSTERY + + +Betty presently broke into the opening strains of "There's a long, long +road awinding," and the girlish voices took it up eagerly. They put into +the melody all the pathos and longing of their hearts. They forgot where +they were, the pleasant room faded away, and they saw only a sinister +gray line of trenches, trenches that were death traps for the flowering +youth of America. They were singing to the boys, their boys, and as she +listened Mrs. Ford's eyes filled with tears. + +Nor was she the only one of that little audience who could not listen to +the song unmoved. Joe Barnes felt a great, unaccustomed lump rising in +his throat, and as the hot tears stung his eyes he rose hastily and +stood staring at, though not seeing, a great picture of some illustrious +ancestor that hung over the mantel. + +And Mrs. Barnes, looking at her son, pressed a hand over her heart, as +though to still a hurt, while in her eyes grew a look of yearning. + +"My poor, poor boy!" she murmured over and over to herself. + +And the girls, all unaware of the emotions they had awakened, drew the +last sweet note to a lingering close and stood quiet for a moment while +Betty's fingers rested on the keys. Then-- + +"That was very beautiful," said Mrs. Barnes, trying to speak in a +matter-of-fact tone. "You girls sing wonderfully together." + +"We ought to," said Betty, forcing a lightness she did not feel, for as +usual she was the first to sense the tense quality in the atmosphere, +"for we have certainly had practice enough. We used to sing for the +soldier boys at the Hostess House almost every night." + +"Yes, but it was sometimes very hard to make _them_ sing," added Amy. +"Often they didn't want to at first. But they always joined in toward +the end, and the gloomiest of them went away with a smile on his lips." + +"They could afford to laugh," said Joe Barnes bitterly. He had left the +picture of his illustrious ancestor and had dropped down in his old +position on the edge of the table, leg swinging idly. But his expression +had changed. It was grim and hard. + +Betty, looking at him, suddenly remembered, and she could see by the +expressions on the faces of her chums that they also had awakened to +the situation. + +With horrible lack of tact, they had offended their kind host and +hostess. That they had not done so deliberately, helped their +self-condemnation not at all. + +They had sung patriotic songs, they had spoken of their work at the +Hostess House and of the soldier boys, while Joe Barnes, of military age +and seemingly in perfect health, did not wear a uniform. Even though he +were a slacker, it was terribly bad taste to tell him so in his own +home, while accepting his, or his mother's, hospitality. + +And something deep down in their hearts, intuition, perhaps, perhaps a +sort of sixth sense born of their wide experience of boys of all ages, +told them that he was not a slacker. There must be some reason, some +real excuse for his behavior. + +"Won't you sing some more?" asked their hostess in an attempt to relieve +the situation, while she kept one eye anxiously on her son. "Surely you +haven't finished." + +"I'm afraid we have," said Betty, with a gay little laugh, "for the very +good reason that we don't know any more songs to sing." + +"And we want to hear some more real music," added Mollie, gamely +following her lead. "That is, if you are not tired." + +"Oh, no, music never tires us," returned Mrs. Barnes, adding, with a +little entreating glance at her son: "Will you put on another record, +dear--something light and merry this time?" + +"How about some dance music?" queried Joe pleasantly. He was very much +ashamed of his weakness and ill temper, and was determined to make up +for it. "That's about the lightest and merriest we have." + +The girls assented eagerly, and in a few minutes the unpleasant episode +was forgotten--or apparently forgotten. At least, for the time being it +was relegated to the background, and it was not till some time later +that Joe unexpectedly broached it to Betty. + +The drenching downpour had changed to a sort of dismal drizzle and Mrs. +Ford, upon remarking this fact had made the suggestion that they get +into the machines again and try to make Bensington. But Mrs. Barnes had +so promptly and emphatically negatived this that there was really no +room left for argument. + +"Why, even with dry roads it would take you two hours or more to get +there, for at all times the road is bad between here and Bensington, but +such a thing is simply out of the question with roads that are two feet +deep in mud. No, you must stay for the night. I have plenty of room and +am more than delighted to have you. No, please don't object, for I will +not hear of your doing otherwise." + +And so it had been settled, much to everybody's satisfaction. + +However, Betty was very much surprised when, in the midst of a beautiful +dance with Joe Barnes--for Joe was a rather wonderful dancer--the latter +whirled her off toward a window seat in one corner of the room and +placed her, a little breathless, upon it. + +"Well," she said, that unconquerable imp of mischief dancing in her +eyes, "have you any adequate excuse to offer for the spoiling of an +exceptionally good dance?" + +"Is it spoiled?" he asked reproachfully, as he sank down beside her. "I +thought perhaps I was improving--the occasion." + +She made a little face at him, incidentally showing all her dimples. + +"I suppose, if I were a coquette," she said, flushing a little under the +very open admiration of his eyes, "which I am not--" + +"I'm not so sure," he murmured but she pretended not to hear the +interruption. + +"I should deny that you had spoiled the dance. As it is," she flashed +him a pretty smile that robbed her words of all sting, "I'm telling you +the truth." + +"And I," he countered, "am telling you the truth when I say that if it +were possible to talk with you and dance at the same time, I should not +have brought you here. As it is, I choose the greater of the two +blessings." + +"It must be very important--this that you have to say to me," replied +Betty, adding demurely: "Perhaps if you would tell me all about it, we +could dance again." + +"In other words, 'get the agony over'," said Joe, with a grimace. He +waited a moment, while the girls, who had danced to the end of the +record, turned it over, put in a new needle and started off all over +again. + +"I don't know whether it will seem important to you or not," he said at +last, turning slowly toward her. "But what I have to tell you is just +about the most important thing in life to me." + +The tone as well as the words sobered Betty, and she turned to him +earnestly. + +"I shall be very glad to hear it then," she said simply. + +"I--you--it's rather hard to begin," he stammered, then straightened up +and faced her frankly. + +"The truth is, I can't help knowing that you wondered when you first +saw me and am wondering now--as any one has a right to wonder these days +when they see a fellow like me in civilian clothes--" + +Betty started and the color rushed to her face. + +"No, I haven't--" she began, then stopped confused, remembering that she +had been wondering just that thing only a few minutes, yes, only a +minute before. "I mean I thought--" + +"Yes, it's easy to guess what you thought," he interrupted, +misinterpreting her sentence while the bitter look crept once more into +his eyes. "It's easy enough to guess what everybody thinks. But," he +straightened his shoulders and threw back his head, "I don't think +anybody will have a right to think that very much longer. You see," he +added, turning to her again and speaking more calmly, "I tried to enlist +at the beginning of the war, but they told me there was something wrong +here," he touched his chest, "with my lungs." + +Betty gave an involuntary exclamation of pity. + +"The doctor said it was just beginning," he went on slowly, "and he +said--he was a good old scout, that doctor--that if I got out of the +city where I could get fresh air, eggs, and milk--you know, the same old +stuff--that I might succeed in curing myself up in a hurry and get in +the game in time to bring in my share of helmets after all." + +"Oh, so that's why you and your mother are away out here!" cried Betty +eagerly, laying an impulsive little hand on his. "And you are well, +aren't you? Why, you must be! You look the very picture of health." + +Joe gulped a little, looked at the friendly little hand on his, tried to +speak once or twice and failed, then-- + +"I feel just fine," he said, striving to make his voice sound natural. +"I never cough any more, and I've got the appetite of a wolf--you saw +how I ate to-night--" a faint smile lighted his eyes and found an +answering one in Betty's. "Yet, I've been holding off for more than +three weeks for fear--just for fear--everything isn't all right. You +see, they've made a coward of me. I'm afraid of being refused twice." + +"Oh, but you won't be!" cried Betty, with honest conviction in her +voice. "I'm not much of a doctor, although I've met so many of them at +Camp Liberty and heard them talk so much about different diseases that I +feel I ought at least to qualify as an assistant," she paused to smile +at herself and he thought he had never seen anything so pretty in his +life, "and I would say that whatever your trouble has been, it is cured +now. I'm sure of it." + +"Hold on, hold on," he entreated a little huskily. "If I could only +believe that--" + +"Say, you two over there," Mollie's voice broke in upon them gayly, +"we've been trying hard to be polite and not interrupt, but the clock +has just struck twelve and we have a long ride before us to-morrow--or +rather, to-day!" + +Betty replied laughingly, but before she could rejoin the others, Joe +had whispered another question. + +"You really meant what you said?" he asked. + +"With all my heart," she answered earnestly. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +NEARLY AN ACCIDENT + + +"Look at the sun! Look at the sun!" cried Betty, sitting up in bed and +gazing joyfully out at the sun-drenched landscape. "Girls, for goodness +sake, wake up. How can you sleep, Grace?" + +Grace groaned and opened one eye. + +"House afire?" she asked sleepily. + +"Of course not, Silly. But the world is." + +Betty was evidently in high spirits, thought Grace, as she rolled over +and regarded her critically. + +"What do you mean--'the world is'?" she inquired grumpily, managing with +great difficulty, to open the other eye. "Can't you talk sense?" + +"Not on a morning like this," retorted Betty, running to the window and +thrusting her head far out into the balmy air. "Look, Lazybones, the +roads are pretty nearly dry and we couldn't ask for a more wonderful +day." + +"What time is it?" queried Grace, without enthusiasm. She was always +unenthusiastic before breakfast in the morning, especially if she +happened to get to bed rather late the night before. + +"Half-past six," replied Betty, turning from the window and beginning +hurriedly to gather her things together. "And we all agreed last night +to get up at six. I wonder if I'm the only one stirring." + +As if in answer to her question, there came a soft tap on the door and +their hostess' voice speaking to them. + +"Breakfast is almost ready," she said. "I had it prepared early +especially for you." + +"That was dear of you," replied Betty, adding with the greatest of +optimism, considering that three of them were not yet out of bed: "We'll +be down in ten minutes." + +Although the ten minutes stretched into fifteen, it is a tribute to +Betty's excellent generalship that the dressing of the other three girls +was managed in that time. + +But perhaps the aroma of bacon floating temptingly up to them had +something to do with it after all, for they all four boasted youthfully +unimpaired appetites. + +However that may be, the fact remains that in fifteen minutes from the +time Mrs. Barnes stopped at the door, four very pretty and very hungry +young girls gathered in the dining room, ready and eager for the day's +adventure. Mrs. Ford was already there. + +Joe was there too, looking even more bronzed and attractive in the +morning light, and Betty, glancing at him, could scarcely believe that +what the boy had told her the night before had not been a dream. That +splendid specimen of young manhood refused the right to serve his +country because he had lung trouble! She could not even bring herself to +think that other word, that horrible word, consumption. + +But there was one thing certain--she had not been mistaken in her +judgment of the night before. He might once have been the victim of +disease, but he surely was not now. + +Perhaps something of what she was thinking was reflected in her eyes as +she looked at him, for he returned the glance with so much admiration in +his own that she hastily looked away and became absorbed in the bacon on +her plate. + +It was a very merry breakfast and a very good one, and when the time +came at last for taking leave of their lovely hostess, they found +themselves unexpectedly reluctant to do so. + +"I wish you were coming with us," said Mrs. Ford, after the lady had +waved aside her thanks for the good time they had had. "I am sure you +would enjoy the trip almost as much as we would enjoy having you with +us." + +"I wish it were possible for me to go," Mrs. Barnes replied rather +wistfully, as they started down the steps to the waiting automobiles. +"It is rather lonesome out here," then, catching a glance from her son, +who was trying to carry three handbags at once, she added hastily: "But +of course I love it and would miss it awfully. Joe, be careful, dear, +you nearly dropped that bag in the dirt." + +"I always thought I'd make good in the juggling profession," replied Joe +ruefully, as he skillfully recovered the bag in question, "but I guess I +was mistaken. Where do these go, Miss Billette--anywhere?" he asked, +turning to Mollie. + +"Yes, just throw them in," replied Mollie, carelessly, absorbed in +testing out her engine. "Only leave room for Mrs. Ford, that's all." + +Then, as Amy stopped to speak to Grace, Joe escorted Betty to her little +racer and helped her into the driver's seat, though little help Betty +needed or asked of anyone. + +"It's rather a rough deal, isn't it?" he asked suddenly. + +"What?" inquired Betty, surprised. + +"Fate introduces us one minute, then snatches you away in the next, +before I've had time for more than a word with you." + +"Why, I remember several words we've had together," laughed Betty as she +settled herself more comfortably in her seat. "Is there anything +particular you want to say to me?" + +Joe started to speak, evidently thought better of it, and looked up at +her soberly. + +"I've already told you more than I ever expected to tell any one," he +said, and she stretched out an eager, sympathetic little hand to him. + +"I know, and I have felt very proud of that confidence," she said +earnestly. + +"Then you will let me write to you and tell you how things are with me?" + +"Oh, I should be so glad!" she said, and there was no doubting her +sincerity. + +He had no more than time to flash her a grateful glance when Grace came +up and put an end to the conversation. + +Amid expressions of friendship on both sides and laughing farewells, the +two cars slid backwards along the drive and out on to the road. Then +with a purring of engines, the little racer leaped ahead with Mollie in +close pursuit. They were off once more. + +It was as Betty had said. The long clear night and the bright morning +sunshine had done much toward drying the roads and though they were +still rather sticky and slippery, the girls had no difficulty in keeping +up a good rate of speed. + +"This is something like," cried Grace, as she stretched both arms above +her head and breathed deep of the balmy air. "I could be completely +happy if it weren't for one thing." + +Betty had no need to ask what that one thing was, and at mention of it +her thought turned involuntarily to Allen. Was he safe or had he +too--she shuddered at the thought. + +"Wasn't it strange?" she said, seeking to change the conversation and +the trend of her own thoughts at the same time, "that Joe Barnes proved +to be Mrs. Barnes' son?" It was not at all what she had intended to say, +and out of the corner of her eye she saw Grace turn and look at her +curiously. + +"No, I can't see that it's so very strange," Grace said dryly. "At least +I have seen stranger things." + +"Well, you know what I mean," retorted Betty, still absently. "He is +awfully nice, isn't he?" + +"That's what he seemed to think of you," returned Grace slyly. + +"Of course he did! Why shouldn't he?" challenged Betty, coming out of +her abstraction and smiling gayly. "I like me, myself." + +"That's the worst of it," sighed Grace, turning for consolation to her +inevitable box of chocolates. "No matter how awful you are, we have to +love you just the same. Look out, Betty," as the car took a curve on +three wheels. "Goodness! you're getting to be a more expert skidder than +Mollie." + +"Thanks," returned Betty, executing a bow whose grace was somewhat +impaired by the proximity of the steering wheel. "Willst hand me a +candy, Gracie, honey? Thanks. That's a good girl!" + +For a long time after that they were quiet, enjoying the swift motion, +the warm wind upon their faces, the fragrance of flowers and of moist +sweet earth flung to them from the depths of the woodland. + +Before they knew it, they had reached the outskirts of Bensington, then +Bensington itself, and were speeding through the queer little town +without a thought of stopping when a warning signal from Mollie's horn +brought them to an abrupt stop. Betty jumped out and ran back. + +"We'll need some provisions," Mollie called to her. "Unless you and +Grace think we can reach the next town by noon." + +"That's what we planned to do," Betty answered. "Grace and I thought it +would save time not to stop here--and we haven't any time to waste, you +know." + +"All right," Mrs. Ford decided. "Perhaps it will be just as well, for we +shall have to put on all speed in order to reach Bluff Point before +night." + +So Betty raced back to her machine and in a moment more they were off +again, fairly eating up the miles. As the roads grew dryer and dryer +beneath the scorching heat of the sun they made even better time until a +little past twelve o'clock they entered the little village of Hill +Crest. + +The place boasted nothing so magnificent as a hotel, but they managed to +find a little bake shop where the rosy-cheeked country woman who worked +there made them up some delicious sandwiches, supplied them with +tempting rolls and cake, and, wonder of wonders, set upon the table a +pitcher of fresh milk. + +When they had finished this rural but eminently satisfying repast, they +hurried over to the one big general store to buy a few supplies that +they would need that night. It was necessary to lay in only a limited +amount, as Grace's aunt Mary had thoughtfully left her cottage well +stocked and had informed them that eggs, chickens and vegetables of all +kinds could be had fresh from the farmers round about. + +Then they were off again, eyes upon that ribbon of road in front, intent +upon reaching their destination before nightfall. + +It was not till about four o'clock that they met with their first +setback. + +Betty had just rounded a turn in the road, horn honking for all it was +worth, when she found herself almost on top of a huge farm wagon. + +She yelled to the driver and put on her brakes hard, hoping desperately +that Mollie would not run into her from behind. Grace shrieked and +covered her face with her hands. + +It was a narrow escape, for when the car had finally stopped there was +not more than about an inch between it and the wagon in front. Luckily +Mollie had been warned by the noise of the horn, and had stopped her +machine just around the turn of the road. She and Mrs. Ford and Amy came +running to see what the matter was. + +Meanwhile Betty had recovered herself and was smiling apologetically up +at the frightened driver. His horses, startled by the noise and shouting +had tried to bolt, and he had had all he could do to hold them in. The +result was a slightly heated condition on the part of his temper. + +"I'm sorry," Betty was saying, her voice still tremulous from the +sudden fright she had received. "I thought--" + +"Yes, an' I thought too," he interrupted, in a gruff, rude tone that +whipped the color to her face. "It would be a heap better if some +folks'd think before they done things. Durned old gasoline wagons." + +And, still muttering, the angry man turned and whipped up his team while +the girls stared after him dumbly. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +OUTWITTING A CRANK + + +"Old grouch," cried Mollie, shaking a vindictive little fist after the +departing farmer. "If it hadn't been that you would have killed yourself +too, Betty, I almost wish you had hit him." + +"Well, I don't," said Grace ruefully. "Nobody ever thinks of poor me." + +"I guess we had better be a little more careful in the future," said +Mrs. Ford, a worried line between her brows. "Better to be a little +longer reaching Bluff Point than to endanger our lives and perhaps the +lives of others." + +"It almost looks as if we shouldn't have any choice," said Mollie, and +they looked at her in surprise. + +"Well, we can't hope to pass that wagon," she explained, indicating the +vehicle that was now some hundred feet in front and was waddling along +at a snail's pace. "There isn't room, with the ditch on one side and the +drop on the other." + +"It will be easy enough if he moves to one side of the road," suggested +Amy. + +"He'll move over if we toot at him," added Grace. + +But Mollie shook her head doubtfully. + +"I'm not so sure," she said. "It would be just like him to try to get +even with us by blocking the road." + +"Get even with us?" repeated Betty indignantly. "I might just as well +say I want to get even with him for being in the road when I wanted to +pass. How ridiculous." + +"Of course it's ridiculous. That's probably the reason he would think of +it," insisted Mollie. "I know these farmers," she added, nodding darkly. + +They laughed at her, and Betty cried gayly: "Well, we won't get anywhere +by standing here in the road. I move we follow the old fellow and see +what he's up to. And if he gets too ridiculous," she added, as she +climbed back into the car, "I know how I'll fix him." + +"How?" they asked. + +"I'll bump him," she responded ferociously, and amid more fun and +laughter they climbed back into the cars and started on again. + +"You know, even his back looks stubborn," remarked Grace, when, coming +close to the wagon and tooting the horn vigorously, the driver refused +to budge from the middle of the road. "I guess perhaps you will have to +carry out your threat, Betty." + +"Well, I declare if I won't," exclaimed the Little Captain, her cheeks +flushing and her eyes blazing at the stubborn insolence of the man. "It +would give me great pleasure to bump him clear down the side of the +mountain." + +"It's getting late, too," worried Grace. "Can't you do something, +Betty?" + +"Will you please suggest something?" cried Betty, exasperated. "There's +nothing in the rules for driving a machine that covers this difficulty. +I don't know what to do, unless-- Did you bring the pistol?" + +Grace started. + +"Goodness! you're not going to kill him are you?" + +"Not unless I have to," replied Betty, and at her expression, Grace +laughed weakly. + +"Yes, I brought the pistol," she said. "But it's down in the bottom of +the bag that is underneath all the other bags in the tonneau of Mollie's +car." + +Betty groaned. + +"And it isn't even loaded," added Grace, as an afterthought. "Mother +said it made her feel safer to have it along since there aren't going to +be any men with us, but she wouldn't have it loaded." + +"What good is it then?" queried Betty. + +"Just to scare people with." + +"Well, that's what I want to do to that--man," cried Betty, trying to +think of something bad enough to call the cranky farmer, who still urged +his team along squarely in the middle of the road and refused to give an +inch. "Only I'd like to scare him to death. My conscience wouldn't even +hurt." + +"It would be murder just the same," Grace suggested, with a little +hysterical laugh, "whether you shot him or scared him to death." + +Betty was silent for a minute or two, crawling along behind the wagon +while her blood boiled and her anger surged. For Betty came from a race +of fighting ancestors who were not in the habit of submitting to +indignities. + +"Grace, I've got to do something!" she burst out at last, gripping the +wheel so tightly her knuckles showed white. "It isn't so much the +valuable time we're losing, but it's an absolute necessity to show that +fellow where he--" + +"'Where he gets off,'" Grace finished slangily. "I know dear, but how?" + +Betty shook her head helplessly and just glared. + +Then suddenly Grace uttered a little cry and sat up straight in her +seat. + +"I have it!" she cried. "I know what we can do." + +"Tell me," demanded Betty. + +"Why, I know this road pretty well," Grace explained, speaking quickly. +"We're not much more than ten miles from Bluff Point." + +"Yes, yes," cried Betty impatiently. + +"Well, there is a short detour road that juts off from the main road +just a little further on, and after running parallel to the road for +half a mile or so, crosses it again." + +"Yes," cried Betty again, beginning to understand the plot. + +"So we'll take the detour," Grace finished triumphantly, "and come out, +in front of the farmer." + +"And then--" said Betty with a chuckle and a gleam in her eye. + +"The rest will be up to us," finished Grace. "Shall we know what to do +then?" + +"I'll say we shall," chortled Betty, adding with a glance over her +shoulder at Mollie's car that was creeping along some twenty feet behind +them: "Of course the next thing will be to tell Mollie. Will you run +back Grace?" + +For once Grace did not object, and without waiting for Betty to stop the +car, and indeed it was hardly necessary at the rate they were going, +jumped out and ran back, waving an excited hand at Mollie. + +Betty heard a whoop of delight from the rear, and in a minute Grace was +back in her place. + +"How far is it from here?" asked Betty, scanning the road ahead eagerly. +"I hope," she added, as a horrid fear assailed her, "that he doesn't +turn off on to the other road, too." + +"Heavens, I hope not! Oh, there it is!" she cried a moment later, as a +turn in the winding road brought the crossroads to view. "Now, if he +only doesn't turn down it!" + +Eagerly they watched and drew a sigh of relief as the driver jogged +steadily on down the main road. + +"Now's our chance," exulted Betty, as she changed gears with a +challenging roar and slipped off merrily down the detour road. + +Sullenly the driver watched them go and then with a shrug of his +shoulders, turned once more to his team. + +Gayly the two cars sped along the road, bearing four Outdoor Girls bent +upon revenge. The going was rough and bumpy, far worse than the main +road, but the girls never noticed it. + +"That was one time Grace had a good idea," Mollie was exulting as they +flew along. "I never thought she was particularly brilliant before, but +I have changed my mind." Then catching Mrs. Ford's eye, she added with a +little laugh: "You see that's the way Grace and I talk about each other. +Only," plaintively, "she says much worse things about me!" + +"It will be fun," cried Amy, her eyes shining with anticipation, "to get +in front of him and give that old crank a taste of his own medicine." + +"He certainly deserves it," agreed Mrs. Ford, for she was as indignant +as the girls at the man's insolence. "Didn't Grace say something about +pretending we were stalled?" + +"She did," cried Mollie gleefully. "And as luck, I mean bad luck, will +have it, the mean old engine will choose the very center of the road to +do it's stalling in. Bless it's little old heart," and even Mrs. Ford +chuckled with her. + +As Grace had said, the detour was not over half a mile long, and they +soon came out on the main road again. Then they backed the cars several +hundred feet down the road so as to effectually block all passage. + +Betty tooted gleefully to Mollie, and Mollie tooted gleefully back +again. Then they jumped from the machines and met in the middle of the +road for a consultation. + +"He will be coming in sight any minute now," Betty explained hurriedly, +"so we must decide on some definite plan of action." + +"That's easy," said Mollie. "One of us will get down underneath the +machine and pretend to be tinkering--" + +"Goodness, that lets me out," said Grace in dismay. "I wouldn't get down +in the dirt for fifty idiotic wagon drivers." + +"Well, nobody's asking you to," cried Mollie impatiently. "I fully +intend to put on my overalls and do it myself." + +"Better hurry up," cried Amy, who had been glancing uneasily down the +road. "He may come along any minute now and we don't want him to catch +us here." + +So amid much hilarity and giggling Mollie got into the begrimed overalls +and proceeded to wriggle her small self beneath the car. + +"I hope he hurries," she cried in a muffled voice. "It isn't exactly +what you might call comfortable down here. Betty, get off my foot," as +Grace wickedly stepped on her toes. + +"Just hear her," cried Betty plaintively. "Everything just naturally +gets blamed on me." + +"Well, if you didn't, who did?" queried Mollie fiercely. "Tell me her +name--" + +"Betty, Betty, don't give me away," pleaded Grace, at which the girls +laughed while a satisfied chuckle came from under the car. + +"I knew I'd find the guilty one," Mollie was beginning when Betty cut +her short with a warning cry. + +"He's coming," she said, adding, as she vainly tried to straighten the +corners of her mischievous mouth: "And please remember, girls, this is a +very solemn occasion!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +BLUFF POINT AT LAST + + +Very anxious the Outdoor Girls looked as the grouchy old farmer came +toward them. Mollie was making all sorts of noises under the car, +apparently tinkering with its mechanism, while the girls kept up a +running fire of questions. + +"What is the matter, Mollie?" + +"Can't you find the trouble?" + +"Better let me get under and take a look." + +"If we don't get started pretty soon, we'll not get to Bluff Point +before dark." + +These and other remarks like them met the suspicious ears of the driver +as he jerked his team to a standstill. + +"Hey, what's the matter with you?" he hailed them. "Have you got to +stand right in the middle of the road? Can't you move over some?" + +At this Mollie wriggled out from under the car and stood up, facing him. +Her face was flushed from restrained mirth, but it might well have been +the flush of indignation. + +"If we could don't you suppose we would?" she queried, rather +incoherently. "Do you think I'm doing this for fun?" Then she abruptly +disappeared from sight again. The abruptness was caused by the terrible +fear that if she stood looking at that sour old visage another moment +she would have to spoil everything by laughing. + +As for the other girls, they were slowly turning purple in an effort to +maintain the solemnity demanded by the occasion. A strange noise from +beneath the car, promptly followed by a choked cough, didn't help them +any, and they were relieved when their victim turned his suspicious gaze +from them to the shallow ditch at the side of the road which was still +muddy from the rain of the night before. The only hope he had of getting +around them was to drive through this mud. + +Without a word or a glance in their direction, he whipped up his team +and started for the ditch. This was something the girls had not +foreseen, and they were of no mind to let him get ahead of them again. + +Grace and Amy flashed a distress signal to Betty, who stooped over +Mollie's feet, the feet being all that could be seen of her, and cried +with a peculiar inflection: + +"I think you must have found the trouble by this time, Mollie, haven't +you?" + +Mollie took the hint and scrambled hurriedly to her feet. + +"I think so," she said, then as her eyes swiftly took in the +situation--the grim old man already struggling through the ditch intent +on getting ahead of them--she jumped to her seat and started the engine. +"All right," she cried gayly. "Come on, girls, jump in." + +The girls jumped in with alacrity and Betty and Grace ran to the car in +front. Then while the man whipped up his horses and called to them in +terms far from gentle, the two cars sprang forward and were off down the +road. + +They turned once, to find the man urging his team to the road and +shaking his fist after the "gasoline wagons." The girls waved to him +merrily, before the turn in the road shut him from sight. + +"I guess that will teach him a lesson," said Grace, settling back +comfortably. + +"Shouldn't wonder," agreed Betty absently, adding with a rueful little +smile. "It was great fun, of course, but I hope we shan't meet many more +of his kind, or we'll never get to Bluff Point." + +"We're almost there now," said Grace. "All this part of the country is +almost as familiar to me as Deepdale. When I was a little kiddie, I used +almost to live with Aunt Mary." + +"It's wonderful how little children love the woods and brooks and all +wild things," mused Betty, adding, as the picture of Dodo and Paul, +hiding in the machines and begging to be taken along, came back to her: +"I almost wish we could have brought the twins with us. They would have +so loved it." + +"And we would have spent all our time trying to keep them from falling +into the ocean," added Grace dryly. "Besides," she added, "I don't +believe Mrs. Billette would have let them come. They are such little +mischiefs, and she is always afraid something will happen to them." + +"Yes, and they're good company for her," agreed Betty thoughtfully; +"especially when Mollie is away." + +After a few minutes of silence Grace suddenly clutched Betty's arm, +making the Little Captain jump. + +"Betty," cried the former excitedly, "we're almost there. Just around +that curve--" + +"Well, you needn't scare me to death," protested Betty, taking one hand +from the wheel to rub the arm Grace had clutched. + +"But I love it so," Grace cried, standing up only to be jerked back into +her seat as Betty swung round the curve. "It's such a wonderful place!" + +"Is that it up on the hill?" + +"Yes," answered Grace, standing up in earnest now. "Turn up the +drive--it leads to the garage at the back. And, Betty, the house stands +on a little bluff looking out over the ocean. Do you hear it--the ocean +I mean, not the house, Silly!" + +The road that they had traveled from Deepdale to Bluff Point had led +across country, Deepdale being in the interior, so that the girls had +scarcely realized how close they were coming to the coast. + +Now, as Betty stopped the car at the back of the quaint little cottage, +that sound of romance and mystery, the soft lapping of water with the +deeper undertone of waves against rock came up to her and she threw back +her head with a little bubbling laugh. + +"I don't wonder you love it, Gracie dear," she said. "I do already. It's +glorious." + +They jumped out and ran back to meet Mollie's car, which was puffing +like an old man up the steep grade. + +"The ocean! The ocean!" cried Betty ecstatically, as she opened the +doors and the girls tumbled out. "Do you smell it? Do you hear it? Oh, +girls, hurry up, I can't wait to feel it!" + +"Goodness, are you going to commit suicide?" cried Mollie. "If that's +what you want, I don't see why you bothered to come away up here." + +"Mother, Mother, give me the key, quick," demanded Grace, as they ran +around the side of the house and Betty made a face at Mollie. "You +haven't forgotten it, have you?" + +"No, I tied it on a ribbon around my neck," said Mrs. Ford, with a +smile. "I had no intention of forgetting it. Here it is." + +"Thank you." + +Grace fitted the key in the lock and opened the door, but when she +turned, expecting to find the girls at her back, she found that they had +deserted her. + +They were standing, gazing out over a gleaming white stretch of sand to +the shimmering water beyond, absolutely oblivious to everything but the +beauty of the scene. + +The bluff on which they stood sloped gently down to the beach below. +Once down there, the girls knew they would feel as though they were +isolated from all the rest of the world, for the beach was in the form +of a semi-circle, surrounded on three sides by rocky bluffs and blocked +off in front by the ocean. + +"How beautiful!" breathed Betty, as Grace stole up and joined them. +"We've seen a great many wonderful views, but I never saw one to equal +this. Just look at the reflection of the sun out there." + +"Blood red," murmured Mollie. "That looks like a hot day to-morrow." + +"All the more excuse for taking a swim," put in Amy, adding longingly: +"I wish it weren't too late now." + +"I'm afraid it is," said Mrs. Ford, seizing her opportunity. "We still +have to put the cars away and get our provisions and cook supper--" + +"Who said 'supper'?" Mollie demanded hungrily. "Mrs. Ford," she added, +as they started for the house, "won't you please make Betty make some +biscuits?" + +"But you make as good biscuits as I do," protested Betty. + +"No, I don't, Darling," denied Mollie, putting an arm about her chum. +"And, anyway," she added convincingly, "I can eat more when I don't have +to make them!" + +The girls were almost as pleased with the interior of the house as they +had been with its surroundings. There were odd little passages and +unexpected window seats such as Betty had dreamed of having in her own +little home some day. + +The thought brought back the picture of Allen as he had gone away, +gallant, hopeful, brave--oh, so brave--and involuntarily she uttered a +little sigh. + +"Please don't do that," said Grace, as they entered the room they were +to have together. "I'm trying my best not to be as gloomy as I feel. But +if you begin to sigh, I'll just have to give up and spoil the party." + +"I won't," said Betty, trying a little smile before the mirror and doing +it pretty successfully. "I didn't mean to that time, only, I was--just +thinking." + +"I know," said Grace a little petulantly, as she pulled off her hat and +threw it on the bed. "It seems to me that's all I'm ever doing--'just +thinking.' If I could only really do something! Some time I'll scream +aloud!" + +"Well, don't you think we're all pretty much in the same fix?" suggested +Betty gently, coming over and putting an arm about her. + +"I suppose so," she answered, eyes fixed moodily on the floor. "Only the +rest of you have only one to worry about, while I--" she stopped, +flushed, and began letting down her thick hair. "If I could only cry!" + +"I imagine that might help us all," said Betty wistfully, adding, with a +touch of her old gayety: "Perhaps I can arrange it after supper." + +"What?" asked Grace. + +"A cry party," she answered, and the absurdity of it made them both +laugh. + +In spite of the shadow hanging over them, dinner that night was a great +success. Everybody pitched in, and, having acquired ravenous appetites +on their long ride, did the cooking in record time, and of course +everything tasted ambrosial. + +After dinner they wandered out on the veranda, which was almost as big +as the rest of the house put together. It was a wonderful night, with +the moon so bright that it shed a magic silver radiance over everything +while the lapping of the water came softly up to them. + +Suddenly Mollie's hand slipped into Betty's where they stood together +looking out. + +"On such a night as this," breathed Mollie, scarcely above a whisper, +"there should be nothing but peace in the world." + +"Should be--yes," agreed Betty, a little bitterly. "But things are not +always as they should be!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE TELEGRAM + + +The morning dawned gloriously bright, and at the first ray of the sun +the girls were up and dressed and ready for the fun of the day. + +"I don't know what I'll do if our trunks don't come," worried Amy, as +she took a rather creased white skirt and waist from her suitcase. "I +brought only one change and a bathing suit." + +"Well, as long as you brought the bathing suit, it's all right," +returned Mollie, sticking one last pin in her hair. "I intend to live in +mine to-day." + +"And, anyway, we can't possibly expect the trunks till this afternoon," +put in Grace; "so I don't see any use in worrying about them now." + +"If they don't come to-day, either Mollie or I will go down to the +station and see about them," offered Betty, who was looking as sweet and +fresh as the morning itself. "We'll probably have to go down and get +them anyway, since we expressed them through by train and came by motor +ourselves." + +"Oh, well, who cares," cried Mollie, stretching her arms above her head +and breathing deep of the salt-laden air. "When we get down on that +wonderful beach, that looks too good to be true, we'll be away from all +the rest of the world and we won't need any clothes but a bathing suit." + +"Mother's up," cried Grace, as they stepped out into the hall and +smelled the welcome aroma of coffee. "I thought I heard somebody go +downstairs a little while ago." + +"But we shouldn't have let her get the breakfast," cried Betty. "We +brought her up here for a rest, not to wait on us." + +"She probably didn't sleep very well," said Grace, thinking of Will. "It +really isn't any wonder." + +However, Mrs. Ford greeted the girls with a bright smile when they +entered the kitchen, and when they remonstrated with her for getting up +so early she merely laughed at them. + +"Why, I haven't cooked for so long, it's just fun for me," she said +lightly, but Grace's loving eyes saw how pale she looked and how sad her +eyes were when she was not smiling. + +"Game little mother," she whispered to herself. + +However, after they had cleared the remains of a remarkably good +breakfast away, they asked Mrs. Ford to put on her own bathing suit and +take a dip with them. + +After a minute's hesitation she agreed, and they ran upstairs eagerly to +get ready. They all had black suits, and all but Grace wore snug-fitting +rubber caps, designed more for use than looks. Grace wore a rakish +little Scottish cap affair that was immensely becoming but not at all +comfortable to swim in. + +"How do I look?" she demanded complacently, when she turned from a +prolonged survey of herself in the mirror and pirouetted slowly before +them. + +"Beautiful, but foolish," Mollie commented succinctly. + +"Do you really expect to swim in it, dear?" asked Amy mildly. + +"The effect would be altogether stunning," suggested Betty judicially, +her head on one side, "if you cocked it just a little further over one +eye so as to obscure the sight completely." + +There was a ripple of laughter. + +"Oh, you're all jealous," remarked Grace, not at all disturbed as she +turned back to the mirror once more to pull a curl a little more +fetchingly over her ear. "I might have known you would be." + +"Goodness, anybody would think she was at Palm Beach or some other show +place," cried Mollie, pulling her own plain little cap a trifle lower +over her ears. "If you expect an audience, Gracie, I'm afraid you will +be disappointed." + +"Here I am, trying to give you something good to look at--" + +But they would hear no more and hustled her with scant ceremony away +from the mirror and out of the door. + +"Come on!" cried Betty, taking the stairs two at a time. "Let's see who +gets to the water first. I'm betting nine to one on myself." + +"Goodness, she's as conceited as you are, Gracie," gasped Mollie, +following hard on Betty's footsteps. "Here's my chance to take some of +it out of her!" + +Grace and Amy, following at not quite such breakneck speed, came out on +the porch in time to see two slender, black-clad figures with vivid red +and green caps scrambling down the side of the bluff that led to the +beach. + +As they started after them Mrs. Ford joined them and they ran together +to the edge of the bluff. The slope was not quite so gentle as they had +thought on the night before, and Mollie and Betty were puffing +considerably when they reached the bottom--which they did at almost the +same minute. + +Then, fleet-footed, they sped across the sand toward the inviting water +beyond, while Mrs. Ford, Grace, and Amy clambered down the bluff in +their turn. + +At the bottom they turned, saw Betty and Mollie reach the water's edge +at the same instant--or so it seemed to them--and dash into the green +depths. A moment more and the two black figures were lost to sight and +only two vivid caps bobbed on the surface of the water. + +"Do you suppose it's quite safe?" asked Mrs. Ford. "I wish the girls +hadn't been in such a hurry." + +"Oh you needn't worry about them," Grace assured her. "Betty and Mollie +are regular fish in the water, and you know there aren't any mean +currents around here. The beach slopes gradually down so that they can't +get caught in water holes either, so don't worry, Mother," and she +slipped an affectionate hand into her mother's and received an answering +smile in return. + +And, oh, how good that water did feel! + +As they waded into it up to their waists, Mollie and Betty came swimming +back, shaking the water from their eyes and cleaving the big combers +with long, powerful strokes. + +"Well, who won?" Amy challenged them, as they came within shouting +distance. + +"Tell the truth," added Grace. + +"Both of us," yelled Mollie. + +"Or neither," Betty answered, getting to her feet and walking the rest +of the way in toward them. "We couldn't have done better team work if we +had tried. Oh, isn't it glorious?" + +"We don't know yet--we're not even all wet," returned Mollie, adding, as +a great comber came rushing toward them: "Come on, Gracie, here's a good +one. Let's get under it." + +And "get under it" they did, cleaving the water prettily, and in another +minute were up on the other side of the big wave. They shook the water +from their eyes and struck out merrily. + +"Don't go too far," Mrs. Ford called after them, and two bare gleaming +arms waved back at her. + +The hours that followed were just one long delight, and the girls looked +surprised and a little abused when Mrs. Ford reluctantly called them in. + +"Why, it can't be more than eleven," protested Grace. + +"And we haven't seen the water for, oh, ages," added Mollie. + +"Please, can't we have half an hour more?" Amy added. + +Mrs. Ford looked smilingly from one to the other and then at Betty. + +"Well, haven't you any petition to make?" she asked of the latter. + +"I was thinking," said Betty squinting up at the sun, "that Grace was +wrong when she said it wasn't more than eleven. It seems to me to be +after twelve." + +"It is," said Mrs. Ford firmly. "Quarter past." + +"Well, let's go!" cried Betty, starting toward the bluff. "I don't know +about the rest of you, but I'm starving to death." + +"But we'll want to swim again after lunch, won't we?" protested Mollie. + +"Of course." + +"Well, then," she argued reasonably, "we don't want to change our +clothes just for lunch, and we can't very well go up to the house in +dripping bathing suits." + +The girls groaned. + +"Then we'll have to wait for lunch until we've sat here for hours and +dried off," wailed Grace. + +"And she hasn't even a box of chocolates!" Betty mocked her. "It is a +desperate case, Grace." + +With another groan Grace sank into the soft, warm sand while the others +followed suit, looking so mournful that Mrs. Ford was moved to take pity +on them. + +"I dried off long ago," she said, adding, as they looked at her +hopefully: "I tell you what I'll do. I'll go up and open a couple of +cans of tongue and make some sandwiches and bring down the cake we +bought yesterday. And we can have some milk to drink, for I had the boy +leave a couple of extra quarts this morning. How will that do?" + +"Do!" the girls echoed, while Grace hugged her mother with vigor. The +eyes of the girls followed her gratefully as Mrs. Ford started off on +her work of rescue--at least, that is the way the hungry girls regarded +it. + +"You know, I have a better appetite than I've had in weeks," announced +Mollie, as she dug her toes into the warm sand. "I haven't been eating +much lately." + +"I hadn't noticed it," commented Grace dryly. + +"Well, mother did," returned Mollie spiritedly. "She said she was glad I +was going away because she thought the change would do me good. I really +should have stayed at home, I suppose, and helped mother take care of +the twins," she added thoughtfully. "I never saw two children with such +an absolute genius for getting into mischief. But when they're caught, +they're so cunning and dear and say such quaint things that it is almost +impossible to get angry with them." + +"They're adorable," agreed Betty, while all the girls smiled fondly at +thought of the twins. + +"Just the same," remarked Grace, "although I love them, I'm glad I'm not +their sister, for I'd never be able to eat a candy in comfort," and the +girls laughed at her. + +"It seems so wonderful and peaceful here," said Amy, after a short +pause, "and we seem so awfully far away from the rest of the world. It +almost makes one believe that the war 'over there' is a dream--" + +"Or a nightmare," interpolated Mollie. + +"Well, it isn't," said Grace, adding, as she dug her toes more deeply +into the yielding sand: "And if we don't hear more news of Will pretty +soon, I'll just die, that's all. I can't stand it!" + +"There's your mother," cried Betty suddenly, glad of an excuse to change +the subject. "I think she's calling us, too. Come on, let's go." + +Nothing loath, they got to their feet, shook the sand from their suits, +and hurried to the bluff where Mrs. Ford stood awaiting them. + +As they clambered up toward her they noticed that she looked excited and +was holding a yellow envelope in her hand. + +"The trunks have come," she said, as they ran up to her. "A big +lumbering red-haired fellow brought them from the station a few minutes +ago. He also brought this," indicating the envelope in her hand. + +"What is it?" they cried, a strange premonition of evil tightening about +their hearts. + +"A telegram for Mollie!" + +Mollie turned a little pale under her tan and took the yellow envelope +gingerly, as though it had been poisoned, or contained some T. N. T. +explosive. + +"Who on earth--" she began, then interrupted herself, and with trembling +fingers tore the envelope open. The girls watched her, wide-eyed and +tense. + +"It's from mother," she cried, then crushed the paper in her hands and +looked around at the sympathetic faces with eyes grown dark with fear. +"Girls," she said, "I--I'm afraid to read it--I--" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE SHADOW OF DISASTER + + +Betty put a steadying arm about Mollie and asked gently: + +"Would it make it any easier if I were to read it, dear?" + +"No, oh, no!" cried Mollie, then smoothed out the crushed paper and read +the telegram through while her face grew whiter and her lips closed in a +tense line. With a queer little sound in her throat she turned away and +handed it to Betty. + +"Read it," she commanded in a choked voice. + +Mrs. Ford put an arm about Mollie while Betty read aloud and the girls +crowded closer. + +It was a brief, paralyzing message the telegram contained. + + "Twins are gone. Were not home last night, and am + wild with anxiety. No need your coming home. Am + doing everything possible to find them. MOTHER." + +"The twins!" gasped Amy. + +"Gone!" added Grace, stupefied. "Oh, Betty, are you sure you read it +aright?" + +For answer, Betty handed her the telegram and turned to comfort Mollie, +who was sobbing bitterly. + +"I knew I shouldn't have gone away," she was saying over and over again. +"I knew I should have stayed at home." + +"But your staying at home probably wouldn't have made any difference," +argued Betty soothingly. + +"And by this time they may have been found, anyway," added Mrs. Ford, +gently leading Mollie toward the house, Betty at her side, while Grace +and Amy followed, mute with sympathy. + +"Yes; or by this time they may be dead!" sobbed Mollie, refusing to be +comforted. "They must have met with some accident or they wouldn't have +stayed away all n-night." + +"Maybe they ran away," suggested Grace, trying hard to think of +something cheering to say. "They've done it before, you know." + +"Yes," agreed Mollie, sinking into a porch chair and searching +desperately for a handkerchief in her pocketless bathing suit. "But they +always came home before night. I know it must be something awfully +serious to keep them away over night." + +Mrs. Ford was very much worried and disturbed, but she nevertheless +managed a bright smile. + +"As you say, they probably ran away," she said. "Only this time they +have wandered too far and haven't been able to find their way back. But +if your mother has notified the police, as she surely has by this time, +they are sure to be found. And now," she added, rising briskly and +making for the door, "since everything seems a good deal worse than it +is on an empty stomach, I'm going to give you some lunch and we'll +decide what to do afterward." + +Left alone, the girls gazed helplessly at each other. Mollie had stopped +sobbing and was staring moodily out at the ocean, her eyes and nose +swollen with weeping. + +"I'll have to go home, of course," she said suddenly, breaking a silence +filled with unhappy thoughts. "I don't know that I'll be any good, but I +can at least comfort mother. I'm sorry," she gave them a wistful, +apologetic little glance that went straight to their hearts and brought +the tears to their eyes, "to break up the party." + +"You darling," cried Betty, trying to laugh and not making a very great +success of it, "do you think we care a rap about our old party? Only," +she added thoughtfully, "as you say yourself, I don't see that you can +do very much good by going home." + +"I could comfort mother," repeated Mollie, in a flat tone, as though she +were repeating a lesson. + +"But she said not to come," suggested Grace. "She said she was doing +everything possible--" + +"I know," interrupted Mollie, wearily. "Of course she would say not to +come. And I suppose," she added, dabbing impatiently at her eyes, "all +I'd do would be to weep anyway, and make things about ten times worse." + +"Do you want your lunch inside or out here?" Mrs. Ford asked from the +doorway and the girls jumped to their feet. + +"Here we are, letting you do all the work again," cried Betty +self-reproachfully. "I guess we'd rather have it out here, but we'll +bring it out ourselves. Please go over there, get into the swing, and +don't stir until we say you may." Betty had a pretty manner, half of +deference, half of _camaraderie_, with older people that made them love +her. Mrs. Ford patted her cheek with a little smile and obeyed her +command while the three girls ran into the kitchen to bring out the +sandwiches and cake that she had already prepared. + +And all the time Mollie sat motionless, staring out over the ocean, +apparently unconscious of everything that was going on around her. + +"Little Dodo and Paul," she said over and over to herself. "What has +happened to them? Oh, I must go home, I must!" + +"Come to your lunch," called Betty. + +After lunch Mollie began to take a less gloomy view of the situation and +hope, which in youth can never long be forced into the background, began +to revive. + +"In the first place," Betty argued, as she began to clear away the +dishes and Amy rose to help her, "it couldn't have been an accident, or +your mother would have read about it in the papers. The children are old +enough to tell their names and where they live." + +"I know," said Mollie, while the troublesome tears welled to her eyes +again. "But it's possible they may have been unconscious, and then they +wouldn't be able to tell anything." + +"But there would have been at least an announcement describing the +children," Amy argued in support of Betty. + +"And, anyway, pretty nearly everybody in Deepdale knows the twins," +Grace added. + +"Well, then, there are only two or three things left that might have +happened," said Mollie, her lips quivering. "It's barely possible they +may have wandered off into the woods and gotten lost. In that case +somebody will have to hurry up and find them or they will just stay +there and s-starve! And that's almost worse than being run over." + +"Well, with everybody in Deepdale, civilians as well as police, +searching for them," said Betty confidently, "I don't think there is +very much chance of their starving to death. If that's the solution, I +shouldn't wonder but that they are safe at home now with everybody +rejoicing." + +Mollie's face brightened a little at this picture, but almost +immediately clouded over again. + +"But we don't know that," she said. "And until we do, I'm not going to +let myself get too happy." + +"I wonder," she said suddenly, after the girls had cleared away the +lunch and had perched themselves on the porch railing, "just what I +ought to do first. Send a telegram to mother, I suppose," answering her +own question. + +"Yes, I think I would," said Betty, adding, as Mollie got up with +characteristic impulsiveness and started for the house: "Do you mind +telling us what you are going to say in it--about going home, I mean?" + +Mollie paused uncertainly. + +"I--I don't just know," she admitted. "One minute I think there's no +question but what I ought to go, and the next, I wonder if I wouldn't +only be in the way." + +"There's another thing to consider," Mrs. Ford put in. "It is almost a +certainty that the children will be found in a day or two, perhaps are +found already, and in that case you would have all your trip for +nothing. I don't like to advise--" + +"Oh, please do," Mollie begged, adding with a pathetic little smile: "I +feel so awfully lonesome, trying to decide everything all by myself." + +"You poor little girl," said the woman tenderly, then fearing lest +sympathy would only make the girl feel worse, added hurriedly: "In that +case I should most strongly advise that you wait a day or two at least +and give things a chance to straighten out. At the end of that time, if +they haven't been found and you still think you ought to go, we'll pack +up everything and go along with you, of course." + +"That's what I'll do then," agreed Mollie, relieved to have the question +settled for her. "And now," she added, making for the door once more, +"I'm going to get into my street things and wiz down to that station in +record time. Who wants to come with me?" + +It seemed everybody did, and in a very short time the girls had changed +from their bathing suits to their street clothes and were ready for the +dash to the station, which was about two miles from their house. + +They all climbed into Mollie's car, and the big machine started slowly +backward down the steep incline. + +"Better hold on," Mollie warned them. "I've never done quite so steep a +hill as this backward, and the old boy may balk. Take your time, old +man," addressing the car, as it showed a tendency to pick up speed too +rapidly. "Of course we're in a hurry, but we don't want to land on our +ears. That's the way--gently now. All right--we're off!" as they reached +the foot of the hill in safety and swung around into the road. "Now +let's see how long it will take you to reach that station." + +As a matter of fact, it took scarcely any time at all, for the demon of +speed seemed to have taken possession of Mollie, and she drove so +recklessly that even the girls, who were used to her daring, were +startled. + +Yet something about the young driver's straight little back and tightly +compressed lips kept them from protesting. + +However, the wild ride came to an end without accident, and the girls +tumbled out of the machine and on to the station platform. They looked +about them, but the only person in sight was an unpromising looking +person with a bald head--though he could not have been over +thirty-five--beaked nose, and small red-rimmed eyes. + +This decidedly unattractive individual lounged against the door of the +waiting room and eyed the girls with insolent admiration. + +"Anything I can do for you?" he asked, as he saw that they hesitated. +"Always willing to oblige the ladies," he added. + +The girls exchanged a glance, then Betty approached the lounger who had +the grace to straighten up as she addressed him. + +"We want to send a telegram," she explained coldly. "We understood we +could send one from here." + +"Sure! That's me," he responded with alacrity. "Right this way, ladies." + +The girls followed him reluctantly into a little square booth-like +place, and Mollie scribbled a telegram on the blank he gave her. Then +they hurried out to the machine again. A little way down the road Amy +turned and looked back. The fellow had resumed his lounging position and +was looking after them with his little red-rimmed eyes. + +"Ugh! wasn't he awful?" said Betty, as Mollie rounded a turn in the road +on two wheels. "I'm glad we don't have to see him often, he'd give me +the nightmare." + +But Mollie did not answer. Her mind was once more on the twins, and she +was repeating over and over the same old question. + +"What has happened--what has happened? What could have happened?" + +"Betty," she said aloud, so suddenly that Betty started, "there's just +one thing we didn't think of as being a solution. It's strange, too, for +it is the most probable solution of all." + +"What?" asked Betty anxiously. + +"Suppose--" said Mollie, her voice so low that Betty had to bend forward +to catch the words. "Suppose they have been kidnapped!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +JOE BARNES AGAIN + + +"Well, we've got to do something. There's no use sitting around looking +at each other!" + +The girls started and looked reproachfully at Mollie. + +It was several days after the telegram had come which had so upset them +and their plans, and they were sitting dejectedly on the sand at the +foot of the bluff trying to read. The attempt had proved a failure, +however, and one after another the books had dropped to their laps while +they stared disconsolately out over the water. + +"What would you suggest?" asked Grace listlessly, in response to +Mollie's statement. + +"Can't we go in swimming again?" asked Amy mildly. + +"No!" Mollie was very positive. "The boy will be coming with the +provisions and letters in a little while, and there may be a telegram or +something from mother. If there isn't pretty soon, I'll go mad." + +"Let's take a walk then," suggested Betty. + +But again Mollie would have none of it. + +"Too warm," she said. + +"Well, I thought you were the one who wanted to do something," said +Grace, getting up and shaking the sand from her dress. "I guess the +trouble is," she added, "that you don't know what you want." + +"Yes I do," said Mollie, while the tears rose to her eyes and she shook +them away impatiently. "Only the one thing I want more than anything +else I can't get." + +"Maybe you forget," said Grace, while her own voice trembled a little, +"that I'm very nearly in the same fix." + +"No, we don't," cried Betty quickly. "But the only way we can hope to +bear the horrible things that are happening to us is to get busy at +something and try to occupy our minds." + +"It's all very well for you to talk," Mollie retorted, in her nervous +state saying something she never would have thought of saying under +normal conditions, "but nothing terrible has happened to you yet. Wait +till it does. Then maybe it won't be so easy to get your mind off it." + +The thoughtless speech stung, and Betty turned away to hide the hurt in +her eyes. + +"Perhaps you're right," she said quietly. "Nothing very terrible has +happened to me yet, personally. But perhaps you forget that we girls +always share each other's troubles--" + +But Mollie would not let her finish. She was down on her knees beside +her chum, penitent arms about her shoulders and was pouring out an +apology. + +"I ought to be tarred and feathered," she cried breathlessly. "I don't +know what made me say such a thing, Honey." + +"I know," said Betty gently, "and that's why it didn't go very +deep--what you said." + +"You're a darling!" cried Mollie. She gave the Little Captain another +bear's hug, then sat down in the sand again with her arms clasped about +her knees. "It's this everlasting uncertainty and the feeling of +helplessness that gets on one's nerves so. I always did hate to wait for +anything--especially with my imagination." + +"What's that got to do with it?" asked Amy, surprised. + +"Why, it--the imagination, I mean--just goes running around in circles, +thinking up all the horrible things that might have happened until I +almost go crazy. If I only didn't have to think!" + +"You never used to have any trouble that way," said Grace, with a weak +attempt at a joke that ended in dismal failure. + +"Isn't that the boy with the mail?" asked Betty after a minute, as the +rumble of an antiquated vehicle and a masculine voice addressing in no +uncertain tones a pair of invisible mules came to their ears. "Perhaps +he's bringing good news to us. Come on, we'll meet him half way." + +Relieved at the prospect of action, the girls sprang to their feet, +dusted off the clinging sand, and scrambled up the bluff. A minute more +and they were running down the hill pell mell toward the oncoming team. + +They had scarcely reached the bottom of the hill when the long-eared and +long-suffering animals rounded a turn in the road and ambled slowly +toward them. + +The driver, the same gauky, red-headed country lad who had brought them +their trunks, drew rein as the fleet-footed girls reached him and swept +off his crownless hat with a gallantry that left nothing to be desired. + +"I'm bringing your provisions," he began, adding loquaciously, for he +loved to talk and seldom got the opportunity: "Sorry I couldn't get 'em +to you yesterday, but Abe up to the store took sick and he says to me, +'Jake,' he says, 'guess mebbe you'll have to be storekeeper an' delivery +boy both to-day. Shake a leg,' he says, 'an' I might mebbe give you a +dollar extry. You never can't tell,' he says. He's that generous like, +Abe is," the boy shook his head sadly at the thought of Abe's +generosity, "that he'd give a whole chicken to a kid dyin' of hunger, +pervided he knowed the chicken had the pip." + +The girls chuckled at this last sentence, uttered with a sort of +ferocious sarcasm, even though they had been standing on one foot with +impatience during the rest of his long speech. + +Now, seeing that he was about to begin again, Betty cut in quickly. + +"It didn't bother us a bit, you're not coming yesterday," she said, +adding, as she leaned forward eagerly: "What we do want to know is--did +you bring any mail?" + +"Sure," he said, good-naturedly, reaching behind him for a small package +of letters which Betty took eagerly. "An' there was a telegram too, came +yesterday--" + +"Yesterday!" Mollie interrupted with a groan. "And I'm just getting it +to-day!" + +"But I was telling you," he started all over again patiently, "as how +Abe took sick and says to me: 'Jake--'" + +"Yes, yes, we know," interrupted Mollie, reaching impatiently for the +crumpled yellow envelope which he took from his pocket, smoothed out +carefully, and handed to her with maddening deliberation. "Oh, if +anything terrible has happened I'll never forgive myself for not going +to the station yesterday!" + +"But it was raining so hard, and we expected the boy any minute." Amy +thus tried to console her but it is doubtful if Mollie even heard her. +She had torn open the envelope and was devouring the message whole while +the girls looked at her anxiously. + +The red-headed orator, seeing that his presence was no longer in demand, +clucked to his team and jogged off reluctantly. A telegram is rather a +rarity in Bluff Point and they might have taken pity on a fellow and +given him at least a hint of its contents. But there, he didn't want to +know anyway--wouldn't if he could! Still, these out-landers were mighty +mean, close-mouthed folks! + +"Nothing," said Mollie, in response to the unspoken question of the +girls. "They haven't found a trace of either of them yet, but the police +are confident that it is a case of kidnapping and that they will be able +to round up the criminals in a short time. Poor little Dodo! Poor little +Paul! If nothing worse happens to them they will be scared to death. Oh, +if I could only get hold of those kidnappers I'd--I'd kill 'em!" She +clenched her hands passionately and her lips shut in a straight, grim +little line. + +"I guess we'd all be glad to," said mild little Amy, with a look in her +eyes that showed she meant it. + +As they started back down the road Betty suddenly remembered the packet +of letters in her hands. The excitement about the telegram had put them +completely out of her mind. + +"To think I could forget letters!" she marveled, as she distributed them +to their rightful owners. "Here's one for you, Amy, and two for you, +Grace. One for Mrs. Ford and one for Mollie and--and--two for me--" + +She looked so surprised that they paused in the act of opening their own +letters to look at her. + +"What's the matter?" Grace asked. + +"Why here's one addressed to me in a perfectly strange hand," she +answered, turning the letter over and over in her hand. "I can't +imagine--" + +"What's the postmark?" asked Amy. + +Betty looked and then colored prettily as she realized who her unknown +correspondent was. + +"Why--why," she stammered, amazed at her own confusion, "it's sent from +Bensington, but--" + +"Bensington!" Grace echoed, then her eyes twinkled as the truth came to +her. "So it's as bad as that, is it?" + +"I don't know what you mean," said Betty, trying to look dignified and +failing utterly, while Mollie and Amy continued to stare their +amazement. They had forgotten completely that night spent under the +hospitable roof of Mrs. Barnes, and even her son's engaging personality +had faded from their minds. There had been so many things to think about +and worry about. So now they both said together: + +"What in the world are you two talking of?" + +"Do you mean to say you really don't know?" queried Grace in a superior +tone. "Have you so soon forgotten our knight of the wayside, Joe +Barnes?" + +"Joe Barnes," they repeated weakly, then turned their astonished gaze on +Betty. + +"Well, I can't help it," retorted Betty, feeling vaguely the need of +defense. "I didn't ask him to." + +"But how did he get your address?" asked Mollie, still staring. "Who +gave it to him?" + +"I told him where we were going," cried Betty desperately, driven into a +corner. "But I had no idea he was going to write to me until--until--" +hesitating as a picture of Joe Barnes, standing beside her car and +asking if he might tell her "how things were with him" came vividly +before her eyes. + +"Yes. Until?" they baited her, forgetting for a moment the dark shadows +hanging over them in the fun of this unexpected discovery. + +"Until the morning we came away," Betty answered, seeing that she could +not get away from these pitiless inquisitors until she had satisfied +their curiosity. + +"Did he ask to write to you then?" probed Mollie relentlessly. + +"I don't see what right--" Betty was beginning spiritedly when she +caught Mollie's eye and ended in a little helpless laugh. "I suppose +I'll have to tell you all about it or you'll turn a simple little +molehill into a mountain." + +"Quite right," said Grace cheerfully, and even Betty had to laugh at +her. + +"Make a clean breast of it," ordered Mollie. + +"But there really isn't anything to make a clean breast of," protested +Betty. "He simply asked me if he might write and tell me how he--how +he--" + +"How he what?" they queried. + +"But I don't know whether I ought to tell you about that or not." Betty +was really in earnest. "You see, what he told me was sort of in +confidence." + +"In confidence!" repeated Grace, adding wickedly: "Now we know it's a +serious case." + +"Nonsense," said Betty, almost crossly. "He simply said he hadn't been +allowed to get into the army because of ill health, but now that he +felt well again he was going to try once more. It was that he wanted to +write and tell me about. And because I was really interested, I said he +might. That's all." + +"How romantic!" cried Mollie irrepressibly. "For goodness sake, hurry up +and read it, Betty, and relieve our curiosity." + +"I'll read it," said Betty firmly, "when I get good and ready, and not +one minute before!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +SERIOUSLY WOUNDED + + +They walked the rest of the distance to the house in absorbed silence, +reading as they went. Then suddenly Betty gave a little cry of +amazement. + +"I thought this was for me," she said, holding up a letter. "But it +isn't. It's for your mother, Grace. I don't see how I could have made +such a mistake!" + +But Grace only heard the first part of Betty's speech. The last of it +passed right over her head. + +"A letter for mother?" she cried. "Oh, give it to me, Betty. It may be +from dad. Oh, it is! It is!" she exclaimed, as she saw her father's +familiar writing. "He must have heard about Will. Mother! Mother--" she +broke away from the girls and took the porch steps two at a time, waving +the letter wildly as she went. + +"Oh, if it's only good news, if it's only good news!" Betty found +herself saying over and over again as she, with Mollie, followed Grace +into the house. + +They found Mrs. Ford in the living room, pale and trembling a little, +holding the envelope in her hand as though she dared not open it. Grace +had collapsed in a chair and was gazing up at her mother with such +agonized pleading in her eyes that the girls could not look at her. + +Then very slowly Mrs. Ford tore open the envelope. At the same moment +the girls seemed to sense that they might be in some manner intruding, +and with one accord they moved over to the window and stood looking out. + +After a wait that seemed interminable they heard Grace say in a +strained, far-away little voice: + +"Mother, what is it? Can't you tell me? I think I'll die if I have to +wait any longer." + +"Read it," they heard Mrs. Ford say in a choked voice, as a rustle of +paper told that she had handed the letter to Grace. "I can't tell you +dear. Oh, my boy, my boy!" And she sank down in a chair and covered her +face with her hands. + +The girls turned from the window and started to leave the room, for they +felt that the moment was too sacred for even them who were so intensely +interested, to share. + +Just as they reached the door they paused, arrested by a cry from +Grace. + +"Seriously wounded!" she read in a muffled voice. "Oh, Mother, for all +we know, that may mean Will is--dead!" + +They were startled by a muffled sob, and turned in time to see Amy rush +from the room. Poor little Amy! In the excitement and grief of the +moment they had forgotten that she might also be affected by this news +of Will! + +Betty and Mollie ran upstairs after her, leaving Grace and her mother +together. + +"And I was so hoping," said Betty as she closed the door softly and +Mollie flung herself on the bed, "that it would be good news." + +"Yes," said Mollie, staring moodily out the window, "it does seem that +everything terrible that can happen to us is happening all at once. I +wonder what's next." + +"There isn't going to be any next," said Betty, but in her heart she was +not so sure. Almost everyone in the world was suffering, one way or +another, and it was only to be expected that they would get their full +share. + +And as she thought of Allen a hot wave of fear went over her, leaving +her faint and sick. Out there in the very thickest of the fight, it +would be a miracle if he should be saved to come back to her. + +But he must come back, he _must_ come back, her heart cried over and +over again. Hadn't he said he would? And Allen always kept his word. + +Then she shook herself, and with an effort brought her wandering thought +back to this new trouble--or rather, confirmation of an old one. + +From the time Mrs. Ford had received the telegram telling of Will's +wound, they had hoped against hope that it had been a mistake, or that +at least, the wound had not been serious. + +But this new report from Washington seemed to put an end to that hope, +and there was nothing to do but to face the terrible reality. Will was +seriously wounded in some hospital in France, and, as Grace had said, +that might mean that even now he was in a critical condition, perhaps, +for all they knew, he had died out there away from all his dear ones and +the friends that loved him. + +"I don't suppose there is any use acting as though he were dead +already," said Mollie, breaking in upon her unhappy reverie. "There have +been several thousand wounded soldiers over there who have recovered." + +"Yes, only to be sent back again to the firing line and have it done all +over," said Betty bitterly, for, for a time at least, her staunch +optimism had deserted her and she was ready to see the blackest side of +everything. + +"Yes, it does seem that once a soldier has gone down to the very gates +of death, he should be exempted," sighed Mollie, adding dispiritedly: +"But I suppose if they made that a rule they wouldn't have any armies +left after awhile." + +"And the boys themselves don't want to be exempted," said Betty, feeling +a little thrill of pride in spite of her heartache. "Their one biggest +reason for getting well is to be able to get another 'whack at the +Hun.'" + +"Shall we go and see if we can cheer up Amy?" she asked after an +interval filled with gloomy meditation. "She is so brave and quiet about +everything that you never have a chance to guess how hard she is taking +her trouble. Poor girl!" + +"I do feel awfully sorry for her," agreed Mollie, shifting unhappily, +"but I must say I don't feel very capable of cheering anybody up myself. +I never felt so horribly discouraged in my life." + +"Well, it doesn't do any good to think about it," said Betty. "Maybe if +we try to make poor Amy feel better we'll help ourselves at the same +time." + +"I suppose it won't do any harm to try," agreed Mollie, rising wearily. +"But I wish somebody would lend me a smile for a little while till I get +mine back again. I might be able to play the role of merry little +sunshine better." + +She gave Betty a wry little smile, and arm in arm they started down the +hall to Amy's room. + +The found the door shut, and tapped lightly upon it. When there was no +response they rapped again, then tried the knob and found the door was +locked. + +"Whatever in the world--" Mollie was beginning apprehensively, when a +plaintive voice in the room behind the closed door interrupted her. + +"Who is it?" + +"It's we, Dear--Mollie and Betty," answered Betty quickly. "Can't you +let us in?" + +"I--I'd rather not," replied the voice falteringly. "I'm all right, and +I'll be out in a minute. Please don't worry about me. You ought to be +used to my making a goose of myself by this time." This last accompanied +by a pitiful little attempt at a laugh. + +"All right, Honey," Betty spoke sympathetically, for she had often seen +the time when even her best friend would have been in the way. "We only +wanted to help, that's all. When you want us we'll be in my room." + +Amy murmured something in reply, and they slipped back again into the +other room and closed the door. + +"I guess she feels it even worse than we thought she did," said Mollie +pityingly. "When Amy cries she is pretty well cut up." + +"Well, I guess all we can do now is just sit still and wait till +somebody wants us," said Betty, sitting down irresolutely and folding +her hands. It was this last action that reminded her of the letter from +Joe Barnes which she had not yet read. Although she had been holding it +in her hand all the while, she had completely forgotten there was such a +person as the writer. + +At her exclamation Mollie looked up rather listlessly. + +"That's so," she said. "You never did find out whether or not Joe Barnes +had been accepted. Tell me about it. I'd welcome a diversion--a cyclone +or a tidal wave or anything--if it would only get my mind off our +troubles." + +"I'll guarantee it would be effective," returned Betty absently, as she +took up the closely written pages. "It would be like burning yourself to +make you forget you have a toothache." + +There was silence for a long while, broken only by the sound of the +waves breaking on the shore and the crackling of the paper as Betty +turned page after page. + +It was a long letter, filled with youthful enthusiasm. In it the youth +spoke his pleasure in meeting her and his hope that she would not only +answer this letter but would allow him to write to her often. + +But over and above all the great fact stood out that he had been +accepted! The doctors had looked him over and declared him fit in every +respect to serve his country. + +As Betty read the last glowing sentence a sob broke from her and she +buried her head in her arms. Mollie went over to her quickly. + +"What is it?" she asked anxiously, putting an arm about the Little +Captain. "You haven't had bad news too, have you, Betty?" + +"N-no," sobbed Betty, raising eyes that were shining through her tears. +"I just love them so--all those splendid boys that are so crazy to give +their lives for their country, that my heart gets too full sometimes, +that's all." + +"Then I take it that Joe Barnes has been accepted," Mollie rather stated +than asked. + +"Yes," said Betty, feeling for a handkerchief. "And he is simply wild +with joy, Mollie," she added, while the color flooded her face. "The +Germans simply can't last long with that spirit against them. It makes +our boys indomitable!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +BETTY CONFESSES + + +Betty woke up the next morning with a sense of deadly depression +weighing her down. For a few moments she lay staring up at the ceiling +trying to collect her thoughts. Then the events of the day before came +back to her and she frowned unhappily. + +The whereabouts of poor little Dodo and Paul was still a mystery, and +Will Ford, whom she had come to regard almost as a brother, was terribly +wounded somewhere in France. She probably would never see him again. + +And there was Allen too, to worry about every minute of the day and +night. She had not heard from him in--oh, ages. Yes, it must be every +bit of two weeks since she had read his last letter. For all she knew, +he might be worse off than poor Will. + +"Oh, well," she sighed, and, turning on her side, looked out of the +window. + +There was no relief there from the gloom of her thoughts, for the sky +was leaden and overcast, looking as if it, too, were mourning for the +troubles of the world, and the surf beat loud and threateningly on the +shore. + +"Guess it's going to rain and make things still more cheerful," she +said, and at the sound Grace opened heavy eyes and turned over +restlessly. + +"What are you mumbling about?" she asked sleepily, closing her eyes +again and sighing a little. + +"Nothing but the weather," replied Betty, adding, with unusual +gentleness: "It's early, so you can turn over and get forty winks." + +"What has happened to you?" asked Grace, opening her eyes again in +surprise at this unheard of advice. Then as the full force of her +trouble came home to her she turned over noisily and burrowed her head +into the pillow. + +"Guess I will," she said in a muffled voice. "Don't any one dare wake me +up till they have some good news to tell me. I'm going to be another Rip +Van Winkle." + +"Goodness, I hope it won't be that long before we have any good news," +said Betty, trying to speak lightly. This would never do, she thought. +They simply had to find some way out of this terrible slough of +despondency before it mastered them completely. + +"I'm going to get up," she announced briskly, jumping out of bed. "I've +got to find something to keep me busy till that good news of ours feels +like coming along. I'm getting absolutely morbid just sitting around and +thinking." + +"Well, what is there to do?" asked Grace, rolling over and regarding her +listlessly. + +"There's the house to be put in order," Betty pointed out, recovering a +little of her old spirits, now that she had decided on a definite plan +of action. "And we never have really unpacked our trunks because Mollie +has been undecided about staying." + +"Yes, I know. And my clothes are a perfect wreck. I haven't a thing to +put on that doesn't look as if it had been through the wars," Grace +agreed. "Not that it really matters," she added indifferently. + +"Of course it makes a difference," returned Betty sharply. She was +determined to rouse Grace out of her lethargy, no matter what means she +had to take. "Don't you know that when you are dressed neatly and +becomingly everything seems brighter and more hopeful? And, anyway," she +added, watching Grace out of the corner of her eye, "it isn't like you +to be careless about your dress." + +"Well, it isn't like me either to go moping around as if I had one foot +in the grave and the other was slipping," retorted Grace, with a spirit +that showed the experiment had worked. "I don't think it's nice for you +to make remarks like that when you know how I'm feeling and the excuse I +have." + +"Nobody has any excuse for giving up and acting as if everything were +lost when it isn't," said Betty decidedly. "If our soldiers did that the +first time they had to retreat, how long do you suppose our army would +last?" + +"But Will isn't your brother," insisted Grace stubbornly. "If he were, +maybe you would feel differently." + +There was a moment's pause. + +"No he isn't my brother," returned Betty, knowing she was going to hurt +her friend but believing that the result would justify the means. "But +if he were I would try to behave so that when he came back he would have +a right to be proud of me." + +"Betty Nelson!" Grace sprang out of bed with her eyes blazing, "do you +know what you are saying? Do you mean that if Will should come back, he +wouldn't be proud of me?" + +"Not if you keep on taking your trouble lying down," said Betty, +sticking gamely to her guns, though she was a little frightened at the +success of her experiment. + +"I may," she thought to herself, "have done not wisely, but too well." + +However, after one outraged and enraged stare at Betty, Grace pointedly +turned her back and began hastily to pull on her clothes. She finished +dressing before Betty, and without a word left the room. + +"Now you have done it, Betty, my dear," said Betty making a little face +at her pretty reflection in the mirror. "I shouldn't wonder if Grace +would never speak to you again. Poor Gracie, perhaps I shouldn't have +said what I did, but I simply had to start something." + +On her way downstairs she tapped at Mollie's door and found that she and +Amy were both up and dressing. + +"Come in," called Mollie; "I need your help. Amy's eyes are so swollen," +she explained, as Betty obeyed, "that she can't see to do me up. Just +the middle one, Betty. That's a dear." + +As Betty obligingly did the "middle one" she stole a glance at Amy, who +was absently doing up her hair without looking in the mirror. + +"Look out!" she cried suddenly, making both the girls jump. "You nearly +stuck that hairpin in your eye, Amy," she explained, as they looked at +her reproachfully, "and that isn't the place for it you know." + +Amy smiled a crooked little smile and put the unruly hairpin in the +right place. + +"I'm apt to do anything to-day," she said, with a sigh that seemed to +come from her toes. "If any of you want to live, you had just better +keep out of my way, that's all." + +"Isn't it just wonderful weather?" said Mollie sarcastically, gazing out +at the leaden landscape. "Just the kind of a day to put the J into Joy." + +"If something doesn't happen pretty soon," put in Amy, with another deep +sigh, "I'll just naturally pass away. I wonder," she added, looking +really interested in the subject, "if anybody ever did die of the +blues." + +"I don't believe so--but there's always hope," said Betty dryly, adding +with sudden spirit; "Now look here, girls, something's got to be done +about this. We really will make ourselves sick if we don't try to look +on the hopeful side of things. It won't do anybody, least of all, +ourselves, any good to sit here and mope all day. We've just got to +fight against depression and cheer up." + +"That's all very well for you, Betty," Amy voiced almost the same +sentiment as Grace had only a few moments ago, "but you are the only one +of us who hasn't been hurt personally. Suppose it were Allen. Would you +feel the same way then--about cheering up and taking it bravely?" + +Betty flushed angrily, at the same time feeling a wild desire to go away +and cry. + +"I hope I would," she said steadily. "And if I didn't, I would surely +feel ashamed of myself. It isn't," she paused at the door and looked +back at them, "as though Will or the twins were dead. We have hope in +both cases, so I don't see any use of giving up. You talk," she choked +back a sob, "as though I didn't sympathize, as if I were an outsider +just because nothing has happened to--Allen--yet--" her voice choked in +a real sob this time and she fled from the room. + +The girls gazed after her unhappily. + +"Did you ever!" gasped Mollie. + +"I didn't mean to make her feel bad. Betty, of all people!" said Amy, +conscience stricken. "And of course she's right about our trying to +cheer up. Only, I don't want to, someway." + +"Betty's a darling," said Mollie thoughtfully. "But of course she can't +quite realize how badly we feel. If it were her little brother and +sister, now--" + +And so gradually Betty came to feel herself more or less of an outsider +with these girls who were so close to her. And it was all because they +misunderstood her effort to cheer them up and thought she could not +feel for them because nothing terrible had happened to her yet. + +"I'll show them," she told herself fiercely, "if anything should happen +to Allen--" But she shivered and turned away shudderingly from the +thought. Allen--if only she could see him for five minutes--just five +minutes-- + +Some way the days dragged through until a week passed, then part of +another. Still there had been no clue to the whereabouts of the twins, +nor any further news of Will. + +"And this is the wonderful vacation we planned!" said Grace with a wry +smile, breaking one of the long silences that had become common with the +Outdoor Girls these days. + +They were, as usual, sitting on the sand and trying to occupy their +minds with sewing or reading, yet always with an eye to the road in +readiness to rush to their red-headed combination of delivery boy and +postman whenever he saw fit to put in an appearance. + +Betty opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again. She had +learned that any suggestion she might make would be wrongly interpreted +by the girls who were engrossed in their own troubles, and so she had +wisely decided to say nothing. + +"I haven't heard from Frank for ever so long," said Mollie, as if the +fact had just occurred to her. "I wonder if anything can have happened +to him?" + +"I didn't see any name we knew in the casualty list last night," +ventured Betty. + +"Betty, is that what you read so carefully every night?" asked Mollie, +wide-eyed. "Oh, I don't see how you ever have the courage!" as Betty +nodded. "If I saw the name of anybody I--I--cared for in that dreadful +list, I don't know what I'd do." + +"Oh, I don't know," returned the Little Captain, while a wistful light +grew in her eyes and her lips quivered. "When I don't find--what I'm +afraid to find--I feel like a criminal who has been reprieved, and it +gives me courage to face another day." + +Then suddenly the girls saw Betty in her true light. Why, she was +suffering too! Think of her reading that awful list every night with +fear in her heart! And in the light of this revelation, her brave +efforts to cheer them seemed suddenly heroic. + +"Betty dear," Mollie moved over toward her friend and put an arm about +her. "Do you care that much?" + +A little sob of pent-up misery broke from Betty and she dropped her head +on Mollie's shoulder. + +"Oh, so much!" she whispered brokenly. + +Then everybody cried a little and the girls called themselves all sorts +of awful names for being "brutes" to their adored Little Captain, and +when the storm cleared up everything seemed brighter and they could even +smile a little. + +Then that night, when the little god of hope seemed about to take his +accustomed place in the hearts of the Outdoor Girls, there came another +blow, even more staggering than the ones that had gone before. + +As Betty was scanning the casualty list with terrified, yet eager, eyes, +she gave a little cry, half gasp and half sob that brought the girls +running to her. + +Her face was ashen pale, and she pointed with trembling finger to a name +half-way down in the column. + +"Oh, girls, it's come--it's come! Allen! Allen! It can't be true!" and +she dropped her head upon her arms, crumpling the paper in her hand. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +MISSING + + +Mollie took the paper from Betty's unresisting hand, smoothed it out, +traced her finger down the column and finally came to the name she +sought. + +"Sergeant Allen Washburn," she read in a small, awed voice, while the +other girls crowded close to look over her shoulder. + +"Dead?" queried Grace breathlessly. + +"No," Mollie shook her head. "He's among the missing." + +"That means," said Betty, lifting a face so still and white that it +startled the girls, "that he is either dead or worse than dead. I would +a thousand times rather he were dead than have him taken prisoner by the +Germans." + +"But we don't know that he has been captured--" + +"That's what missing almost always means," insisted Betty, still in that +strange, lifeless voice. "That," she added, as though speaking to +herself, "was the column I always read first, because I was most afraid +of it. I think," she got up unsteadily, and Mollie ran around to her, +"that if you don't mind, I'll go upstairs a little while." + +She started for the door while the girls watched her dumbly, not knowing +what to do or say. Then suddenly Grace ran after her. + +"Betty, darling!" she cried, her own grief forgotten in her pity for her +chum, "let me come too, won't you? I don't suppose I'd be any good to +you just now, but I'd do my best." + +"Let us all come, won't you, Dear?" begged Mollie, while Amy's eyes +silently pleaded. + +But Betty only shook her head, smiling a pitiful little white smile, at +them. + +"Not just now--please," she said. "After a while I'll--I'll call you." + +They watched her run upstairs and heard her door close quietly, oh, so +quietly, behind her. + +Left behind, the girls looked at one another with wide frightened eyes. + +"Girls, she worries me," said Mollie, speaking in a whisper, almost as +if there were death in the house. "She is so quiet and still. And when +one knows Betty--" + +"If she could only cry a little," said Grace, speaking in the same tone. +"It makes things so much worse when you keep them bottled up that way." + +"Betty's so proud and so brave," said Amy gently, as she sank into a +chair and looked up, wide-eyed, at the other two. "Only this afternoon +she let us see how terribly she cared." + +"And no wonder," said Grace, for there was real grief in her heart. +"There never was a finer fellow than Allen. He made us all love him." + +"But there we go again, speaking as if he were dead," protested Mollie. +"There is always hope, since his name is only among the missing." + +"Yes, of course; but it is generally as Betty said," returned Grace. +"Nine-tenths of the men reported missing are either dead or have fallen +into the hands of the Germans." + +Mollie shuddered. + +"Poor little Betty," she said. "The very thought of it is enough to +drive her crazy." + +"If she would only let us comfort her," sighed Amy. + +"I--I really think that if she doesn't call us in a few minutes, we'd +better go up anyway," said Grace nervously. "She looked so terribly +queer and unlike herself that I'm worried to death. Hark! Did you hear +something?" + +The girls listened, but all they could hear was the sighing of the wind +about the house. Then, far off in the distance, came a soft rumble of +thunder. + +"Oh, I hope it doesn't storm," cried Amy, shivering. "That would be +about the last straw." + +And upstairs, in the room that Betty shared with Grace, grief and fear +and horror stalked about unfettered and gazed upon the little figure on +the bed. + +So still and white and rigid it was that the girls would have been still +more frightened could they have seen it. For, propped on her elbows, +with grim, set face supported by her clenched fists, Betty was gazing +unseeingly out at the darkness beyond the square of window pane. + +"Somewhere he's out there," she kept saying over and over to herself. +"If he's dead, there's the mud and grime--" she shuddered "--and blood +too--rivers of it. But if he's captured--Oh, I can't think--I mustn't +think--" + +And then she would begin all over again-- + +"Allen is lying out there--" over and over again, till her brain whirled +and her head ached and she felt faint and sick. Still she could not cry. + +Her heart was frozen--that was it. And how could one cry when one's +heart was frozen? Oh, Allen! Allen! How could she go on living without +him? If she could only cry--if she could only cry! + +What was that? Thunder. The artillery of heaven! Did they have war in +heaven, she wondered. With a queer little laugh she got up and walked to +the window. + +A flash of lightning greeted her, illumining the world outside, flashing +into bold relief the familiar objects of the little room. She knelt down +by the window, regardless of danger, and lifted her face to the rising +wind. + +She welcomed the storm. It seemed, in some mysterious way, to quiet the +tumult within her. She stretched out her arms to it and cried aloud her +misery. + +"Allen, my Allen, you will come back to me, won't you, dear? You +promised. Oh, Allen, if you're alive are you thinking of me now? Are you +thinking of Betty?" + +A sharper clap of thunder seemed to answer her, and then quite suddenly +the ice melted from about her heart. Her head went down upon her arms +and great sobs shook her from head to foot. + +It was so the girls found her a few minutes later, and with cries of +pity lifted her to her feet and half-led, half-carried her back to the +bed. + +"We didn't know whether to come up or not," Mollie said hesitatingly. +"But we thought maybe you would need us, Dear. If you would rather be +alone--" + +But Betty shook her head and reached out an unsteady little hand which +Mollie instantly took in her warm clasp. + +"No, I want you to stay," she said, trying desperately to choke back her +sobs. "If some one will--just please--give me a--h-handkerchief." + +Amy slipped one into her hand, and Betty dabbed fiercely at the tears +which still would come. + +"Don't try not to cry, Honey," whispered Mollie, putting an +understanding arm about the Little Captain's shoulders and holding her +close. "Tears are just the very best things in the world to help one +through a crisis." + +"Yes," added Grace, gently smoothing the hair back from Betty's hot +forehead, while Amy sprinkled some toilet water on a fresh handkerchief +and slipped it unobtrusively into Betty's other hand, "we'll just sit +here and wait till you're all through." + +"Then we're going to take you down and give you some hot tea and toast +and love you a little," finished Amy. + +All of which loving sympathy very nearly caused a fresh outburst on +Betty's part. However, she finally got the better of the storm within +her and even managed a little smile for the benefit of the girls. + +Then she wiped away the last tear, sighed, and walked over to the +window. + +"The storm didn't amount to much after all," she said, after a while, +very quietly. "Perhaps," and her voice was very wistful, "it's a good +omen. We'll all hope so, anyway." + +"Betty, Betty, you're so wonderful," cried Mollie adoringly. "I never +saw any one so brave. You make me ashamed of myself." + +"Oh, but I'm not brave," denied Betty, turning back to them. "I'm not +the least little bit brave. I--I went all to pieces a few minutes ago. +But he isn't reported dead," she added, drawing herself up, while two +defiant spots of color burned in her face. "And until he is, I'm going +to hold on to the hope that he is coming back. Nobody can take that from +me, anyway!" + +"Now, you're making me ashamed of myself," said Grace in a small voice, +while the tears glistened in her eyes. "Here I've been imagining the +very worst, while you-- Oh, Betty, forgive me, won't you, Dear?" + +Betty looked at her in real surprise. + +"I haven't anything to forgive," she said. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +A NARROW ESCAPE + + +The next day dawned gloriously bright, and the girls chose to take it as +a good omen. Following Betty's example, they stopped moping about and +imagining the worst, and, although there was not a minute of the day +when their hearts were not aching, they managed to smile when the others +were looking and to speak hopefully of the future. Under Betty's gallant +leadership, they had set up hope in their hearts and refused to give +despair a foothold. + +"What do you say to a swim?" Mollie suggested, looking out over the +sparkling white sand to the inviting water beyond. "We've only been in +swimming twice since we've been here." + +"That is a terrible record for Outdoor Girls," Betty agreed. She was +bustling busily about the cheerful kitchen making a tempting blueberry +pie. There were circles under her eyes and she looked very pale for +Betty, but her voice was bright and cheery. + +"Can't you stop making pies for a few minutes?" asked Mollie, turning +to look at her. "It's too nice outdoors to waste time in cooking." + +"I imagine you wouldn't say that to-night," retorted Betty, fluting the +edges of her pie crust. "I notice you generally like the results of my +labor." + +"Who wouldn't?" returned Mollie. "I only know of one person who can make +better pies." + +"And that's yourself, of course." Betty made a little face at her and +slipped the pie into the oven. "Just for that you can have only one +piece to-night!" + +"I don't care, if you'll only stop working and come along," insisted +Mollie. "If I stay in the house much longer I'll start thinking +again--and you know what that means." + +Betty gave her a quick side-glance, hastily dusted the flour from her +hands and took off her apron. + +"I'm all ready," she announced. "Where are the other girls?" + +"In the living room, reading and eating candy--or at least Grace is +doing the candy part. Amy has sworn off, you know." + +The girls agreed eagerly to the proposed swim, and in a few minutes had +donned their suits and caps and pronounced themselves ready. + +"I ought to get a letter from mother to-day," said Mollie, as her feet +sank in the soft sand. "She said yesterday that the detectives had +picked up a clue and thought they were on the right trail at last." + +"Why didn't you tell us?" Betty demanded. + +"Oh, I don't know," Mollie replied wearily. "I didn't think there was +any use telling you until I had something really definite. You know the +chief business of a detective is nosing out false clues," she finished +scornfully. + +"Well, I know once we met a perfectly capable detective," remarked +Betty. By this time they had reached the water and she put one toe into +it experimentally. + +"Ouch--it's cold," she said. + +"When did we meet a capable detective?" queried Mollie, looking +interested. + +"Just after we went to Camp Liberty when Will traced the German spy," +Betty reminded her. "Did you ever see prettier detective work in your +life?" + +"Yes, it was splendid," Mollie admitted, but the reference proved to be +an unfortunate one. It brought back vividly the picture of Will as he +had been then, at the height of his triumph over the apprehension of the +spy--in which the Outdoor Girls had also played an important part--and +jubilant at the prospect of being able to join the colors at last and +fight in the army of democracy. + +Try as they would, they could not enter into the fun as they would have +done a few weeks before. They swam about languidly and found to their +surprise that they became quickly and easily tired. + +"I never knew before how much influence mind has over matter," said +Mollie, after they had come out on the beach again. "I declare, even my +muscles feel depressed!" + +"As Outdoor Girls we're getting to be marvelous failures," remarked +Grace, as she wrung the water from her skirt and plumped down in the +sand. "I feel as weak as a rag." + +"I guess it isn't much use trying to enjoy ourselves," sighed Betty +plaintively. "I've done my best, but all the time I feel as if I were +just trying to kid myself, in the vulgar vernacular." + +"For goodness sake, don't you give up, Betty!" cried Grace, in alarm. +"If you get discouraged, then I don't know what we shall do." + +"I'm not really discouraged--" Betty began, when a terrified cry cut her +short and the girls sprang to their feet bewildered. + +"Where is it?" cried Mollie, but Betty caught her arm and pointed with +shaking fingers to an orange-colored cap bobbing on the water several +hundred feet from shore. + +"It's Amy!" she gasped. "Something must have happened. Come on, girls! +Who's going with me?" + +Without waiting for an answer, she was off like a shot with Mollie and +Grace close behind. + +They had not missed quiet little Amy, and if they had, would probably +have thought she had gone for an unusually long swim. And now had come +her frantic cry for help. + +"What is the matter?" Betty cried over and over to herself, as she put +all her strength into the long, powerful strokes. Amy was a splendid +swimmer, almost as good as Betty herself. + +For one terrible moment the thought of sharks dashed into Betty's mind +and she shuddered. But the next minute reason reasserted itself and she +realized that sharks had never been seen on this coast. Baby ones, +perhaps, but not the man-eating variety. + +She raised her head from the water and gazed in the direction of the +vivid cap. Yes, there it was! Thank heaven there was still time. + +"Amy! Amy!" she called, "I'm coming. Just hold on for a minute, Honey. +I'm almost to you." + +No answer came back to her, and when she looked again for the cap she +found to her horror that it was gone. + +"Oh," she moaned, "I'm too late. I'm too late. Oh, Amy, Amy, just +another minute--just a little minute--" she redoubled her efforts and +suddenly gave a shout of joy. + +There was the cap again, almost under her hand. In her frenzy of haste +she had covered the distance with almost unbelievable speed. + +Her shout seemed to rouse Amy, who had been struggling feebly to keep +her head above the water, and the girl turned a terror-stricken face to +her. + +"Can you put a hand on my shoulder?" gasped Betty, beginning to feel the +tremendous effort she had made. "Hang on to me, Honey, and we'll get out +of this all right." + +Amy clutched her shoulder, and slowly the Little Captain turned about, +saving her strength for the long swim back. She could not be too long +about it either, she thought desperately. Amy was almost exhausted and +had all she could do to keep her head above the water. + +It all depended on her, Betty. If she could get to shore, carrying the +double weight before Amy's strength left her and she gave up altogether, +all well and good. But if she could not--she groaned and set herself +grimly to her task. + +She had covered about an eighth of the distance back when her heart +leapt suddenly and she gave a sigh of relief. There were two other +bobbing caps on the water coming rapidly nearer--and those two caps +could belong to nobody but Mollie and Grace. + +[Illustration: TWO OTHER BOBBING CAPS WERE COMING RAPIDLY NEARER. _The +Outdoor Girls at Bluff Point._ _Page 193._] + +That meant help--and, oh, she did need help! She was putting forth all +her strength, but to her agonized fancy she was not going forward at +all. Amy's almost dead weight dragging at her shoulder seemed a +nightmare. Yet she dreaded beyond anything else to be relieved of the +weight for that would mean--. She refused to put the awful thought into +words, merely driving herself on more desperately. And all the time she +was gasping out words of hope and courage to the poor girl she +supported. + +Amy seemed beyond words, for she made no answer, merely clutching +Betty's shoulder more tightly and holding on with a grimness born of +terror. + +Then just as the gallant Little Captain felt her strength going and knew +she could not hold out much longer, Mollie came abreast of her with +Grace a few feet behind. + +Mollie shook the water from her eyes, gave one glance at Betty's face, +then gave peremptory orders. + +"Give her to me, Betty," she directed. "I guess you're about all in. +That's it, Amy; grasp my shoulder with your other hand. Get a good grip +before you let go of Betty. That's the way. Now we're all right. Between +us we'll have you in in a jiffy. All right, Betty? Do you need help +yourself?" + +But Betty shook her head, her long steady strokes keeping her even with +Mollie. In a moment Grace came up to them and directed Amy to put her +free hand on her shoulder, and in this fashion they finally reached +shallow water. + +They found that they were not a moment too soon, for as they got to +their feet and stooped to lift Amy, they found that she had fainted. + +"Thank heaven that didn't happen out there," cried Betty, with a +shuddering glance out over the treacherous water. + +Between them, fatigued though they were with the ordeal they had just +gone through, they got Amy to the shore and began to work over her. + +It did not take very long to bring her back to consciousness, for Amy +had a wonderful constitution and strong vitality. However, it seemed +ages to the anxious girls who worked over her, and when at last she +opened her eyes they were ready to cry with relief. + +"H-how do you feel?" asked Betty tremulously, for she was beginning to +feel the reaction. "Are you all right?" + +"Don't try to get up," commanded Mollie, as Amy tried weakly to raise +herself on her elbow. + +"Just lie still and you'll feel better in a minute," Grace added, while +Amy looked from one to the other of them with wide, bewildered eyes. + +"What happened," she asked, then, as memory came sweeping back to her, +she gave a little cry and covered her eyes with her hand. + +"Oh, girls," she cried, "I thought I was going to die!" + +"Yes, yes, we know," said Betty soothingly, as though she were talking +to a little child, "but you're all right now, dear." + +"Don't try to tell us about it unless you want to," added Mollie. + +"I swam out farther than I meant to," Amy went on, as though they had +not spoken. "And when I tried to get back I found that something was +wrong with my right leg." She was shivering with exhaustion and the +memory of the awful experience she had gone through, but when the girls +tried to stop her she would not listen and hurried on feverishly. + +"It was a cramp I guess, and the harder I tried to get rid of it the +worse it got till finally I got panic-stricken. I called to you girls, +but you didn't seem to hear me. Then--" she paused, and the girls held +their breath as she looked around at them. "Then--I went down. I came up +again and called, and--and--I saw you, Betty. Oh, it was terrible!" + +"Then," cried Betty, her voice trembling, "when you went down that last +time--" + +"I didn't go down," Amy contradicted her. "I struggled so hard that I +succeeded in getting my head above water and--that was when you reached +me--Betty--" + +"Thank Heaven," said Betty, with a little sob, "that I was there!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +DARKNESS BEFORE THE DAWN + +"Well," said Mollie, with a sigh, "I fancy there isn't very much use of +our sitting around here in our bathing suits. I, for one, don't feel +like swimming any more to-day." + +"Nor I," agreed Grace. + +"And I," said Amy, turning away with a shudder from the water where she +had so closely come to death, "feel as if I never wanted to see the +water again." + +"Oh, but you will get over that," Betty assured her quickly. "I don't +blame you a bit for feeling that way now--I do myself--but after a while +you will be just as crazy about it as ever." + +"I don't know," said Amy slowly. "When you have once come face to face +with death like that, you are not anxious to do it again in a hurry." + +"But you have never had a cramp before," reasoned Mollie, "and you +probably never will have one again." + +"But I am not sure of that," insisted Amy. + +"There's no reason why you can't be sure of it after a while," Betty +pointed out. "You see, we girls are pretty well out of practice. It's a +long time since we did any swimming to amount to anything, and our +muscles are weak and flabby. Why, we all got tired out to-day twice as +quickly as we ordinarily would." + +"And you tried to swim too far," added Mollie. "That's the reason your +poor old muscles protested." + +"It might have happened to any one of us," Grace agreed. "All we need is +a little practice to swim as well as ever again." + +"Oh, do you think so?" asked Amy eagerly, while the color came back into +her pale cheeks. "If I could only be sure of that!" + +Betty was about to reply, but at that minute a voice hailed them from +the direction of the house and they jumped up to see what was wanted. + +"It's mother," said Grace. "And she seems to be waving something at us." + +"It's an envelope," cried Mollie. "It may be a letter from mother." + +She started running toward the house, with Grace, thinking of Will, at +her heels, while Betty helped Amy to her feet. + +"Are you feeling stronger now?" she asked. "Or would you rather rest a +little longer?" + +"Oh, I'm all right," Amy assured her, though for a minute she had to +cling to Betty for support. + +They made their way rather slowly after the others. Before they had +reached the foot of the bluff Mollie came scrambling down again and ran +toward them wildly. + +"What do you think has happened now?" she cried, taking Amy's other arm +and helping her along. + +"Oh, Mollie," cried Amy, standing stock still to gaze at her, "what--" + +"The twins haven't been found?" Betty questioned eagerly, but Mollie +shook her head. + +"No such luck," she returned. "But we have found out one thing. Those +blessed little twins are alive, anyway." + +"How do you know?" they queried breathlessly. + +By this time they had reached the top of the bluff and were all, Mrs. +Ford included, hurrying toward the house. + +"They received a letter," Mollie explained, sinking down on a step of +the porch while the others crowded about her eagerly, "from some old +rascal--oh, if I could only get my hands on him!" she paused to glare +about her ferociously, but they impatiently hurried her on. + +"Yes! But the letter!" Betty urged. + +"It was from a man who demanded twenty thousand dollars--" she paused +again, while the girls gasped and crowded closer, "for the return of the +twins." + +"Then they were kidnapped!" cried Grace. + +"Yes. But they ran away first," explained Mollie, almost beside herself +with anger and excitement. "And this old--brute! found them, and, I +suppose because they were well dressed, thought he saw a way to make +some easy money. Oh, my poor darlings! My poor little Paul and Dodo! +Girls, we've just got to find them, that's all. I can't sit here and do +nothing a minute longer." + +"But the police--" Amy suggested. + +"Oh, the police! Of course they are on the job--or think they are," +interrupted Mollie scornfully. "But I don't believe they will be able to +find our babies in a thousand years. And every time I think of them, +frightened to death! Oh, our precious babies!" + +"I wonder how he found out where they lived," broke in Grace, who had +been following her own train of thought. + +"They told him, of course," said Mollie. "Poor little trusting angels, +of course they would think any grown person was their friend. Oh, if +they had only fallen in with some respectable person instead of +that--that--" she could think of nothing bad enough to call the man who +had stolen the twins. + +"Of course," said Mrs. Ford--it was the first time she had spoken--"your +mother showed the letter to the police." + +"Of course," Mollie agreed, two angry spots of color in her cheeks. "And +equally of course they have promised to do all in their power to +apprehend the villain. But it makes me wild to just sit here and do +nothing!" + +"But I don't see what there is to do," said Amy. + +"Neither do I," cried Mollie, jumping to her feet and beginning to pace +restlessly up and down the porch. "That's the worst of it. I feel so +absolutely helpless. And all the time I have no way of knowing what +horrible thing may be happening--" + +"Oh, the man is probably treating them pretty decently," said Betty, +adding, reasonably: "If he hopes to get all that money from your mother +he isn't going to take a chance on losing it by harming the twins." + +"I know," cried Mollie, stopping in her restless promenade to regard +Betty. "But how in the world is mother going to raise any such sum of +money? Twenty thousand dollars--why, we haven't that much ready cash in +the world!" + +"But he doesn't know that," Grace pointed out. "And as long as he keeps +on hoping--" + +"But how long is he going to keep on hoping?" cried Mollie, turning on +her. "He knows mighty well that if mother had that much money she would +move heaven and earth to get it together and get the twins back. And the +very fact that she hasn't--" + +"Oh, but that doesn't always follow," Betty broke in eagerly. "There are +a great many people who, even if they had the money, would try to bring +the rascal to justice before they submitted to blackmail." + +"But not my mother," Mollie insisted. + +"But the kidnapper doesn't know that," Grace put in. "And he will +probably lie mighty low for a few weeks, knowing that the police are +hunting for him." + +"For the next few weeks, yes," admitted Mollie. "But he isn't going to +wait forever, and when he finds out that mother can't raise the money +what would be the natural thing for him to do? Get the twins out of the +way, of course," she said, answering her own question. + +"But there is always the chance--yes even the probability--" insisted +Betty, "that before very long the police will be able to find the fellow +and recover the twins." + +"Yes," Grace added, "that kind of criminal is never very clever, you +know. They are bound to leave something undone that will incriminate +them." + +Mollie groaned and sank into a chair. + +"And in the meantime," she said, "all I have to do is just to sit here +and wait and act as if nothing had happened. Oh, I can't! I've simply +got to do something!" + +"Well, I'm sure I don't know how a girl can do anything that the police +can't," sighed Grace, adding wistfully: "Goodness, wouldn't I like a +chance to be happy again!" + +"I guess we all would," said Mollie moodily. + +They were silent for a long time after that, each one busy with her own +unhappy thoughts and no one noticed that the sun had gone under a cloud +and that the wind was rising. + +It was the increasing thunder of the waves on the rocks that finally +startled them into a realization of the present. + +"There's a fearful storm coming up!" cried Grace, springing to her feet. +"Look at those banks of clouds." + +"And I'm getting cold," added Amy, shivering, and then they suddenly +realized that they still had on their bathing suits. + +"I guess we're going crazy--and no wonder," said Grace, as they started +indoors to change their things. + +"Has any one any idea what time it is?" asked Mollie. "I'm sure I +haven't." + +"It must be after twelve, for I'm beginning to feel hungry," Betty +answered. + +"And I'm feeling faint," Amy added. "I shouldn't wonder if a cup of tea +would go awfully well." + +"You poor little thing," said Betty, putting an arm about her. "No +wonder you feel faint. We should have given you something to strengthen +you long ago. I don't know what we've been thinking of!" + +"It's all my fault," said Mollie contritely, noticing suddenly how white +Amy's face was and how dark were the circles under her eyes. "I let my +own affairs make me forget everything else. Why didn't you say +something, Amy?" + +"I didn't think of it myself," Amy answered truthfully, "until Betty +spoke of being hungry. Girls," she paused outside her door to sniff +inquiringly, "do I smell something, or am I dreaming?" + +"I'll say you smell something," Grace answered, sniffing hungrily in her +turn. "It's mother getting lunch, of course. I don't know what we ever +would have done without her." + +While the girls were dressing the threatened storm was coming nearer, +and toward the end they had to put on the light to see to fix their +hair. + +Even had the sun been shining brightly, they would have felt depressed, +what with Amy's accident and the bad news Mollie had received; but with +the wind wailing dolefully and black darkness in the middle of the day, +they felt themselves growing utterly discouraged. + +Grace had heard no further news of Will, and the one straw of hope that +she clutched so desperately was that he had not died, or surely her +father would have heard. In this case, no news was good news to a +certain extent. + +And as for Betty, brave as she had tried to be since that terrible night +when she had read Allen's name among the missing, even she felt her +courage slipping--slipping, and began to wonder if after all, hoping did +any good. + +To-day, as she stood before the mirror, mechanically putting up her hair +and looking through and past her own reflection, her eyes suddenly lost +their preoccupied stare and became focused upon herself. For the first +time in days she was seeing herself without the mask of cheerfulness she +had so determinedly assumed. And as she looked, her eyes suddenly filled +with tears--tears almost of self-pity. + +For the mirror told her, what she had scarcely realized, just how much +she had suffered. Her eyes, usually so bright and merry, were dark and +brooding. Her face looked thin and drawn, and her lips--those lips that +had always seemed to smile even when her eyes were grave--had a +pathetic, wistful droop, and there were lines, yes, actually lines, +about them. + +"If Allen should see you," she told herself tremulously, "he probably +wouldn't know you, Betty." + +Yet all the while she knew that if it were possible for Allen to see her +or for her to see Allen, the face in the mirror would disappear as if by +magic and the old Betty would return, for joy would have taken its place +in her heart. + +With a little sob she turned from the mirror and switched off the light. +The noise of the surf beating against the rocks came to her menacingly +and the wind wailed shrilly around the house. + +"Oh, Allen, Allen!" she cried, stretching out her arms in an agony of +entreaty. "Somewhere you must hear me calling you. Allen, come back to +me, dear!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE SHADOW LIFTS + + +"I wonder if it is going to rain forever," cried Mollie petulantly, +beating a restless tattoo on the window pane. "As if we weren't forlorn +enough without the old weather making things a hundred times worse." + +"They say troubles never come singly, and I guess they're right," sighed +Amy. She was sitting near the window in the brightest spot she could +find--which was not very bright at that--knitting and trying her best +not to think of Will. The result was that he was never for a minute out +of her mind. + +"What's the matter, Grace--I mean more than usual?" Betty laid aside her +book and looked over at Grace questioningly. "I don't believe you've +said three consecutive words all day long." + +"And left to myself I wouldn't say that much," returned Grace moodily, +adding, as they turned to stare at her: "It seems as if I never open my +mouth these days but what I say something unpleasant, so I made up my +mind last night that I wouldn't talk till I had something cheerful to +talk about." + +"Then you're apt to be dumb till doomsday," retorted Mollie, with such a +depth of pessimism that the girls had to smile at her. + +"What an awful thing to happen to a girl," said Betty, with a wry little +smile. + +"I'm glad you didn't say what girl," retorted Grace, and therewith +subsided into her gloomy meditation again. + +Betty took up her book and Amy went on with her knitting while the rain +came down in torrents and the surf thundered and roared. + +Mollie turned from the window and looked at them, and the whole +situation suddenly appealed to her rather hysterical sense of humor. She +began to laugh, and the longer she laughed the harder she laughed till +she sank into a chair and shook with mirth. + +The other girls first looked surprised, then alarmed. + +Betty threw down her book and went over to her. + +"For goodness sake, Mollie, what's the joke?" she asked, as Mollie +looked up at her with red face and watery eyes. + +"If it's as funny as all that I think you might share it with us," added +Grace. + +"Oh, it isn't funny," gasped Mollie, "it's h-horrible." + +Then as suddenly as she had begun to laugh, she began to cry with great +sobs that tore themselves from her and seemed utterly beyond her +control. + +Alarmed, the girls soothed and patted and comforted her till finally the +storm had passed and she became more quiet. + +"You must think I'm a p-perfect idiot," she sputtered, raising swollen +eyes to them. "I don't know what in the w-world g-got into me. I just +went all to pieces." + +"So we see," said Betty, while she gently wiped Mollie's eyes with a +clean handkerchief. "But please don't do it again," she added +whimsically. "I don't believe we could survive another one." + +"But it's made me feel better," said Mollie, a minute later, as though +the discovery surprised her. "It's made me feel lots better," she added. + +"I wonder if we couldn't all try it," suggested Amy. + +"Yes, how do you get that way," added Grace, with interest. "I'm willing +to try anything once." + +"It--it isn't pleasant while it lasts," said Mollie, adding with a +suggestion of a smile: "And I doubt if I could give you the recipe." + +"I wonder," Amy suggested shyly after a little while, "if perhaps a +little music wouldn't help out. Won't you play for us, Betty?" + +"Oh, Betty, please!" Grace took up the suggestion eagerly. "It would +take our minds off ourselves." + +"Yes, do, Betty. You know you never refuse," urged Mollie, jumping up +and escorting the Little Captain to the piano. + +Betty obediently sat down to the piano, but her fingers wandered over +the keys uncertainly. She did not want to play. Music, good music, +always roused in her a feeling of exquisite sadness, a pain that was +akin to joy, and in her present mood she was afraid to play. + +But the girls had asked her to, and if it would make them feel any +better-- + +She struck a chord of exquisite harmony, and every fibre in her seemed +yearningly to respond. She had meant to play something bright and +cheerful, but almost against her will her fingers wandered into Grieg's +"To Spring." + +The elusive, plaintive melody floated throbbingly out into the room, +while the girls sat motionless, fascinated. They had never heard Betty +play just this way before, and instinctively they knew that she was +showing them her heart. + +She played it through to the last whispering note, then dropped her +head upon her arms and sobbed as though her heart would break. + +"You shouldn't have asked me," she said, when they tried to comfort her. +"I knew I couldn't play without making a f-fool of myself. It was the +one--Allen loved best--" the last words so low that they had to bend +close to hear them. + +"Poor little Betty!" cried Mollie, stroking her hair gently. "It was +selfish of us to ask you, but you did play it wonderfully," she added +with a sudden little burst of enthusiasm. "You had us all hypnotized." + +"And then I had to go and spoil everything by making a baby of myself," +Betty lamented. "Goodness, I've cried more in the last week than in all +the rest of my life before." + +"Well, you have had plenty of company," said Grace dryly. "Though what +comfort that is, I never could see." + +Betty sat up, dabbed a last tear from her eyes, and looked about her +with a weak little attempt at a smile. + +"Well," she said, "now that Mollie and I have entertained the company, I +wonder who's next?" + +"I'll recite that little ditty entitled, 'The Face On the Barroom +Floor'," Amy volunteered. "Some kind person wished it upon me when I was +too young to object." + +"Don't you dare," said Grace, alarmed. "If you do I'm going out, rain or +no rain--" + +"And get drowned." + +"Well, there are worse things." + +"No there aren't," denied Amy, with a shiver. "I know, because I tried +it." + +At that moment came an interruption in the shape of a sharp rapping at +the kitchen door. + +The girls looked at one another questioningly. + +"Mercy, I wonder who's calling upon us in this weather?" said Mollie. + +"It might be a good idea to look and see," Betty returned dryly, and ran +to the kitchen, followed closely by the others. + +She flung open the door, letting in a gust of wind and a flood of rain +as she did so, and a tall figure in a rubber coat almost fell into the +room. + +"Why, it's our delivery-boy-mail-carrier!" cried Betty, as the young +giant recovered himself and pulled off his dripping hat. + +"Yes'm," he replied, with a good-natured grin that stretched from ear to +ear. "The very same, an' at your service." + +"But how did you manage to get here?" cried Betty, too astonished even +to offer the unexpected visitor a seat. "You never could drive through +that awful mud." + +"No'm, I reckon mos' likely I couldn't," he answered amiably, adding +with a return of the loquacity that was his most marked failing: "I +remember one year we had a storm near's bad as this, an' Luke Bailey, he +got kind of short o' pervisions--campin' in the woods he was--an' he +tried to drive his team into town--" + +"But you said you didn't drive out!" Grace interrupted. "And if you +didn't drive, you must have walked all the way." + +"Yes'm, reckon I did. Well, Luke he got jest about as fur--" + +"But why did you come?" broke in Mollie, unable to bear the suspense any +longer. + +"I got this here package of letters," he replied, seeming suddenly to +remember the cause of his errand. "Some o' them came a couple o' days +ago, but I said to myself I might jest as well wait an' see if the +weather didn't clear up--" + +"And so when it didn't, you walked away up here in all the rain," Betty +finished for him, real gratitude in her voice. "It was most awfully kind +of you." + +"Oh, that ain't nothin'," he denied, fidgeting uneasily, while Mollie +hastily sorted the letters. "I ain't never finished tellin' you what +happened to Luke Bailey--" + +He was off again, and the girls were vaguely conscious of his voice +rambling on and on while they eagerly scanned the handwriting on their +letters. + +Then suddenly Betty gave a little cry and stumbled back against the +table, holding on to it for support. + +"Betty! Honey! What is it?" cried Amy. "You look as white as a ghost." + +"A letter," she gasped, holding out an envelope with the familiar red +diamond in the corner. She was shaking from head to foot. "Girls, oh, +girls, it's from Allen!" Then she turned and fled from the room. + +Luke Bailey's biographer stared after her stupidly while the girls +gasped and looked wildly at one another for confirmation of what they +had heard. + +"A letter!" she had said. "From Allen!" + +Then he was not dead--their dazed brains comprehended that fact. And he +could not be missing either. After a minute that stupefying fact became +equally clear. + +Then slowly they regained the use of their tongues. + +"Did you hear what I heard?" asked Mollie, looking from Grace to Amy and +back again. + +"I think I'm awake," Grace answered, with the same incredulous look in +her eyes. + +"She said," Amy repeated slowly, "that she had received a letter from +Allen. Then the report that he was missing must have been a mistake." + +"It looks that way," said Mollie, two spots of color beginning to burn +in her face. Then she turned to the boy who was still staring stupidly +from one to the other of them. Even the story of Luke Bailey had been +temporarily driven from his mind. + +"Miss Nelson," Mollie explained, taking pity on his bewilderment, "has +received the most wonderful news, and we can't thank you enough for +bringing it to her. Can't we get you a cup of tea or something?" she +offered, rather vaguely. + +But the boy refused, and seeing that they were all tremendously excited +about something, he finally took his leave, feeling very much abused +that his story of Luke and his adventures had not been listened to with +the attention it deserved. + +Once the door was closed behind this angel in disguise, the girls rushed +after Betty and were met and nearly bowled over by that delirious little +person herself. + +"He's not missing--never was!" she cried, waving the letter wildly in +the air, beside herself with relief and joy. "He's just as well as ever +he was, and Grace darling, and Amy, too, he says, he says--" + +"Oh, what?" cried Grace, her face growing white while Amy clutched the +back of a chair. + +Betty tried to pull herself together. She turned the pages of the letter +in search of a particular place. Finding it, she began: + +"He says that Will--Oh read it," she cried, thrusting the letter into +Grace's hands. "There it is--that paragraph. Read it aloud, Grace. Oh, I +think--I think--I'll die of joy!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +HIS THREE SWEETHEARTS + + +Grace's eyes filled with tears of sheer weakness, but she brushed them +away impatiently. Then she read, brokenly at first, then radiantly as +the marvelous truth came home to her. + + "'Poor old Will certainly did have a narrow + escape,'" she read, "'but thanks to the gods he is + out of danger now. I went to see him + yesterday--got leave for the first time in + weeks--and he was looking mighty chipper. No + wonder, with the good looking nurse he had.'" + +Amy gave a little involuntary sound and then blushed scarlet when the +girls looked at her. + +"Never mind!" cried the joy incarnate that was Betty, putting an arm +about her. "Just wait till you hear what he says later on. Go on, +Gracie." + + "'But do you know what that old boy said when I + happened to comment upon the excellent nursing he + must have had?'" Grace read on, while Amy tried + hard to look unconcerned. "'He reached under his + pillow and pulled out three pictures. "Those are + my three girls," he said, and I swear there was + moisture in his eyes. "You probably won't believe + me, old man, but there isn't a girl or woman over + here who could make me look twice at her unless + she resembles one of those," and he pointed to the + photographs I still held. + + "'And when I opened them there was Mrs. Ford's + face smiling up at me as sweet as life, and Grace + with her best Gibson Girl expression--you can tell + her from me that that is some picture of her--And + who do you think the third was?'" + +Grace paused again and looked over slyly at Amy, who turned away her +face, only just showing the tip of one furiously blushing ear. + + "'It was Amy Blackford,'" Grace read on, "'And it + was one fine picture of her too. Gosh, I didn't + know it was as serious as all that, did you, + little girl? But then the war does make a fellow + feel about ten years older than he really is, and + the girls at home suddenly seem the most desirable + and necessary things on earth. And Amy did look so + sweet and comfy and altogether like home that I + couldn't blame the old chap. + + "'Then I pulled out the picture of the most + beautiful girl in the world and we talked about + home and--other things, you know--until we were + ready to weep on each other's shoulders and the + handsome nurse put me out. + + "'Do you know what I'm going to do the first + minute I reach good old U. S. A. territory, Betty + de--'" + +But the sentence was never finished, for with a quick movement, Betty +snatched the letter away and hugged it to her breast while her face +flamed. + +"That's all you get," she cried, "the rest belongs to me. Oh, girls, did +you ever hear such wonderful news? Allen strong and well and Will +recovering splendidly, and both of them so sweet and loyal. Oh, I could +kiss that beautiful red-haired angel who brought all this happiness to +us. Where is he? Has he gone back again?" + +"Yes, he has, and what do we care!" cried Grace wildly, her face +radiant. "Amy, you little goose, you're not crying are you? Don't you +know there isn't a thing in the world to cry about? Come on--laugh, you +sweet, comfy, little thing. Don't you know that Will is getting better +and keeps our pictures under his pillow? That darling, wonderful, +adorable boy. Great heavens!" She stopped suddenly and a dismayed +expression crept over her face. "Excuse me, please," and she was racing +up the stairs, leaving the girls to look after her, bewildered. + +"What in the world," began Betty, when Amy lifted a face, shining +radiantly through her tears. + +"Don't you know?" she said with an understanding born of her wonderful +happiness. "Grace has gone to tell her mother. You really can't blame +her for being in a hurry." + +A few minutes later Grace called down to Amy. + +"Come on up, Honey," she commanded. "Mother wants to speak to you." + +After Amy had left the room, Mollie and Betty looked at each other +questioningly. + +"I wonder if Mrs. Ford is going to welcome Amy into the family," +chuckled Mollie. + +"I hardly think so, since there isn't anything definitely settled yet," +said Betty absently. She was thinking of Allen and what he had said in +the part of his letter she would not let Grace read. Her eyes shone +mistily and her heart sang. Allen, her Allen, was safe, and, oh, those +wonderful things he had said! + +"It must be nice to be as happy as they are," Mollie said, with a little +sigh, and with a start Betty came out of her preoccupation. + +"Oh, Mollie, dear, I--I forgot," she confessed, putting an arm about her +chum. "I was so selfishly taken up with my own happiness that I didn't +think!" + +"It isn't your fault," said Mollie, smiling bravely. "You just can't be +happy enough to suit me. You know that, don't you, Betty?" + +"Of course I do, you perfect brick!" said Betty, hugging her fondly. +"But we can't any of us be really happy until we know you are. But even +that is coming out all right, I'm sure of it," she finished gayly, her +old optimism fully restored. + +Mollie started to shake her head moodily, thought better of it, and +smiled instead. + +"I won't be a death's head at the feast," she told herself savagely. "I +suppose I'm awfully wicked, but now that they are all so happy, it makes +me feel dreadfully lonesome. I'm glad from my very heart for them, of +course. But, oh, Paul! Oh, little Dodo! If you will only come back to +Mollie, she will never go away from you again, never, never!" + +Dinner that night for the other girls was a joyful occasion. The girls +dressed up in their prettiest and best, Mrs. Ford and Betty cooked a +most appetizing supper, and if it had not been for the one dark cloud +still hanging over them, the evening that followed would have been the +happiest they had ever spent. + +Mollie kept her promise to herself and entered into the gayety with the +best of them, and no one--except Betty, perhaps--realized how much she +was suffering. + +However, when the lights were out that night and everybody but herself +was asleep, Mollie's brave barrier broke down and she sobbed miserably +into her pillow. + +"I want to go home!" she cried, heart brokenly. "I can't keep this up +day after day! I can't! If I don't hear some good news soon, I'll die--I +know I shall." + +Only the sound of the waves pounding angrily on the shore and the +shrilling of a rapidly rising wind answered her, and after a while she +sank into a troubled, uneasy sleep. + +And how could she know as she lay there, restlessly tossing from side to +side and muttering incoherently to herself, that the wind and waves were +actually sending her an answer which, in her wildest moments, she could +never have imagined? + +Toward morning something, she could not tell what, roused Betty and she +sat up suddenly in bed, every nerve taut, every sense alert. + +The wind had increased in fury while they slept, till now it was howling +fiercely about the house, rattling the windows and whistling shrilly +through the cracks, which together with the pounding of the waves, made +an almost deafening uproar. + +And the rain! It came down in sheeting torrents and was driven by the +rushing wind in maddened gusts against the window panes until it seemed +they must give beneath the strain. + +"What a storm!" cried Betty, pressing her hands against her ears to keep +out the noise of it. "I wonder if that was what wakened me." + +Then, becoming fully awake, she suddenly realized that she was very +uncomfortable, and, looking down, discovered that the bed spread was +wet. + +"Mercy, it's raining in all over us!" she tried aloud, and, springing +out of bed, ran over to the window and closed it with a bang. When she +came back she found Grace sitting up in bed and staring at her. + +"For goodness sake, what's happening?" asked the latter sleepily: "Is it +the end of the world?" + +"Search me," returned Betty, inelegantly. She had to almost scream to +make herself heard above the noise of the storm. Furthermore, her feet +were wet and her nightgown was wet, which did not serve to lift her +spirits. In fact, she was feeling decidedly grumpy. "The only thing I do +know," she shouted, "is that I'm nearly drowned." + +"Don't you know that getting drowned at night is strictly forbidden?" +Grace began severely, but was promptly smothered by an avenging pillow. +"Why don't you get in bed?" she asked, when she had succeeded in +disentangling herself. Betty was sitting disconsolately on the dry side +of the bed, which happened to be that occupied by Grace. + +"If you want to know, just feel the covers," Betty answered. "Next time +I'm going to make you sleep on the side near the window. Think I'll go +in and see if Mollie and Amy are drowned yet," she added, starting for +the door. "Goodness, but this is a heavy storm!" + +However, when she started to close the window in the next room she +noticed to her surprise that the rain had slackened, had almost stopped. +But not so the wind. If anything, it had increased in fury. + +She was about to turn back and tiptoe out of the room, hoping that she +had not roused the girls, when her eye was caught and held by a vivid +flash of red somewhere out to sea. + +Startled, she stood stock still, staring out in the direction from which +that light had come. It seemed weird, eery--that lonesome light sending +its signal out into the storm-whipped darkness. For that it was a +signal, she did not for a minute doubt. + +Then it came again--green this time--a light that shot up rocketlike +toward the sky, then, bursting, dived to instant annihilation in the +turbulant water. + +Another followed, and another, and then the truth came home to Betty. +Somewhere out there In that foaming sea a ship had met with disaster, +perhaps at this moment was sinking and her crew, were sending out +desperate appeals for aid. + +For a moment she felt almost sick with pity and excitement. Then she +controlled herself and ran over to wake the girls. + +"Mollie! Amy!" she cried, her voice shrill even above the shrieking of +the wind. "Wake up, wake up! Oh, why don't you wake up?" as the girls +opened sleep-laden eyes and stared at her stupidly. + +"Wh-what's the matter," stammered Mollie, suddenly sensing almost +hysterical excitement in Betty's voice and realizing that something +terrible had occurred. + +"Is anybody sick?" queried Amy almost fretfully, for she had been +enjoying the first good sleep she had had in weeks. + +"No. But somebody may be if we don't hurry up," cried Betty, wild with +impatience. "Don't lie there asking foolish questions when people may be +dying." + +"Dying," they echoed, still staring at her stupidly. + +"There's a wrecked ship out there," Betty explained, her words stumbling +over each other as she tried to make the girls understand. "They are +sending up signals for help, and if we don't get it for them right away +it may be too late. Oh, girls, for all we know, it may be too late now!" + +Mollie and Amy, at last fully awake and almost as excited as Betty +herself, sprang out of bed and rushed to the window to see for +themselves the signals the distressed vessel was sending up. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +JOY + + +What happened in the next hour the girls never afterward clearly +remembered. In what seemed a nightmare, they found their clothes, and, +after turning things wrong side out, getting the left shoe on the right +foot, and various other mishaps calculated to wreck the most +well-balanced nervous system, they finally succeeded in getting them on. + +"Where shall we go?" Mollie gasped out, as, clad in oilskins, they +rushed madly down the stairs. + +"There's a farmhouse about a mile down the road," explained Grace, "and +all the farm hands sleep on the premises. We can get them. And there's +the life-saving station only a little way beyond. They may have seen the +signals and be on their way already." + +"All right--let's go," said Betty grimly, as she flung open the door. + +A terrific gust of wind greeted her and sent her staggering back upon +the other girls. + +"It's even worse than I thought," she gasped, regaining her balance. "We +will have to do some fighting to get there, girls." + +"A mile against that wind!" groaned Grace. "Betty, I don't think we can +ever make it." + +"We've got to--or at least make the attempt," cried Betty, pulling her +coat more tightly about her. "If nobody else will come, I'm going +alone," she added, and the girls knew her well enough to be sure she +meant it. + +"Come on," cried Mollie, who had never yet been known to ignore a +challenge. "We'll do our best, anyway, even if we die trying." + +"Bravo! Spoken like an Outdoor Girl!" cried Betty, and at the challenge +in her voice, Grace and Amy instinctively straightened up. + +"We're all Outdoor Girls," said Grace stoutly. + +"And we'll show you," Amy added, with a ring in her voice, "that we are +not afraid to go any where that you can go." + +"Fine!" cried the Little Captain, her eyes shining. "Come on, then. What +chance has a pesky old wind against four Outdoor Girls, I'd like to +know!" + +She opened the door again, and this time, being prepared for the +onslaught of the wind, merely gritted her teeth and ducked her head and +plunged gamely into it. And without a minute's hesitation, the others, +who were "also Outdoor Girls," followed her. + +The fight with the wind that followed was all they had expected it would +be--and more. Their clothes were whipped about their legs as if about to +disengage themselves and fly away from their owners forever. And several +times they were forced to stop and turn their backs to catch their +breath and gather strength to go on. + +But on they did go until the welcome vision of a gaunt old farmhouse +rising ghostily from the early morning mist rewarded them and set their +hearts to beating high with hope. + +As they fought their way step by step up to the porch, they tried to +call out, but found that whatever sound they were able to make was +drowned in the roar of the wind. + +They found an old-fashioned knocker on the big front door, and worked it +with all their strength. After what seemed to them an age of waiting, +the door itself opened and a head popped out at them. + +"Well, what in time--" the owner of the voice was beginning, when Betty +pushed impatiently past him, the girls following close behind her. + +It took a surprisingly short time--seeing that the girls all insisted +upon talking at once--to make the farmer understand the situation. + +"We're going on to the life-saving station," Betty told him, trembling +with excitement. + +"All right, but my boys'll beat 'em to it," he promised, a glint in his +grey eyes. + +Then the girls were on their way again, pushing desperately against a +wind that seemed to rise higher and higher with every minute, while in +the east the greying sky grew light. + +"A--clear--day!" Mollie gasped, pushing back the wind-blown hair from +her face. "At last!" + +"Do you hear anything?" Betty shouted back. "It seems to me I--" + +They listened, and then, above the wind, it came to them +unmistakably--the sound of voices, masculine voices. + +"The life-savers!" gasped Grace. "We don't have to go any farther. +Let's--let's--wait for them." + +They had not long to wait, for almost before Grace had finished speaking +half a dozen men carrying life-saving paraphernalia broke through the +underbrush and came running down the path toward them. + +They stopped at sight of the panting girls, but Betty waved them on +impatiently. + +"The wreck!" she cried. "We came for you! Hurry!" and without another +word the men hurried on, leaving the girls to follow them more slowly. + +However, they accomplished the return trip in about half the time it had +taken them to fight their way against the wind, and as the first bright +rays of the sun gilded the country side, they found themselves back at +the house, where Mrs. Ford was anxiously awaiting them. + +She had some breakfast prepared for them, which they ate standing, then +rushed headlong down to the beach. The life-savers were already busily +at work launching their sturdy boats, and as the girls followed the +direction they were taking out to sea they suddenly saw the wrecked +ship. + +Driven by the hurricane wind, it had been caught on one of those +treacherous bars so common along this part of the coast. Part of the +bottom had been torn away, and if the ship had not been so tightly +wedged upon the bar it must certainly have sunk hours before. As it was, +the starboard deck stood high in the air while the port side almost +touched the water and was constantly swept by mountainous combers. + +The girls shivered as they looked. + +"If the waves should wash it loose--" Betty began, then checked herself. +The possibility was too horrible to contemplate. + +"Look!" cried Mollie, clutching her arm, "They are filling the first +boat. Oh, Betty, they'll certainly be swamped! I can't look!" She turned +away but the next minute her eyes were fixed strainingly upon the wreck +again. + +"They're gone! They're gone!" cried Amy, jumping up and down in her +excitement as the boat sunk in the hollow between two huge combers and +was lost to view. "No, they're not! They're up again," as the boat, +looking pathetically tiny in comparison to the vastness of the ocean, +rose gallantly on the crest of a big wave and came rushing toward them, +reeling from side to side. The next moment they were lost to view again. + +"Oh, they'll never make it, they'll never make it," moaned Grace. "It +isn't possible." + +But the gallant little boat came on and out fighting its bitter fight +with the elements, till, rising on one last long comber, it swept +magnificently in and grounded on the shore. + +The girls were already racing eagerly toward it, and a few minutes later +were welcoming the poor bedraggled survivors back to safety. There were +nine of them in all, four women, one young girl, three men and a little +boy. The child was sobbing and clung to his mother's skirts, terrified. + +Betty drew Grace aside. + +"Some one will have to take them up to the house, let them dry out, and +give them something to eat," she whispered. "Will you do that, Grace?" + +Grace nodded, and Amy, who had overheard the request, begged to go with +her. Mollie and Betty remained behind to watch the rest of the rescue +work. + +Luckily the ship was a merchant vessel and carried very few passengers, +so that the life-savers were confident of saving all those on board. +Also the wind was beginning to abate and the sea was becoming less +angry--all of which helped them in their work. + +The two girls were standing side by side, eagerly watching the progress +of the second boat, when they were startled by a hail from behind and +turned to find Grace and Amy flying down toward them. + +"Mollie!" Amy gasped, trying to catch her breath while her cheeks flamed +with excitement, "we just heard something we thought you ought to know. +You know the woman with the little boy," she hurried on as Mollie was +about to speak, "well, while she was comforting her own child, she +happened to speak of two other children on board--" + +"Who cry a great deal," Grace put in eagerly. "They are in charge of a +man who looks like a Spaniard, and they seem to be in mortal terror of +him--" + +"Girls," the word burst through dry lips as Mollie took a step toward +them, "what are you telling me? Oh, I can't bear to hope if--" she +grasped Grace's arm and shook it, not realizing how she hurt. "Tell me," +she cried, "are they boy and girl--" + +"Yes," Grace answered trembling. "I don't know, Mollie, dear, of course, +but from her description, those two children sounded an awful lot like +the twins!" + +Mollie waited to hear no more, but was off like a whirlwind down the +beach toward the second boat that was just coming in to shore. And while +she ran she was praying with all her fervent young heart. + +"Oh, Lord, give me back those babies!" she cried sobbingly. "If you only +will I'll never, never, _never_ ask you for anything again as long as I +live." + +Then she saw them! + +A big, vicious looking man with black hair and black bushy eyebrows was +lifting Dodo--her little Dodo--out of the boat. And while she looked, +her heart beating wildly, hardly able to believe the evidence of her +eyes, the man stretched out his hand for the boy, who sat crouched in +the back of the boat. Then followed something that made Mollie cry out +in rage. + +Because the boy hung back in evident terror, the man struck him across +the face, and, seizing his hand, jerked him roughly out of the boat. + +"Dodo! Paul!" screamed Mollie, racing down toward them, unmindful of wet +feet and sodden clothing. "Babies, it's Mollie! Your own Mollie who--" + +But her voice was drowned in a shriek from the twins as they tore +themselves loose from the man and flung themselves upon her. She dropped +to her knees in the sand and strained them to her, laughing, crying, +sobbing out endearments while they clung to her frantically, burying +their faces in her neck. + +"Don't let wicked man get Dodo!" sobbed the little girl. "He's bad man! +He hurt Dodo." + +With a cry Mollie jumped to her feet, an arm about each of the twins, +and looked about for the man. The passengers who had also come ashore in +the boat stood looking on in bewilderment. But the Spaniard had +disappeared. + +"Where did that man go?" cried Mollie frantically. "There he is!" she +added, as she caught sight of him just approaching the foot of the +bluff, evidently bent on flight. "Don't let him get away! He's a +kidnapper!" + +Several of the men were already racing off in pursuit, and as the +Spaniard was a heavy man and not over agile, the foremost of them soon +overtook him. + +He seemed to put up little resistance, evidently realizing that he was +too heavily out-numbered. He surrendered to the inevitable and contented +himself with merely glowering. + +"Come on," cried Mollie, taking the beloved twins by the hand and +starting back along the beach while the girls joyfully accompanied her, +talking and ejaculating all at the same time, no one knowing what the +other was saying--nor caring. The wonderful fact was enough for them. + +When they scrambled up to the top of the bluff they found the men +awaiting them with the sullen captive in their midst. + +"What'll we do with him, Miss?" asked one of them respectfully, touching +his cap to Mollie. + +"Do with him?" cried Mollie, regarding the Spaniard with flashing eyes. +"There isn't anything bad enough to do to him. But for the present, +we'll have to be satisfied with locking him up. We have plenty of +evidence," she added, waving that part of it aside with a motion of her +hand. "Letters and things, you know. He kidnapped my little brother and +sister," indicating the twins, who snuggled close against her and +regarded their former captor with terrified eyes, "and then demanded +twenty thousand dollars of my mother for their return." + +"Blackmail, eh?" growled one of the men, throwing a scornful look at the +Spaniard. "Well, you'll get paid up this time, old boy. Get on there, +will you?" + + * * * * * + +It was many hours later and the dusk was falling softly over the land. +The passengers of the wrecked ship had long ago started villageward, +there to entrain for the city, leaving two of their number behind. + +These two were seated at the head of a long table in the little house at +Bluff Point, devouring chicken and rice before an audience of admiring +and joyful Outdoor Girls. Only Mollie very often could not see them for +the tears that dimmed her eyes. + +Quite suddenly Betty stopped in the very middle of a sentence to stare +at Mollie. + +"Your mother!" she cried. "You forgot to let her know!" + +"Oh, no, I didn't," Mollie answered. "I sent a telegram by one of the +boys who took that dirty Spaniard to the station. And, oh, girls," she +leaned forward suddenly while the tears overflowed and slowly trickled +down her face, "if she does as I begged her to, she will be here +to-morrow. Darling little mother!" + +At the love in her voice the girls felt their own eyes grow wet. + +"What a difference!" said Betty softly, looking around the table. "A few +nights ago we were utterly miserable. Now we are wildly happy. We have +the darling twins back again, and our boys 'over there' are safe. +Girls," she cried, suddenly springing to her feet and raising her cup on +high, "let's drink a toast--" + +"To what?" they cried, rising with one motion. + +"To the time when our boys come home!" + +And so, in the midst of their happiness, with the dark clouds rolled +away and the sun shining through, we will once more wave farewell to our +Outdoor Girls. + + +THE END + + + + * * * * * + + + +_This Isn't All!_ + +Would you like to know what became of the good friends you have made in +this book? + +Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures and +experiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the same author? + +On the _reverse side_ of the wrapper which comes with this book, you +will find a wonderful list of stories which you can buy at the same +store where you got this book. + + +_Don't throw away the Wrapper_ + +_Use it as a handy catalog of the books you want some day to have. But +in case you do mislay it, write to the Publishers for a complete +catalog._ + + + +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES + +By LAURA LEE HOPE + +Author of "The Blythe Girls Books" + +Every Volume Complete in Itself. + +These are the adventures of a group of bright, fun-loving, up-to-date +girls who have a common bond in their fondness for outdoor life, +camping, travel and adventure. There is excitement and humor in these +stories and girls will find in them the kind of pleasant associations +that they seek to create among their own friends and chums. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS OF DEEPDALE + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT RAINBOW LAKE + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A MOTOR CAR + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A WINTER CAMP + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT OCEAN VIEW + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN ARMY SERVICE + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON PINE ISLAND + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT THE HOSTESS HOUSE + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT BLUFF POINT + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT WILD ROSE LODGE + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN THE SADDLE + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AROUND THE CAMPFIRE + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON CAPE COD + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT FOAMING FALLS + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ALONG THE COAST + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT SPRING HILL FARM + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT NEW MOON RANCH + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON A HIKE + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON A CANOE TRIP + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT CEDAR RIDGE + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + +THE BLYTHE GIRLS BOOKS + +By LAURA LEE HOPE + +Author of The Outdoor Girls Series + +Illustrated by Thelma Gooch + +The Blythe Girls, three in number, were left alone in New York City. +Helen, who went in for art and music, kept the little flat uptown, while +Margy, just out of business school, obtained a position as secretary and +Rose, plain-spoken and business like, took what she called a "job" in a +department store. The experiences of these girls make fascinating +reading--life in the great metropolis is thrilling and full of strange +adventures and surprises. + + THE BLYTHE GIRLS: HELEN, MARGY AND ROSE + THE BLYTHE GIRLS: MARGY'S QUEER INHERITANCE + THE BLYTHE GIRLS: ROSE'S GREAT PROBLEM + THE BLYTHE GIRLS: HELEN'S STRANGE BOARDER + THE BLYTHE GIRLS: THREE ON A VACATION + THE BLYTHE GIRLS: MARGY'S SECRET MISSION + THE BLYTHE GIRLS: ROSE'S ODD DISCOVERY + THE BLYTHE GIRLS: THE DISAPPEARANCE OF HELEN + THE BLYTHE GIRLS: SNOWBOUND IN CAMP + THE BLYTHE GIRLS: MARGY'S MYSTERIOUS VISITOR + THE BLYTHE GIRLS: ROSE'S HIDDEN TALENT + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK + + +THE LILIAN GARIS BOOKS + +Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself. + +Among her "fan" letters Lilian Garis receives some flattering +testimonials of her girl readers' interest in her stories. From a class +of thirty comes a vote of twenty-five naming her as their favorite +author. Perhaps it is the element of live mystery that Mrs. Garis always +builds her stories upon, or perhaps it is because the girls easily can +translate her own sincere interest in themselves from the stories. At +any rate her books prosper through the changing conditions of these +times, giving pleasure, satisfaction, and, incidentally, that tactful +word or inspiration, so important in literature for young girls. Mrs. +Garis prefers to call her books "juvenile novels" and in them romance is +never lacking. + + JUDY JORDAN + JUDY JORDAN'S DISCOVERY + SALLY FOR SHORT + SALLY FOUND OUT + A GIRL CALLED TED + TED AND TONY, TWO GIRLS OF TODAY + CLEO'S MISTY RAINBOW + CLEO'S CONQUEST + BARBARA HALE + BARBARA HALE'S MYSTERY FRIEND + NANCY BRANDON + NANCY BRANDON'S MYSTERY + CONNIE LORING + CONNIE LORING'S GYPSY FRIEND + JOAN: JUST GIRL + JOAN'S GARDEN OF ADVENTURE + GLORIA: A GIRL AND HER DAD + GLORIA AT BOARDING SCHOOL + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK + + +CAROLYN WELLS BOOKS + +Attractively Bound. Illustrated. Colored Wrappers. + + +THE PATTY BOOKS + +Patty is a lovable girl whose frank good nature and beauty lend charm to +her varied adventures. These stories are packed with excitement and +interest for girls. + + PATTY FAIRFIELD + PATTY AT HOME + PATTY IN THE CITY + PATTY'S SUMMER DAYS + PATTY IN PARIS + + +THE MARJORIE BOOKS + +Marjorie is a happy little girl of twelve, up to mischief, but full of +goodness and sincerity. In her and her friends every girl reader will +see much of her own love of fun, play and adventure. + + MARJORIE'S VACATION + MARJORIE'S BUSY DAYS + MARJORIE'S NEW FRIEND + MARJORIE IN COMMAND + MARJORIE'S MAYTIME + MARJORIE AT SEACOTE + + +THE TWO LITTLE WOMEN SERIES + +Introducing Dorinda Fayre--a pretty blonde, sweet, serious, timid and a +little slow, and Dorothy Rose--a sparkling brunette, quick, elf-like, +high tempered, full of mischief and always getting into scrapes. + + TWO LITTLE WOMEN + TWO LITTLE WOMEN AND TREASURE HOUSE + TWO LITTLE WOMEN ON A HOLIDAY + + +THE DICK AND DOLLY BOOKS + +Dick and Dolly are brother and sister, and their games, their pranks, +their joys and sorrows, are told in a manner which makes the stories +"really true" to young readers. + + DICK AND DOLLY + DICK AND DOLLY'S ADVENTURES + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK + + +THE NANCY DREW MYSTERY STORIES + +By CAROLYN KEENE + +Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself. + +Here is a thrilling series of mystery stories for girls. Nancy Drew, +ingenious, alert, is the daughter of a famous criminal lawyer and she +herself is deeply interested in his mystery cases. Her interest involves +her often in some very dangerous and exciting situations. + + +THE SECRET OF THE OLD CLOCK + +Nancy, unaided, seeks to locate a missing will and finds herself in the +midst of adventure. + + +THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE + +Mysterious happenings at an old stone mansion lead to an investigation +by Nancy. + + +THE BUNGALOW MYSTERY + +Nancy has some perilous experiences around a deserted bungalow. + + +THE MYSTERY AT LILAC INN + +Quick thinking and quick action were needed for Nancy to extricate +herself from a dangerous situation. + + +THE SECRET AT SHADOW RANCH + +On a vacation in Arizona Nancy uncovers an old mystery and solves it. + + +THE SECRET OF RED GATE FARM + +Nancy exposes the doings of a secret society on an isolated farm. + + +THE CLUE IN THE DIARY + +A fascinating and exciting story of a search for a clue to a surprising +mystery. + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK + + +TED SCOTT FLYING STORIES + +By FRANKLIN W. DIXON + +Illustrated. Each Volume Complete in Itself. + +No subject has so thoroughly caught the imagination of young America as +aviation. This series has been inspired by recent daring feats of the +air, and is dedicated to Lindbergh, Byrd, Chamberlin and other heroes of +the skies. + + OVER THE OCEAN TO PARIS; + _or, Ted Scott's Daring Long Distance Flight_. + + RESCUED IN THE CLOUDS; + _or, Ted Scott, Hero of the Air_. + + OVER THE ROCKIES WITH THE AIR MAIL; + _or, Ted Scott, Lost in the Wilderness_. + + FIRST STOP HONOLULU; + _or, Ted Scott Over the Pacific_. + + THE SEARCH FOR THE LOST FLYERS; + _or, Ted Scott Over the West Indies_. + + SOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE; + _or, Ted Scott On a Secret Mission_. + + ACROSS THE PACIFIC; + _or, Ted Scott's Hop to Australia_. + + THE LONE EAGLE OF THE BORDER; + _or, Ted Scott and the Diamond Smugglers_. + + FLYING AGAINST TIME; + _or, Breaking the Ocean to Ocean Record_. + + OVER THE JUNGLE TRAILS; + _or, Ted Scott and the Missing Explorers_. + + LOST AT THE SOUTH POLE; + _or, Ted Scott in Blizzard Land_. + + THROUGH THE AIR TO ALASKA; + _or, Ted Scott's Search in Nugget Valley_. + + FLYING TO THE RESCUE; + _or, Ted Scott and the Big Dirigible_. + + DANGER TRAILS OF THE SKY; + _or, Ted Scott's Great Mountain Climb_. + + FOLLOWING THE SUN SHADOW; + _or, Ted Scott and the Great Eclipse_. + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + +THE REX LEE FLYING STORIES + +By THOMSON BURTIS + +Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself. + +The author of this series of exciting flying stories is an experienced +aviator. He says, "During my five years in the army I performed nearly +every sort of flying duty--instructor, test pilot, bombing, +photographing pilot, etc., in every variety of ship, from tiny scout +planes to the gigantic three-motored Italian Caproni." + +Not only has this author had many experiences as a flyer; a list of his +activities while knocking around the country includes postal clerk, +hobo, actor, writer, mutton chop salesman, preacher, roughneck in the +oil fields, newspaper man, flyer, scenario writer in Hollywood and +synthetic clown with the Sells Floto Circus. Having lived an active, +daring life, and possessing a gift for good story telling, he is well +qualified to write these adventures of a red-blooded dare-devil young +American who became one of the country's greatest flyers. + + REX LEE; GYPSY FLYER + REX LEE; ON THE BORDER PATROL + REX LEE; RANGER OF THE SKY + REX LEE; SKY TRAILER + REX LEE; ACE OF THE AIR MAIL + REX LEE; NIGHT FLYER + REX LEE'S MYSTERIOUS FLIGHT + REX LEE; ROUGH RIDER OF THE AIR + REX LEE; AERIAL ACROBAT + REX LEE; TRAILING AIR BANDITS + REX LEE; FLYING DETECTIVE + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK + + +GREAT SPORT STORIES + +For Every Sport Season + +By HAROLD M. SHERMAN + +Here's an author who knows his sports from having played them. Baseball, +football, basketball, ice hockey, tennis, track--they're all the same to +Harold M. Sherman. He puts the most thrilling moments of these sports +into his tales. Mr. Sherman is today's most popular writer of sport +stories--all of which are crowded with action, suspense and clean, +vigorous fun. + + The Home Run Series The Gridiron Series + + Bases Full! Goal to Go + Hit by Pitcher Hold That line! + Safe! Touchdown + Hit and Run Block That Kick! + Double Play One Minute to Play + Batter Up! Fight 'Em, Big Three + + + The Basketball Series The Ice Hockey Series + + Mayfield's Fighting Five Flashing Steel + Get 'Em Mayfield Flying Heels + Shoot That Ball! Slashing Sticks + + + Other Stories of Sport and Adventure + + The Land of Monsters Ding Palmer Air Detective + Beyond the Dog's Nose + Cameron McBain Backwoodsman Don Rader, Trail Blazer No. 44 + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + +BUDDY BOOKS FOR BOYS + +Illustrated. Individual Colored Wrappers + +Tales of Western pioneer days and the California gold fields; tales of +mystery, humor, adventure; thrilling stories of sports and aviation. +There is a wide range of subjects in this list of titles--all by +well-known authors of books for boys. + + HOT DOG PARTNERS By William Heyliger + YOUNG EAGLE OF THE TRAIL By J. Allan Dunn + THE LAND OF MONSTERS By Harold M. Sherman + QUARTERBACK HOTHEAD By William Heyliger + LEFTY LEIGHTON By Percy Keese Fitzhugh + NUMBER 44 By Harold M. Sherman + BILL DARROW'S VICTORY By William Heyliger + THE STORY OF TERRIBLE TERRY By Percy Keese Fitzhugh + BEYOND THE DOG'S NOSE By Harold M. Sherman + DING PALMER, AIR DETECTIVE By Harold M. Sherman + BEAN-BALL BILL By William Heyliger + CAMERON MacBAIN, BACKWOODSMAN By Harold M. Sherman + FLYING HEELS By Harold M. Sherman + FLASHING STEEL By Harold M. Sherman + BUFFALO BOY By J. Allan Dunn + THE CLOUD PATROL By Irving Crump + SPIFFY HENSHAW By Percy Keese Fitzhugh + THE PILOT OF THE CLOUD PATROL By Irving Crump + DON RADER, TRAIL BLAZER By Harold M. Sherman + TUCK SIMMS, FORTY-NINER By Edward Leonard + WIGWAG WEIGAND By Percy Keese Fitzhugh + HERVEY WILLETTS By Percy Keese Fitzhugh + SKINNY McCORD By Percy Keese Fitzhugh + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + Obvious punctuation errors corrected. + + Page 5, "Laugingly" changed to "Laughingly". (Laughingly the Little) + + Page 21, "relucantly" changed to "reluctantly". (reluctantly left + his) + + Page 27, "uncerimoniously" changed to "unceremoniously". + (unceremoniously shook her) + + Page 31, "lanquid" changed to "languid". (languid and bouncing) + + Page 31, "dispairingly" changed to "despairingly". (despairingly + at the) + + Page 32, "aimably" changed to "amiably". (amiably helping herself) + + Page 37, "nickle" changed to "nickel". (nickel to a) + + Page 62, "appetities" changed to "appetites". (and healthy + appetites) + + Page 65, "acceping" changed to "accepting". (accepting the + inevitable) + + Page 72, "Joie" changed to "Joe". (Joe, my boy) + + Page 165, "Mr." changed to "Mrs." (time Mrs. Ford) + + Page 184, "knealt" changed to "knelt". (knelt down by) + + Page 184, "though" changed to "thought". (we thought maybe) + + Page 185, "dabbbed" changed to "dabbed". (dabbed fiercely at) + + Page 190, "lanquidly" changed to "languidly". (languidly and + found) + + Page 198, "waiving" changed to "waving". (be waving something) + + Page 198, "maybe" changed to "may be". (It may be) + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT BLUFF POINT*** + + +******* This file should be named 20324.txt or 20324.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/3/2/20324 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. 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