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diff --git a/37433-h/37433-h.htm b/37433-h/37433-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..45985b0 --- /dev/null +++ b/37433-h/37433-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10806 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" > +<head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> + <meta content="The Motor Maids Across the Continent" name="DC.Title"/> + <meta content="Katherine Stokes" name="DC.Creator"/> + <meta content="en" name="DC.Language"/> + <meta content="1911" name="DC.Created"/> + <meta name="generator" content="ppgen (1.20) generated Sep 05, 2011 05:47 PM" /> + <title>The Motor Maids Across the Continent</title> + <style type="text/css"> + body {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%;} + p {margin-top:1ex; margin-bottom:0; text-align:justify;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size:x-small; text-align:right; text-indent:0; + position:absolute; right:2%; padding:1px 3px; font-style:normal; + font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration:none; + background-color:inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color:silver;} + h1 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; + font-size:1.4em; margin-top:4em; margin-bottom:2em;} + h2 {text-align:left; font-weight:normal; + font-size:1.2em; margin-top:4em; margin-bottom:2em;} + h3 {text-align:center; font-weight:bold; + font-size:0.9em; margin-top:1.5em; margin-bottom:1em;} + hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none; border-top:thin dashed silver; clear:both;} + .sc {font-variant: small-caps;} + .center {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; text-align:center;} + .larger {font-size:larger;} + .smaller {font-size:smaller;} + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + table.c {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + .caption {font-size: 80%;} + .sc {font-variant:small-caps} + div.center>:first-child {margin: .5em auto 0 auto;text-align:center;} + div.center p {margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;} + hr.tb {border:none; border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 20px auto; width:35%} + </style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Motor Maids Across the Continent, by Katherine Stokes + +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 www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Motor Maids Across the Continent + +Author: Katherine Stokes + +Release Date: September 15, 2011 [EBook #37433] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR MAIDS *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was +produced from scanned images of public domain material +from the Google Print project.) + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div><a name='fig0' id='fig0'></a></div> +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i001' id='i001'></a> +<img src="images/illus-fpc.jpg" alt="Sometimes they were on the edge of such dizzy heights that Miss Campbell held her breath." title=""/><br /> +<span class='caption'>Sometimes they were on the edge of such dizzy<br/>heights that Miss Campbell held her breath.</span> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:1.6em;font-weight:bold;'>THE MOTOR MAIDS</span></p> +<p><span style='font-size:1.6em;font-weight:bold;'>ACROSS THE</span></p> +<p><span style='font-size:1.6em;font-weight:bold;'>CONTINENT</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>BY</p> +<p> </p> +<p><span style='font-size:1.2em;font-weight:bold;'>KATHERINE STOKES</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>AUTHOR OF “THE MOTOR MAIDS’ SCHOOL DAYS,” “THE MOTOR MAIDS</span></p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>BY PALM AND PINE,” ETC.</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>NEW YORK</p> +<p>HURST & COMPANY</p> +<p>PUBLISHERS</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>Copyright, 1911,</p> +<p>BY</p> +<p>HURST & COMPANY</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;'>CONTENTS</span></p> +</div> +<table class='c' summary='table of contents'> +<tr><td style='font-size:smaller'>CHAPTER</td><td></td><td style='font-size:smaller'>PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>I.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Westward Ho!</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chI'>5</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>II.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Peter</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chII'>22</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>III.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>In Search of a Dinner</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chIII'>33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>IV.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Three Wishes</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chIV'>48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>V.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>An Incident of the Road</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chV'>67</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>VI.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Under the Stars</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chVI'>81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>VII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Barney M’Gee</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chVII'>92</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>VIII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Cutting the Bonds</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chVIII'>106</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>IX.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Girl from the Golden West</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chIX'>117</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>X.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Steptoe Lodge</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chX'>130</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XI.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Hawkes Family</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXI'>146</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Into the Wilderness</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXII'>156</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XIII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Hot Air Sue</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXIII'>168</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XIV.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>On the Road Again</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXIV'>177</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XV.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>In the Robbers’ Nest</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXV'>190</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XVI.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>In the Rockies</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXVI'>206</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XVII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Salt Lake City</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXVII'>218</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XVIII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>David and Goliath</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXVIII'>229</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XIX.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Day of Surprises</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXIX'>242</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XX.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Elopement</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXX'>258</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XXI.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Meeting in the Desert</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXXI'>270</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XXII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Bit of Old Italy</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXXII'>280</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XXIII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Change of Heart</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXXIII'>292</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XXIV.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>San Francisco at Last</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXXIV'>301</a></td></tr> +</table> +<h1>The Motor Maids Across The Continent</h1> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_5'></a>5</span><a name='chI' id='chI'></a>CHAPTER I.—WESTWARD HO!</h2> +<p> +“At my age, too,” began Miss Helen Campbell, +leaning back in her seat and folding her +hands with an expression of resignation. +</p> +<p> +“At your age, what, dear cousin?” demanded +Wilhelmina Campbell, superintending the strapping +on at the back of the car of five extra large +suit cases and other paraphernalia for a long trip. +“Why should not things happen at your age as +well as at ours? But at your age, what?” +</p> +<p> +“At my age to turn emigrant,” exclaimed the +little lady. “At my age to become a gypsy vagabond. +Oh, dear, oh, dear! What would grandpapa +have said?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_6'></a>6</span> +</p> +<p> +“He would have been delighted, I am certain, +Cousin Helen,” answered her young relative, +“since he was a soldier and a jolly old gentleman, +too, papa has always said.” +</p> +<p> +“But such an up to date gypsy-vagabond-emigrant, +Miss Campbell,” pursued Elinor Butler, +“one who rides in a motor car and wears a silk +traveling coat and a sky-blue chiffon veil.” +</p> +<p> +“And has four ladies-in-waiting,” continued +Nancy Brown. +</p> +<p> +“And hotels all along the route to sleep in instead +of tents,” finished Mary Price. +</p> +<p> +“Very true, my dears. I admit all you say; +but now at the last moment, when we are about +to start on this amazing journey, I cannot help +thinking it is a wild adventure. But I shall be +over it in a moment, I daresay. Have the machine +cranked-up, Billie. Do I use the correct +word? and let us be off before my courage fails +me altogether.” +</p> +<p> +With a happy laugh, Billie jumped into her +seat behind the wheel. The other girls were already +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7'></a>7</span> +in their accustomed places. One of the attendants +from the hotel gave the crank a dexterous +twist; there was a throbbing sound of machinery +in action, and off shot the Comet like a +spirited horse, eager to be on the road. +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell’s spirits rose with the sun, for +it was still very early when the Motor Maids +started on their famous journey across the continent +from Chicago to San Francisco. And all +the world seemed to be in league to make the +start a happy one. It was a glorious morning toward +the last of May, the air just frosty enough +to make the blood tingle and bring color to the +cheeks. Up to the very day before, an icy gale +had blown across the windy city of the plains, +but through the night it had gradually tempered +into a springtime breeze. The red car sped +through the sunshine with all the vigor of machinery +in perfect order, and the polished plate +glass of the wind guard reflected the four happy +faces of the Motor Maids off on a lark, which, +when all is said and done, and the last page of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8'></a>8</span> +this volume filled, will have carried them through +many an adventure along the way. +</p> +<p> +Through Chicago they whirled, past fine +homes where sleepy maids and butlers were just +opening windows and blinds to let in the morning +light; through business streets already humming +with life, and at last out through the suburbs +on a broad level road, due west, they took +their course. +</p> +<p> +Billie knew it all like a book because she had +been stopping in Chicago for a week and every +day they had taken a spin in the Comet along +some fifty miles of the route. Moreover, for a +month past, she had been studying maps and +guide-books until her mind reflected now only a +great bird’s-eye view of the United States +through the center of which was drawn a red +line; the road the Comet was to take when it bore +them to the Pacific Ocean. +</p> +<p> +There was nothing now, however, in these flat, +monotonous wheat fields to promote any particular +interest. But there was much to talk about. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9'></a>9</span> +</p> +<p> +“Was it only last week that we were four +school girls at West Haven High School slaving +over examinations?” cried Elinor Butler. +</p> +<p> +“Only a little week ago,” exclaimed Mary joyfully, +“and now, behold us, free as birds on the +wing.” +</p> +<p> +There was a flush of happiness on her usually +pale face. It had been a long, hard spring for +her, and she was glad after examinations were +over, to hurry away with her friends without +waiting for the final exercises. +</p> +<p> +“School! School!” said Nancy Brown, her +face dimpling with happiness. “Don’t mention +the hateful word. I am as full of mathematics +and history and physics and Latin as a black +cake is of plums.” +</p> +<p> +“Plums!” echoed Billie. “I’m stuffed with another +variety of fruit. It’s dates.” +</p> +<p> +They laughed at the word dates; for, remembering +dates, aside from mathematics, was the +<em>bête noir</em> of Billie’s school days and the teacher +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10'></a>10</span> +of history was very unpopular because she made +the pupils of her classes learn six dates a day. +</p> +<p> +“But the class is even with Miss Hawkes now,” +put in Nancy. “She isn’t to come back next year, +and we gave her a present besides.” +</p> +<p> +“Why did you give her a present?” asked Miss +Campbell, suddenly becoming curious. +</p> +<p> +“Well, you see, at the end of school we reckoned +we had learned about 800 dates, not that +we could remember 100 or even 50. It was Elinor +who thought of it and because she has more nerve +than any one else in the class——” +</p> +<p> +“Indeed I have not,” protested Elinor. +</p> +<p> +“Because she was never afraid even of the terrifying +Miss Hawkes, she was chosen to make +the speech and give Miss Hawkes a present from +the class.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell smiled. She was never tired +of listening to their school-girl talk. +</p> +<p> +“What did you say and what was the present, +my dear?” +</p> +<p> +“I said,” replied Elinor, “that, representing the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11'></a>11</span> +class, I wanted to thank her for the splendid mental +training she had given us last winter, and we +wished to show our appreciation by giving her a +little remembrance.” +</p> +<p> +“‘Remembrance’ was a good word, Elinor,” +cried Billie. +</p> +<p> +“If she hadn’t been so pleased and made that +speech of thanks, it wouldn’t have mattered so +much,” put in Mary. “But I was ashamed when +she untied the ribbons on the box——” +</p> +<p> +“And what was in it, child?” demanded Miss +Campbell. +</p> +<p> +“Dates,” cried Billie, “dozens of dates packed +in as tightly as dates can be packed, just as she +had been packing them into our brains for nine +months.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh! oh!” exclaimed Miss Campbell, trying to +be shocked and laughing in spite of herself. +“The poor soul! How embarrassed she must +have felt. Was she very angry?” +</p> +<p> +“We couldn’t tell whether she was angry or +hurt,” answered Elinor. “She drew herself up +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12'></a>12</span> +stiffer and straighter than usual if possible, and +marched out of the room without a word.” +</p> +<p> +“And left us feeling very foolish indeed, +cousin,” went on Billie. “But that isn’t all. Because +I was the one who never could remember +a date from one day to the next, I suppose she +suspected me of having been the ring-leader and +this morning when we stopped at the desk of the +hotel for mail, the clerk handed me this letter. +It was forwarded from West Haven.” +</p> +<p> +Billie drew an envelope from the pocket of her +motor coat and gave it to the others. +</p> +<p> +“Read it,” she said. “I didn’t mention it before +because I was so much interested in getting +away and I had really forgotten it until the subject +came up. I suppose Miss Hawkes is just a +little queer in her upper story.” +</p> +<p> +The letter read: +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +“I understand you are going West in your automobile. +If, on your journey, you should by +chance hear the name of ‘Hawkes,’ do not treat +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13'></a>13</span> +it as lightly as you did in West Haven. Somewhere +in the West that name is powerful. +</p> +<p style='text-align:right; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-right:2em;;'>“<span class='sc'>Anna Hawkes.</span>”</p> +<p> +“How absurd!” exclaimed Elinor. “She is +queer. I am certain of it.” +</p> +<p> +“Anyhow,” pursued Billie, “I am ashamed of +what we did now. I suppose it must have hurt +her awfully.” +</p> +<p> +“Not more than she hurt us when she scolded +us for forgetting those awful dates,” said Nancy +relentlessly. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, well,” put in Miss Campbell, “she is just +an angry old spinster who got obsessed with +dates and then had a rude awakening. I don’t +think it was exactly respectful to have given the +lady a box of dried dates. But she brought it on +herself, as you say. Tear up the letter and forget +all about it. I have no doubt she is a perfectly +harmless old person.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell always had a secret contempt +for other spinsters. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14'></a>14</span> +</p> +<p> +“But she isn’t old, you know, cousin. She’s +just out of college.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, indeed. I imagined she was a crusty old +maid.” +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps she has reference to the powerful +family of chicken hawks,” observed Nancy. +</p> +<p> +“Or the illustrious fish-hawk family, only they +are mostly centered around New Haven,” added +Mary. +</p> +<p> +“How about the tomahawk family?” suggested +Billie. +</p> +<p> +How, indeed? But there was no answer to +this strangely pertinent question because of a +timely incident which now occurred. +</p> +<p> +With the picture still in their minds of a great +fish hawk skimming through the air, as they +had often seen him do at home, there now came +a sound of whirring far above them. +</p> +<p> +Nancy leaned out of the automobile and looked +up. +</p> +<p> +“Oh! oh!” she exclaimed in great excitement +“Oh, stop—look! What is it?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15'></a>15</span> +</p> +<p> +Billie stopped the car and they jumped out +into the road, craning their necks as they scanned +the heavens. +</p> +<p> +Flying westward, but still some distance away, +came what resembled at first a gigantic bird with +wings outspread, soaring even as the fish hawk +soars, as he skims through the air. +</p> +<p> +“It’s an aeroplane,” whispered Billie, almost +speechless with excitement. +</p> +<p> +They seemed to be alone in the great flat +world of green fields. To the right and left of +them stretched level fields now cultivated and +yielding great crops of corn and wheat. Less +than a hundred years ago what would those +travelers in lumbering wagons across the +prairies have thought if they had seen such a +bird flying overhead? +</p> +<p> +On sailed the flying machine, like a huge +dragon fly above them. In the clear atmosphere +which is peculiar to this prairie region they could +plainly see a human being riding it. Then, the +birdman, as if he were not already high enough +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16'></a>16</span> +to see the whole world stretched out beneath him, +began slowly to rise in the blue ether like a skylark +at dawn. Up, up he went, until he was +merely a black speck in the heavens. +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell sat flat down at the side of the +road. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t endure it,” she cried. “Suppose he +should never come back.” +</p> +<p> +“What goes up must come down,” observed +Mary in a low voice much too excited to speak +naturally. +</p> +<p> +Immediately fulfilling her prophetic remark, +the flying machine sailed back into view. It was +some distance beyond them now, but even so far +they could hear the clicking noise which was all +the more accentuated because no other sound followed. +The motor had ceased to whir. They +saw the aeroplanist fumble frantically with the +machinery, then suddenly, with a twist of its +body that was almost swifter than the eye, the +flying machine turned its nose earthward and +shot straight down. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17'></a>17</span> +</p> +<p> +“Is that the way he lands?” demanded Miss +Campbell. +</p> +<p> +“No, no,” answered Billie excitedly as she hastened +to crank the machine. “Get in quickly—everybody! +Something must be broken. He may +be hurt.” +</p> +<p> +Another moment they were tearing down the +road toward the field where they had seen the +flying machine drop. +</p> +<p> +“There he is,” cried Nancy, already on the step +of the Comet as Billie drew up at the side of the +road. +</p> +<p> +Now, unfortunately, a wire fence separated the +field from the road to prevent idle wandering +people from trampling down the young wheat. +It was no easy matter to crawl through the interstices +of barbed wire, and Billie, in her haste, +tore a great gaping hole in her automobile coat. +</p> +<p> +But she pulled off the wrap with the recklessness +of a young person who has something far +more interesting on hand than pongee coats, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18'></a>18</span> +flung it in the road where it was rescued by Miss +Campbell. +</p> +<p> +In the middle of the field lay the flying machine, +looking very much like an enormous kite +at close range. But where was the human being +who so lately had been mounting high into the +air? +</p> +<p> +A man’s foot sticking out from the midst of +the debris revealed him at last lying huddled up +under the machine. +</p> +<p> +It was no simple matter to untangle him from +the ruins, and it took all their strength and courage, +too, with that face so white and still turned +upward, but, by the grace of Providence, which +watches over the lives of some rash beings, the +young man was not even hurt. He was only +stunned, and presently Miss Campbell, who had +managed somehow to crawl through the fence, +brought him back to life with her smelling salts. +</p> +<p> +“If I can only keep from sneezing,” he began, +opening his eyes and blinking them in amazement +when he beheld the faces of five ladies leaning over +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19'></a>19</span> +him in states of more or less extreme +excitement. +</p> +<p> +The aeroplanist was really almost a boy and +rather small. He had reddish brown hair and +reddish brown eyes to match. His features were +regular. His mouth firm and well modeled, and +he had a square, determined-looking jaw. +</p> +<p> +“Oh,” he exclaimed. “Then it wasn’t a dream. +I did sneeze.” +</p> +<p> +The girls privately thought his mind was wandering. +</p> +<p> +“You tumbled down out of the sky,” said +Nancy. +</p> +<p> +“Are you better now?” asked Miss Campbell, +applying her smelling salts to his nose. +</p> +<p> +“I’m all right,” he answered, bewildered, and +began slowly to pull himself together and get up. +He staggered a little as he rose and stood looking +ruefully down at the demolished aeroplane. They +noticed that he was not dressed like a messenger +from Mars, as they had seen aeroplanists attired +in pictures. He wore brown clothes and a brown +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20'></a>20</span> +tie the same shade as his hair, and a brown cap +with a vizor which had fallen on the ground. +</p> +<p> +“It is very kind of you ladies to come to my +rescue,” he said as his senses returned. “I was +getting on famously with the thing when I +sneezed. I felt it coming on, but it couldn’t be +stopped, and I lost control and shot down like a +piece of lead. Aeroplanists will have to stop +sneezing until something more reliable in the way +of a flying machine is invented.” +</p> +<p> +“What are you going to do with this?” asked +Billie, pointing to the demolished machine. +</p> +<p> +“Nothing,” he answered. “It’s all in, as far +as I can see.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, then may we have a souvenir?” demanded +Nancy. +</p> +<p> +“Help yourself,” he said, smiling faintly and +pressing his hand to his head, which was still +buzzing with the shock of the fall. +</p> +<p> +“You poor boy,” exclaimed Miss Campbell, +“come right along and let us take you somewhere. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21'></a>21</span> +You are suffering of course, and these foolish +girls are thinking of souvenirs.” +</p> +<p> +While the others assisted him across the field, +Nancy lingered beside the flying machine and +presently selected a piece of the machinery; you +would probably be no wiser if I told you what +piece it was, and certainly Nancy herself was as +ignorant of its purpose as a cat of a sewing machine. +She chose it because it was detached from +the rest and after she had climbed gingerly +through the wire fence she stored it away in an +inner chamber of the automobile and promptly +forgot all about it. +</p> +<p> +But long afterward she was to congratulate +herself on obeying first impulses, which are usually +the safest. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22'></a>22</span><a name='chII' id='chII'></a>CHAPTER II.—PETER.</h2> +<p> +They put the young man on the back seat between +Miss Campbell and Elinor, while Mary +climbed in front and shared Nancy’s seat beside +Chauffeur Billie. +</p> +<p> +“Where do you want to go?” asked that responsible +young woman, waiting to start the car +and addressing the aeroplanist over her shoulder. +</p> +<p> +“I’m on my way West.” +</p> +<p> +“So are we,” interrupted Billie. +</p> +<p> +“If you put me down at any convenient place +along the way, I’ll be very much obliged. I’m +going all the way to San Francisco.” +</p> +<p> +“But so are we,” cried the girls in one voice. +“We’re going across the continent.” +</p> +<p> +The young man smiled for the second time, a +charming smile which radiated his entire face +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23'></a>23</span> +and seemed to kindle two warm fires in his +steady brown eyes. +</p> +<p> +“In this?” he asked. +</p> +<p> +“Why not?” Elinor was saying, somewhat on +her mettle, when a motor cycle shot past them, +stopped abruptly and a man jumped off and +waited beside the road, signalling to them to stop +the car. +</p> +<p> +“Pardon me, but may I ask if you saw an aeroplane +fly past a little while ago?” +</p> +<p> +Before Billie, generally the spokesman, could +reply, the young stranger broke in: +</p> +<p> +“We saw one, but it is out of sight now.” +</p> +<p> +“Ah? Then it didn’t fall. I thought I saw it +drop. It looked very much as if he had lost control, +but I was too far away to tell.” +</p> +<p> +The man waited, but the four girls and Miss +Campbell remained discreetly silent, and the +wrecked aeroplanist leaned out and looked up skyward, +as if he were searching the heavens for +the lost airship. +</p> +<p> +“Although aeroplanes are not very apt to fly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24'></a>24</span> +about in great numbers,” went on the man sarcastically, +“I see you are not very observant when +they are about. I bid you good-day,” and touching +his cap with his hand like a salute, he leaped +on his motor cycle and sped down the road in a +cloud of dust. +</p> +<p> +“Dear me,” exclaimed Miss Campbell, “what +a crusty individual! But why not have told +him?” +</p> +<p> +“Because he happens to be my rival,” answered +the young man. “You see, a prize has been offered +for the one who flies across the continent +from San Francisco to Chicago in the shortest +time. Most of the aeroplanists think the prize +is too small for the risk, and so far only a few +have entered. This fellow, Duval, doesn’t want +any rivals, and he has done everything he could +to disqualify me for the race. He didn’t recognize +me, because he’s only seen me in leather +clothes with goggles and a cap on. You see, I +decided at the last moment this morning to fly +westward as far as I could. I suppose I am a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25'></a>25</span> +good deal like the Irishman who was challenged +to drink a pail of beer, and went into another +room and drank one first to see if he could.” +</p> +<p> +“But now you have no aeroplane,” observed +Nancy sadly. +</p> +<p> +“I have two. The other one was shipped to +San Francisco. Duval has a great many reasons +for keeping an eye on me. He wants to find out +what kind of machine I’m going to use. I have +kept that a profound secret, and he wants to +know how good I am at flying. You see, no one +has ever heard of me. I have never been to any +public meets. I have only practised—at—at our +place.” +</p> +<p> +“But,” interrupted Miss Campbell, “do you +think you will be able to do this tremendous +thing? Remember what you must cross? Not +only the Rocky Mountains but the desert.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s just as easy to fly over a desert as over +a prairie,” answered the young man. “Not long +ago a man flew from Italy over the Alps. If I +hadn’t sneezed this morning, I might have been +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26'></a>26</span> +sailing across the Illinois boundary this afternoon +and been well on my way into Iowa.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell and the girls regarded him +curiously. He appeared exceedingly self-confident +and very sensible, but that sneezing business +seemed a little thin. +</p> +<p> +“Do you mean to say,” cried Billie incredulously, +“that you expect to fly across the country +without sneezing.” +</p> +<p> +“I hope so,” he replied. “It’s a dangerous +thing to sneeze in any flying machine, although +the one I intend to use is of much finer make than +that thing which just broke down.” +</p> +<p> +Suddenly Nancy began to laugh. +</p> +<p> +“I believe you are guying us,” she said. +</p> +<p> +The young man flushed. +</p> +<p> +“It would be a nice return for your kindness.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t be offended,” put in Elinor. “She’s +only teasing, herself.” +</p> +<p> +It was now getting on toward noon. The crisp +morning air had sharpened their appetites and +it was agreed to stop at the next village for lunch. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27'></a>27</span> +In half an hour they had whirled into the main +street of a prosperous-looking middle-west town. +</p> +<p> +The motor guide book directed them to Snyder’s +and they presently pulled up in front of a +large frame building painted white with green +shutters. On the front piazza sat a number of +men in armchairs, their feet on the railing, smoking +and reading the morning papers. +</p> +<p> +Before they had time to get out, the aeroplanist +said to Miss Campbell: +</p> +<p> +“I am deeply obliged to you for your kindness. +My name is Peter Van Vechten. May I have the +honor of asking your names?” +</p> +<p> +There was quite an old-world courtesy about +this Peter Van Vechten that appealed to the little +lady, and she promptly introduced her girls +and herself. +</p> +<p> +Just at this moment a small racing car could +be seen coming toward them at a terrific +speed. People and vehicles scattered at its approach, +but just before it reached the Comet it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28'></a>28</span> +stopped short and a man jumped out and ran to +them. +</p> +<p> +“All right, Jackson,” said Peter Van Vechten. +“I suppose you got wind that the aeroplane was +wrecked and had a fright.” +</p> +<p> +“I did, sir, indeed. But a farmer had watched +through his glasses and he saw you get into a +motor. Thank heavens, you’re safe, sir.” +</p> +<p> +“Through the kindness of these ladies,” said +Peter. “Is the luggage all here?” +</p> +<p> +“It is, sir.” +</p> +<p> +“Then, with your permission, Miss Campbell, +I will say good-by. Thank you again. Perhaps +we may meet on the plains.” +</p> +<p> +“What month is the race?” asked Billie. +</p> +<p> +“In July. It starts the Fourth of July.” +</p> +<p> +“Good-by and good luck to you,” they cried, as +the departing aeroplanist leaped into the motor +car beside the chauffeur, and in another moment +they were out of sight. +</p> +<p> +For awhile things seemed rather dull to Miss +Campbell and the Motor Maids, such a romantic +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29'></a>29</span> +halo encircles the head of him who flies through +the air, and this ingratiating Peter Van Vechten, +with his reddish hair and his keen brown eyes, +also his polished manners, left a very deep impression +on them all. +</p> +<p> +The luncheon was poor. It was early dinner, +really, with cabbage and boiled mutton and very +stiff-looking mashed potatoes, watery canned peas +and leathery pie for dessert. They were glad to +get back to the Comet again and glad to be on +the road. +</p> +<p> +Already they seemed to have been traveling +an endless time. But the first day of a long journey +always affects people in this way. For some +inexplicable reason they were a little homesick. +The monotony of this level country oppressed +them, endless green fields, which had once been +vast prairie lands, covered with waving grass +and a multitude of wild flowers. +</p> +<p> +Late that afternoon, when they stopped for +gasoline at a garage in a thriving little village, +a group of men stood about the door talking. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30'></a>30</span> +</p> +<p> +“Escaped in a flying machine?” said one. +</p> +<p> +“It’s an up to date way to fly from justice,” +put in another. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, sir; I seen the paper myself at the hotel. +He was a first-class crook, and he left Chicago +this morning early in one of the flying machines +at the park, where they have been giving exhibitions. +They telegraphed it all over the country +when it was found out. I reckon he’s the smartest +crook in the world. The paper says ‘he eluded +his captors just as they were about to apprehend +him; dashed through the hotel door and jumped +in a taxi. At the park he showed a forged letter +signed Peter Van Vechten, one of the aeroplanists, +permitting him the use of one of the +aeroplanes for practice before the exhibition, and +in five minutes he was gone like a bird on the +wing. It was only a little while later that the +guardians at the parks found out their mistake. +Whether he is still flying over the country or has +lighted in some safe place, no one knows. So far +there is no trace of him whatever.’” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31'></a>31</span> +</p> +<p> +Strange were the sensations of the Motor +Maids and Miss Campbell as they listened to this +remarkable tale. +</p> +<p> +The tank was filled, and Billie, after asking for +the right road, started the machine. It was a silent +and rather sad company. +</p> +<p> +They had traveled more than a hundred miles +that day because it had been their object to leave +the Middle West behind them as soon as possible, +for the more romantic regions beyond. +</p> +<p> +At last Miss Campbell burst out: +</p> +<p> +“I don’t believe it. That nice brown-eyed boy!” +</p> +<p> +“Neither do we,” echoed the others. “It’s impossible.” +</p> +<p> +This somewhat relieved their feelings, and +when they reached the town where they had +planned to spend the night they were talking +cheerfully. +</p> +<p> +While they were freshening up for supper half +an hour later, Miss Campbell felt in her black silk +reticule for her purse, Billie having paid all bills +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32'></a>32</span> +that day with the ready change with which she +had provided herself. +</p> +<p> +“My dears,” gasped the poor little lady, +“where is it?” +</p> +<p> +“What, Cousin Helen,” cried Billie, frightened +at the expressions of doubt and agitation which +chased themselves across her relative’s face. +</p> +<p> +“My purse, child! My silver-mounted Morocco +purse. I thought I had it in my reticule, +but where is it?” +</p> +<p> +They emptied the reticule. They looked in +their own handbags and even went to the garage +and searched the Comet. But Miss Campbell’s +purse containing fifty dollars was gone. +</p> +<p> +“At any rate, Billie,” whispered Nancy that +night when they had stretched themselves +wearily on the hardish bed in the hotel, “at any +rate, he had the nicest, kindest brown eyes I ever +saw.” +</p> +<p> +“Even now,” answered Billie, “there may be +some mistake.” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33'></a>33</span><a name='chIII' id='chIII'></a>CHAPTER III.—IN SEARCH OF A DINNER.</h2> +<p> +“This is assuredly a land of peace and plenty,” +observed Miss Campbell, somewhat sleepily, as +she leaned back in the seat and half closed her +eyes. +</p> +<p> +“Meaning ‘too much of a muchness,’ Cousin +Helen,” teased Billie. “Are you beginning to +yearn already for something to happen?” +</p> +<p> +“My dear, how can you suggest such things?” +cried her relative opening her blue eyes wide in +an innocent protest of such an accusation. “An +aged spinster like me craving excitement! What +an idea!” +</p> +<p> +“But Iowa is not thrilling,” admitted Elinor. +“These endless cornfields are like a sea without +ship and what could be duller than a sail-less +ocean?” +</p> +<p> +“But there are farm houses,” put in Mary. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34'></a>34</span> +</p> +<p> +“Just stupid wooden buildings,” answered +Elinor scornfully. +</p> +<p> +The truth is our five tourists still felt the inevitable +homesickness which rarely fails to come +during the first few days of a long journey before +one is settled into the groove of traveling. +The hard beds and uninteresting food of the +small hotels of the Middle West had not helped +to dispel their vision of West Haven seated on its +bluff looking out across the bay. Its hilly streets +and comfortable old houses mellowing each year +into a softer, deeper gray came back to them +now with a pang. Nancy yearned infinitely to +be sitting at that moment before the driftwood +fire in their sitting room while her father smoked +an old black pipe and blinked at the crackling +flames and her mother hummed softly to herself +over her mending basket. Even Americus, her +teasing brother, would have gladdened her eyes +just then. +</p> +<p> +Mary was thinking of her pretty mother standing +at the door of the Tea Cup Inn in a trim gray +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35'></a>35</span> +chambray dress with its white muslin fichu. +Elinor was too proud to admit even in the secret +chambers of her mind the voice from home which +kept calling to her across the spaces. As for +Miss Helen Campbell she could not efface from +her mind a dainty little vignette of herself seated +at her own breakfast table; on her head was her +favorite lace breakfast cap trimmed with knots +of blue ribbon and separating her from her beloved +Billie across the table was the steaming silver +coffee urn. This enticing picture persisted +in passing before her mental vision, perhaps because +breakfast that morning had been unspeakable. +</p> +<p> +Billie also was silent. She was trying to explain +to herself why this wave of homesickness +had come over them. Was it the flatness and +monotony of highly cultivated farm lands which +they ought to admire and be proud of seeing since +this vast territory had once been the home of the +buffalo and the prairie dog? +</p> +<p> +“I know what’s the matter with us,” she cried +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36'></a>36</span> +suddenly, breaking the long silence which had +fallen on the company. +</p> +<p> +“There’s nothing in the world the matter with +me, child,” interrupted Miss Campbell guiltily. +</p> +<p> +“I’m sure there is, dearest cousin. You know +you can’t hide anything from your most intimate +relative. We are all of us in the dumps and have +been for more than a day. We are desperately +homesick! Aren’t we now, as man to man?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” admitted the others in a gloomy chorus. +</p> +<p> +“On this the third day of our voyage, while we +are still in shallow water, as papa would say, +there is not one of us who would not be glad to +turn back again to the next railroad station, ship +the Comet home by freight and take the first train +to West Haven. Isn’t it the truth?” +</p> +<p> +This frank declaration was greeted in silence. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, it’s not quite as bad as that, dear,” said +Miss Campbell at last. +</p> +<p> +“But almost,” added Nancy. +</p> +<p> +“Think of what we’ve got before us. Think +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37'></a>37</span> +of the splendid great West—think of the broad +plains——” +</p> +<p> +“Plains,” interrupted Elinor in a tone of weariness. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, plains,” went on Billie, summoning all +the eloquence she could command, “not like this, +but marvelous great stretches of country filled +with beautiful color; think of the ranches we +wanted so much to see——” +</p> +<p> +“And the cowboys,” suggested Nancy. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, and the Indians, and the forests and—and +the Rocky Mountains, and last of all, California!” +</p> +<p> +Billie paused for breath. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I’m thinking of them,” observed Miss +Campbell. +</p> +<p> +“And doesn’t the prospect please you, Cousin +Helen?” +</p> +<p> +Billie had slowed down the car and now turned +to look at her cousin’s face. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t you think it will be thrilling, exciting, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38'></a>38</span> +wonderful to have the Comet take us across all +of this interesting country?” +</p> +<p> +The corners of Miss Campbell’s lips drooped +and she gave a pathetic smile. +</p> +<p> +“It would, dearest Billie, I am sure it would +appear to me in all its true glory if I wasn’t so—so +very hungry.” +</p> +<p> +Hungry! Here was a solution of this great depression. +They were all of them famished with +hunger. Not a decent meal had they eaten for +two days. It was hunger gnawing at their vitals +that had plunged them into the very depths of +homesickness. +</p> +<p> +In the automobile was a complete outfit for +cooking, a little alcohol stove and various dainty +little utensils made of aluminum, all a rather +costly present from their old friend, Mr. Ignatius +Donahue, which he had sent, on being informed +of the great journey of the Motor Maids across +the continent. +</p> +<p> +“Have a piece of chocolate and a graham +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39'></a>39</span> +cracker, Miss Campbell?” Mary was asking in a +tone of sympathy. +</p> +<p> +“Heavens, no, child,” replied the little lady as +near to being cross as she had ever been in her +life. “Don’t offer me such rubbish, as a substitute +for good beefsteak and coffee that’s really +coffee?” +</p> +<p> +“Let’s set up housekeeping,” cried Billie, “and +start in ten minutes by stopping at the next farm +house for supplies!” +</p> +<p> +“Why not?” echoed her disciple, Nancy. +“We’ve got the alcohol stove with two burners +and Elinor’s tea basket and some china besides.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s a very sensible idea,” said Miss Campbell, +her spirits rising at the suggestion. “I feel, +if I could get something tasteful to eat, I might +be able to support existence across the plains and +the mountains and through the forests, but just +at present, I—well, I assure you, I am quite +empty.” +</p> +<p> +“We have some things, remember,” put in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40'></a>40</span> +Mary. “Mr. Donahue’s box had bacon in it +and lots of jam and potted cheese——” +</p> +<p> +“I think some fresh eggs would be acceptable,” +observed Miss Campbell. +</p> +<p> +Billie turned the Comet in at a patent gate +which could be operated from the vehicle. Giving +a rope which dangled from the horizontal pole +a jerk the gate swung back on its groove. They +rolled onto a macadamized driveway leading up +to the farm buildings. +</p> +<p> +“One farm’s as good as another,” announced +Billie, as she gave the rope on the other side of +the gate a vigorous pull. But something had got +twisted and it refused to return to its natural +position. Billie and Nancy jumped out and tried +to push the gate, but their united efforts were unavailing. +They swung on the rope together, +when suddenly, snap, it broke and they both tumbled +backward in a laughing heap. They were +still giggling and brushing the dust from their +clothes when a strange looking vehicle came into +the avenue and stopped beside them. It seemed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41'></a>41</span> +to be composed chiefly of a seat, two rubber tired +wheels and a shaft with no place particularly to +rest the feet. Hitched to this peculiar conveyance +was a beautiful high-stepping thoroughbred +horse, and on the rather precarious seat very near +to the horse’s tail sat a sunburned young farmer +dressed in a brown corduroy suit and leather leggings. +He had a ruddy face, humorous blue eyes +and close-cropped hair. +</p> +<p> +“Anything I can do for you, ladies?” he asked, +holding the prancing horse with a tight rein. +</p> +<p> +“I—I’m afraid we have broken your gate,” answered +Billie. “We are sorry, but you see we +aren’t used to gates like this, and I think it went +back too suddenly.” +</p> +<p> +The young man smiled good naturedly. +</p> +<p> +“It’s only slipped its trolley,” he said. “If one +of you could hold Pocohontas for me, I’ll fix it in +a second.” +</p> +<p> +Billie stood at Pocohontas’ head, rather proud +of the office, such a beautiful mare was this thoroughbred +with her quivering nostrils and arched +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42'></a>42</span> +neck, while the farmer lifted the gate into its +groove. +</p> +<p> +“You are driving up to the house?” he asked +politely. +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” replied Miss Campbell. “We wondered +if we could make a few purchases there?” +</p> +<p> +“Of horses or cattle?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, dear me, no,” she answered, her pink +cheeks deepening to a rosier hue. “Only food. +Fresh eggs and cream and fresh butter, and perhaps +a young chicken, if you have any tender +ones, and fresh bread, too.” +</p> +<p> +Her appetite was growing as she recounted +her desires in the way of food. +</p> +<p> +The young man smiled most delightfully. +</p> +<p> +“We have all those things, I believe,” he replied, +“for use at the house. Do you live near +here?” +</p> +<p> +“No, no. We live some thousand and more +miles away from here. We are taking a motor +trip across the continent, but since we left Chicago, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43'></a>43</span> +we—we have suffered a little from hunger——” +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell’s voice was slightly tremulous. +</p> +<p> +There was a pause, and then the four girls +burst out laughing. The young farmer joined +in heartily. +</p> +<p> +“In fact, sir,” went on Miss Campbell, smiling +sweetly on the young man, “we are <em>very</em> +hungry.” +</p> +<p> +“That is really too bad,” he exclaimed, making +an effort to compose his face. “These country +hotels are dreadful, I know from experience. If +you had only visited private houses, I am sure +you would have been well fed. But, if you will +just go up to the house, I will follow and we’ll +see what can be done in the way of provisions.” +</p> +<p> +It was evident that Pocohontas did not care +for the Comet. She curvetted and circled around +and stood on her hind legs in a most alarming +manner. Suddenly, with a wild neigh, she made +for the open field at one side of the road. Her +driver, taken by surprise, was thrown backward. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44'></a>44</span> +It was an easy fall on soft turf, and no harm +would have been done if his foot had not got +caught in a loop on the reins and, to their horror, +they saw him dragged after the sulky, in danger +of being killed at any moment. +</p> +<p> +Giving the motor car a sharp turn, Billie put +on all speed and followed the runaway. In another +instant they had covered the width of the +field, some distance above Pocohontas’ mad +course. With a bound, Billie leaped to the +ground, and as the mare came tearing up, the +young girl jumped at her bridle, caught it with +one hand, was dragged a few feet, then seized it +with the other, and held on with all her might. +Pocohontas was a small horse, and not difficult +to curb, once her reins were in a good grip. She +stopped, reared back, and then stood perfectly +still, quivering all over in a state of palsied excitement. +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell had shrieked and covered her +face with her hands to shut out the dreadful sight +of Billie being trampled to death. But Billie had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45'></a>45</span> +a cool head and a brave heart, and such excellent +qualities make a wonderful combination. The +other girls jumped out of the car and hastened to +the farmer, while across the fields farm hands +came running from every direction. +</p> +<p> +The young man had only lost consciousness +for a moment, and when his foot was disentangled +from that diabolical loop, he was able to stagger +to his feet. +</p> +<p> +“Are you much hurt, Mr. Moore,” demanded +two of the men supporting him on either side, +while two others relieved Billie of the excitable +Pocohontas. +</p> +<p> +“Only a sprain,” he answered. “This brave +young lady has saved my life.” +</p> +<p> +“I’m afraid our motor car caused all the +trouble,” exclaimed Billie. She never said “my +motor car.” Her friends often noticed this. But +she had been brought up by a very genuine and +fine man, and was as modest and simple as her +father himself. +</p> +<p> +“You had better get into the car and let us +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46'></a>46</span> +take you home,” said Miss Campbell who had +recovered from her fright. +</p> +<p> +For the second time since they left Chicago, +they now found themselves giving a lift to a +strange young man. In another five minutes +the Comet drew up at the front door of a big +frame farmhouse painted white, with green shutters. +Everything about it was exceedingly neat, +although there was a certain emptiness in the +prospect, perhaps because there were no flower +beds in the yard and also no curtains at any of +the windows which stared down at them like so +many eyeless sockets. However, they were rather +surprised when the front door was opened by a +Japanese butler in a white linen suit. A second +Japanese servant followed and they assisted their +master out of the motor car. +</p> +<p> +“Ladies,” said Mr. Moore, his face twitching +with the pain of his sprained leg, “may I ask you +into my home. It will be a great pleasure and +honor, I am sure. My name is Daniel Moore. I +am a lonely bachelor farmer, and I shall take it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47'></a>47</span> +as a particular compliment if you will join me at +lunch.” +</p> +<p> +“But I am afraid you are in great pain, Mr. +Moore,” protested Miss Campbell. +</p> +<p> +“Not in the least, I assure you, madam. My +leg is only a little twisted. I shall be walking on +it in an hour. You just now confessed that you +were hungry. So am I. Takamini, luncheon for +six.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell, at the mention of lunch, +stepped nimbly down from the car and followed +him into the house with the girls. +</p> +<p> +Would it not have been exceedingly foolish to +have declined an invitation for a good square +meal? And they hoped it would be good and +square. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48'></a>48</span><a name='chIV' id='chIV'></a>CHAPTER IV.—THE THREE WISHES.</h2> +<p> +“It’s a queer thing,” declared Nancy, when +Takamini had shown them into two neat bare-looking +bedrooms upstairs, “it’s really a very +strange thing indeed.” +</p> +<p> +“What?” demanded her friends. +</p> +<p> +“That our wish has come true, just as if we +had rubbed Aladdin’s lamp. We wished for a +dinner and we got it.” +</p> +<p> +“We haven’t got it yet,” said Elinor sceptically. +</p> +<p> +But Nancy was a very superstitious young person, +who put infinite faith in the Rule of Three. +</p> +<p> +“We shall have it in an hour. That’s what +Takamini told us just now. And if two wishes +come true, three will, so I’m going to make another.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49'></a>49</span> +</p> +<p> +“But what is the second wish, Nancy-Bell?” +they asked. +</p> +<p> +“Didn’t we all of us wish not to be homesick?” +</p> +<p> +“We didn’t say so.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, anyway, we thought so. And thinking +is the same as speaking. That wish has come +true because the homesickness has all gone, hasn’t +it?” +</p> +<p> +They were obliged to admit that it had. The +adventure had dispelled their doleful vapors. +</p> +<p> +“We should all unite on the third wish, then,” +said Mary, “seeing that the other wishes were +common to everybody.” +</p> +<p> +“What shall it be, then?” demanded Nancy. +“Quick, before the luck gets by.” +</p> +<p> +“Foolish child,” said Miss Campbell, “I believe +that little head of yours is cramful of nonsense.” +</p> +<p> +“You are a doubter, Miss Campbell,” objected +Nancy. “We shall have to banish you from the +magic circle if you feel that way. You cast a +dark shadow over the spell.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50'></a>50</span> +</p> +<p> +“Oh, no, dear, don’t make me an outsider, I +beg of you. I promise not to scoff.” +</p> +<p> +The truth is, Miss Campbell was slightly superstitious +herself. +</p> +<p> +“But what is to be the wish?” they asked. +</p> +<p> +“Something we all of us want.” +</p> +<p> +It is difficult to make one wish common to five +separate and distinct individualities. +</p> +<p> +“I might wish to get my fifty dollars back,” +observed Miss Campbell, “only I don’t look for +miracles.” +</p> +<p> +“We might wish for a safe journey to San +Francisco,” laughed Billie; “but that would cover +too much ground for one wish.” +</p> +<p> +“Suppose we wish to see Peter Van Vechten +again soon,” suggested Nancy. +</p> +<p> +Not one of the five ladies who would not have +been pleased, secretly of course, to meet once +more that strange adventurer of the skies, in +spite of the grave suspicion which rested upon +him. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51'></a>51</span> +</p> +<p> +“You might ask him for your purse, Cousin +Helen,” suggested Billie. +</p> +<p> +“I shall always believe there was some mistake,” +answered her cousin. +</p> +<p> +“Anyhow, let’s take the chances and wish for +another meeting,” said Elinor, “then Miss Campbell +can say, ‘Mr. Van Vechten, kindly restore +my property.’ Only she won’t, because she hates +to hurt other people’s feelings.” +</p> +<p> +“Very well, then, all at once,” cried Nancy, +forcing them into a close circle. “Now join hands +and close your eyes and make the silent wish. +Concentrate two minutes.” +</p> +<p> +“Nancy, dear, I think you have been studying +dream books,” exclaimed Miss Campbell, amused +at this ridiculous mummery. +</p> +<p> +Nevertheless, at precisely two minutes to one +o’clock by the timepiece on the mantel, five pairs +of hands joined together and five identical and +simultaneous wishes went forth into space. Five +little thought messengers linked together by a +single wish, went out together into the vast universe. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52'></a>52</span> +Then they separated and each took a different +direction in search of that mysterious birdman, +whose eyes at least were clear and brown +and honest. And the first little winged thought +who found Peter Van Vechten was to summon +his aerial brothers from the ether. Promptly +they would join hands and dancing in a circle +about his head, as each passed an ear would +whisper the message. +</p> +<p> +When the clock struck one the Motor Maids +and Miss Campbell unlocked hands, and smiling +quite gravely, considering it was all a joke, proceeded +with their toilet for the luncheon of glorious +anticipation. +</p> +<p> +That Mr. Daniel Moore’s establishment was +guiltless of any woman’s touch was plainly evident. +There was not a sign of femininity about +it. It was as bare as a barracks and as plain as +an old shoe. But the beds were soft and comfortable, +as Miss Campbell could testify, for she +took a nap on one of them in the interval which +must be spent before lunch was announced. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53'></a>53</span> +</p> +<p> +After the girls had fluffed up their front hair +or smoothed it out according to custom, and had +brushed every fleck of dust from their neat traveling +skirts, and washed the stains of the journey +from their fresh young faces, they began to look +about the rooms, to peer from the windows and +peep into the hall, while they talked in whispers. +</p> +<p> +On a shelf in one of the rooms were some +books, the one human touch they noticed. Mary, +always a bookworm, began dipping her inquisitive +little nose into these immediately. She had +opened a volume of Kipling’s poems and was +reading aloud in a sing-song voice: +</p> +<p> + “On the road to Mandalay,<br /> + Where the flying fishes play——”<br /> +</p> +<p> +when something fell from between the pages into +her lap. It was a souvenir postcard, which had, +apparently, been serving as a book-mark. Without +meaning to pry, Mary picked it up and turned +it over to look at the picture on the other side, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54'></a>54</span> +which proved to be a photograph of a lovely girl +holding a Boston bull terrier on a leash. She +was tall and slender, and seemed to sway toward +them from the picture like a young tree in the +wind. It had evidently been quite breezy when +the picture was taken, for one hand grasped her +broad-brimmed felt hat, while the other held the +dog leash. She was smiling, too, and there was +a gay light in her eyes which seemed to challenge +the whole world to make her sad. +</p> +<p> +Mary had not meant to read the message written +across the picture, but is it ever possible to +examine a picture on a postcard without taking +in the words at the bottom? Besides, it was a +harmless message: +</p> +<p> + “A snapshot smile from Evelyn.<br /> + <br/> + Salt Lake City, Utah.”<br /> +</p> +<p> +Now, Salt Lake City was a place of intense +interest to the Motor Maids. They regarded it +as a traveler in the Orient might look upon one +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55'></a>55</span> +of those mysterious Eastern cities where women +went veiled and faces peeped at one from behind +obscure gratings. +</p> +<p> +“Do you suppose this pretty girl is a Mormon?” +exclaimed Mary, exhibiting the photograph. +</p> +<p> +“She is much too pretty to be a Mormon,” said +Nancy decisively. +</p> +<p> +“Can’t Mormons be handsome?” asked Billie, +looking at the postcard over Nancy’s shoulder. +</p> +<p> +“They are just like other people, goosie,” put +in Elinor, nevertheless looking at the picture with +extreme interest. +</p> +<p> +“I always imagined the men were tall and thin +with lantern jaws and long white beards, and the +women were small and plain with straight hair +twisted into scraggy little knots behind.” +</p> +<p> +They were still laughing over Nancy’s vague +idea of the citizens of Salt Lake City when the +Japanese servant gave them a start by appearing +at the door as noiselessly as one who walked on +air. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56'></a>56</span> +</p> +<p> +“Luncheon is served,” he announced rapidly in +a funny high voice. +</p> +<p> +It was almost impossible to conceal from him +their eagerness to be at table. Nancy secretly +hoped there would be fried chicken, but she didn’t +care really if only there were no canned vegetables +in bird-seed dishes. They all wondered if +their host would be able to appear despite his +maimed leg. +</p> +<p> +But he was there to meet them, waiting in the +living room of the farmhouse, which was fitted +up quite comfortably with big easy chairs, an immense +writing table, and many books on shelves +lining the walls. Mr. Moore’s wholesome, manly +face showed not a trace of the pain he had endured +an hour ago, and when he led the way to +the dining room, it was with only a slight limp. +</p> +<p> +“But I thought you had a bad sprain, Mr. +Moore,” said Miss Campbell, “and here I find you +walking as well as any of us.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s all gone,” he answered. “I—” he hesitated +a moment. “I——” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57'></a>57</span> +</p> +<p> +But the fragrance of the viands about to be set +before them drove all other thoughts from their +minds. +</p> +<p> +It was all a curious adventure, indeed. Here +was an entire stranger dispensing hospitality to +them most graciously, and here were they, even +that fastidious and dainty little lady, eating with +appetites of starving people. +</p> +<p> +There was no fried chicken, but there were +beefsteak and mushrooms and new potatoes and +asparagus, a very fine expensive salad made of +grapefruit, and as a last perfect touch, strawberries +and cream. +</p> +<p> +The motor party had planned to leave Mr. +Moore’s place half an hour after lunch and start +on their travels again, but while they feasted +black clouds had been piling themselves into a +formidable storm and now came flashes of lightning +and the rumble of thunder. The house +grew so dark that Takamini lit some candles and +placed them on the table. +</p> +<p> +Then came the rain, pouring in torrents. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58'></a>58</span> +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell looked uncomfortable. +</p> +<p> +“I am afraid, Mr. Moore, you have undertaken +more than you expected,” she said. +</p> +<p> +But Mr. Moore was quite equal to this call +upon his hospitality. “I hope it will be one of our +three-day storms,” he said smiling cordially. +“The roads would be far too muddy for motoring +then, and I should have the pleasure of entertaining +you longer.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, we couldn’t let you do that, Mr. Moore. +You are too kind. We must go to the next town +and stop at the hotel.” +</p> +<p> +“I assure you, Miss Campbell, you are like +messengers from heaven. You came in the nick +of time to keep me from being plunged into such +a state of gloom I might never have come out +of it.” +</p> +<p> +“But you don’t look gloomy,” protested Nancy. +</p> +<p> +“I know,” he replied. “People of my complexion +never get the credit for being melancholy. +But occasionally, you know, we are subject to +spasms due chiefly to loneliness, I think.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59'></a>59</span> +</p> +<p> +They had drifted back into the sitting room +now and the rain was beating on the windows +in torrents. It was chilly, and they were glad to +see Takamini light a wood fire in the open brick +fire-place. Miss Campbell, seated in a big leather +chair in the chimney corner, dozed off in the +warmth of the firelight, her head drooping to one +side like a tired little bird’s. +</p> +<p> +The four girls gathered around the table, while +Mr. Moore taking a large atlas from a +shelf, opened at the map of the United States +and spread it on the table. +</p> +<p> +“Now,” he said, “tell me about the trip. Are +you the captain of the expedition, Miss Billie?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” replied the others in unison. +</p> +<p> +“Cousin Helen is the general,” said Billie, “and +we are just her staff. I am chief guide because +I know how to run the motor, but everybody has +a place. We could never give these parties if +one of us dropped out.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, it’s a jolly party,” said their host. “You +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60'></a>60</span> +are five very brave ladies, I think. I only know +one other as brave.” +</p> +<p> +“Does she live in Salt Lake City?” asked +Nancy innocently. +</p> +<p> +The other girls looked annoyed and Nancy herself +was sorry after she had made this impulsive +speech. But Daniel Moore was not at all annoyed. +He was only a little surprised. +</p> +<p> +“Why, yes,” he answered, “you guessed right +the very first time. How did it happen?” +</p> +<p> +“Well,” began Nancy and paused, greatly embarrassed, +“I just guessed,” which was a perfectly +true statement. +</p> +<p> +“You are a very good guesser, then, Miss +Nancy. Perhaps you would like to see a picture +of the young lady who is as brave as you are.” +</p> +<p> +“Do show it to us,” they exclaimed with enthusiasm. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Moore opened a table drawer and produced +a large photograph of the same beautiful girl +whose face they had seen hardly an hour before +smiling at them from the postcard. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61'></a>61</span> +</p> +<p> +“How pretty she is!” ejaculated Nancy. +</p> +<p> +“Isn’t she?” he answered quite frankly. +</p> +<p> +“And is she a Mormon?” demanded Mary. +</p> +<p> +“She isn’t; but her father is,” he answered, a +frown wrinkling his brow. “Her father is the +most confounded old Mormon that ever grew up +in the faith. He thinks that all non-Mormons are +just kittle-kattle.” +</p> +<p> +“And is that the reason—” began Nancy, +while her friends trembled for fear of what the +inquisitive child would ask next. +</p> +<p> +“The reason I was so blue?” he asked gently. +“It certainly was. You guessed right again. If +you had six guesses, I believe you would get six +secrets from me, Miss Nancy,” he laughed. +</p> +<p> +“Then you are not a Mormon?” asked Billie. +</p> +<p> +“Most assuredly not. I was born in Kentucky, +educated at Harvard and settled on this farm +my uncle left me three years ago. But before +that I spent some time in Salt Lake City.” +</p> +<p> +“What a shame!” exclaimed Mary. +</p> +<p> +“What’s a shame?” he asked. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62'></a>62</span> +</p> +<p> +Mary blushed and stammered. +</p> +<p> +“That you—that she—I mean, that the +father——” +</p> +<p> +“It is a shame,” he interrupted, evidently enjoying +his confession to the four earnest young +girls immensely. “And the worst of it is that I +can’t even write to her and as for seeing her, I +might as well try and see the Empress of China. +I can’t get a letter to her because all her mail is +opened by that old dragon of a father.” +</p> +<p> +“And can’t Evelyn write to you?” asked Nancy, +her eyes as big as saucers. +</p> +<p> +Daniel Moore began laughing joyfully. +</p> +<p> +“I’ve caught you,” he cried, his handsome face +lit up with merriment. Nancy could have bit her +tongue for having thoughtlessly mentioned the +girl’s name. The other girls could not help joining +in the laughter. Miss Campbell waked up a +moment, smiled sleepily at the group and closed +her eyes again. The thunder of the rain on the +roof and the whistle of the wind as it blew +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63'></a>63</span> +around the corner of the house muffled their +voices into far-away sounds. +</p> +<p> +“Confess, now, Miss Nancy. You know this +young lady.” +</p> +<p> +“Only by sight.” +</p> +<p> +He looked at her puzzled. +</p> +<p> +“You’ve met her somewhere perhaps?” +</p> +<p> +“Only her snapshot smile.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, ho!” he cried. “You’ve been reading +Kipling.” +</p> +<p> +Nancy bowed her head. +</p> +<p> +“We couldn’t help reading the message at the +same time we saw the postcard. We know it was +impolite.” +</p> +<p> +“I only wish it had been more of a message,” +said Daniel Moore. “It was the last one I have +ever had from her.” +</p> +<p> +“Why don’t you go and find her?” suggested +gallant Billie. +</p> +<p> +“I have been,” he answered. “I’ve almost +camped out in front of her house. I’ve done +about everything I could do without breaking +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64'></a>64</span> +down the door and abducting her. If I could +only get one more message to her, somehow——” +</p> +<p> +“Why couldn’t we take it?” asked Billie. +“We’re going to Salt Lake City.” +</p> +<p> +Daniel Moore rested his chin on his hand and +sat thinking. +</p> +<p> +“Why, you could,” he said at last. “You could +do that thing for me and I would be everlastingly +in your debt. It could be done in this way without +any risk for any one concerned. You could +write her a note as if you were an old school +friend and ask her to meet you.” +</p> +<p> +“But she wouldn’t know who I was,” protested +Billie. +</p> +<p> +“No; I’m thinking of that, too. But she would +recognise this line: ‘Have you forgotten that +jolly day at Fontainebleau?’” +</p> +<p> +“Oh,” said Billie. +</p> +<p> +“Then you could give her the note from me and +that would be all you had to do.” +</p> +<p> +At this moment the master of the house was +called away by one of the servants, and the girls +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65'></a>65</span> +began discussing in low voices the romantic errand +which was to cast a glamour of even greater +interest around Salt Lake City. As they leaned +over the maps chatting together there was a +blinding flash of lightning and a terrific clap of +thunder. Miss Campbell, frightened from her +nap, hurried to them. They waited a moment in +silence. Presently far down the avenue they +heard the whirr of a motor car. There was something +ominous and terrifying in the sound. Another +moment, it had stopped in front of the +house. The hall door was flung open; there was +the noise of hurrying footsteps; then the living-room +door was opened and in the dim light there +stood before them, just for the fraction of a second, +Peter Van Vechten. There was a wild look +in his eyes which searched their faces without +recognition. The door closed as suddenly as it +had opened, and he was gone. +</p> +<p> +“The third wish came true,” whispered Nancy +as they pressed together in frightened wonder. +</p> +<p> +Presently there was a noise of footsteps and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66'></a>66</span> +low voices in the hall. All the household must +have been gathered there speaking in muffled +tones. Tramp, tramp, tramp down the hall went +the footsteps. A door closed somewhere and all +was as still as death. Then came the sound of +the motor again, gradually dying out as it flew +down the avenue. +</p> +<p> +Had anything happened, they wondered. They +were frightened and uneasy. The house seemed +to be filled with a mysterious silence. +</p> +<p> +Their host did not come back to them that afternoon, +but retiring to their rooms they put on +their prettiest frocks to do honor to his dinner, +where he joined them at seven o’clock, looking a +little pale and worried, they thought. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67'></a>67</span><a name='chV' id='chV'></a>CHAPTER V.—AN INCIDENT OF THE ROAD.</h2> +<p> +“Sevenoaks” was the name of Mr. Moore’s +great farm, which covered acres and acres of fertile +plain; called so because of seven great oak +trees which shaded the circular drive girdling the +front lawn. They were fine old trees, and much +care had been taken to preserve them in order to +preserve the significance of the name. +</p> +<p> +“If I were Evelyn,” Nancy was thinking, as +she stood next morning on the piazza scanning +the storm-washed landscape now fast drying under +the heat of the sun, “I should think it would +be rather nice to be mistress of this beautiful +place.” +</p> +<p> +But Evelyn’s name had not been mentioned +again, and the name of the aviator also had never +been introduced. The girls had waited, hoping +there might be some explanation, but there was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68'></a>68</span> +none, and they did not care to be accused of another +act of curiosity. +</p> +<p> +What he could have been doing in that house, +where he came from out of the storm and whither +he went, they could not even guess. It was like +a dream, a sudden vision flashed before them in +the lightning and then gone. +</p> +<p> +They had been driven over the farm that morning +by the master himself; had seen, with the +other fine horses, Pocohontas pawing the ground +with her small forefoot, while a groom rubbed +her smooth, satin coat with a piece of chamois. +And now the Comet stood under the center tree +of the seven oaks, waiting to carry them on their +journey. +</p> +<p> +One Japanese servant was strapping on the +suit cases in the back while the other was storing +a hamper of lunch and a box of provisions +in the motor. +</p> +<p> +While Billie was waiting for the others to settle +themselves in the motor, Daniel Moore handed +her a letter. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69'></a>69</span> +</p> +<p> +“The name and address are on it,” he said; +“but promise me one thing: Don’t deliver it if you +feel any fear or hesitation. All I can say is, that +if you do, you will probably be making two people +happy forever, because I can’t seem to get at her +in any other way, and I have a conviction they +have made her believe I have given her up. If +you should ever need me,” he added, “telegraph +me to this address.” +</p> +<p> +Then, with a last hand-shake and nods and +smiles of farewell and waving of handkerchiefs, +the red motor car shot down the avenue and they +were off. +</p> +<p> +The handsome, kindly face of the owner of +Sevenoaks with his genial blue-gray eyes and his +pleasant smile seemed to float after them like a +good genie along the way. +</p> +<p> +They lunched on the roadside that day under +a big mulberry tree. A spring rippled near-by +on purpose for Elinor’s tea and they sat on cushions +on the ground, picnic fashion. It was great +fun, and there was much to talk about. Billie +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70'></a>70</span> +drew out the letter and showed it to the girls. +“Miss Evelyn Stone, No. 6 —— Street, Salt +Lake City, Utah.” +</p> +<p> +Before delivering the letter the girls realized +that they must obtain Miss Campbell’s consent, +and they had been putting their heads together +to devise a scheme by which their sprightly little +chaperone should be won over to the cause of the +lovers. +</p> +<p> +“Cousin Helen,” began Billie, “did you notice +anything peculiar about Mr. Moore?” +</p> +<p> +“Peculiar? No. I thought he was one of the +most normal, well set-up, well-bred young men I +had ever met.” +</p> +<p> +“So did we,” echoed the girls. “We liked him +so much.” +</p> +<p> +“But didn’t you notice how sad he was, +cousin.” +</p> +<p> +“On the contrary, I thought he seemed very +gay.” +</p> +<p> +“He told us he was sad, at any rate. His heart +is almost breaking.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71'></a>71</span> +</p> +<p> +“Tut, tut!” said Miss Campbell, “he has much +too good a circulation for such nonsense.” +</p> +<p> +“But he’s in love, Miss Campbell,” cried +Elinor. +</p> +<p> +“Deeply, hopelessly in love,” added Mary. +</p> +<p> +“With a beautiful girl,” went on Billie. +</p> +<p> +“Who has a cruel father——” +</p> +<p> +“Who is a Mormon——” +</p> +<p> +“And won’t let her marry any one but Mormons——” +</p> +<p> +“Mormons,” cried Miss Campbell. “She can +have only one at a time, child——” +</p> +<p> +“And Mr. Moore is not a Mormon. He’s a +Kentuckian,” finished Nancy. +</p> +<p> +“Dear, dear,” ejaculated Miss Campbell. “So +that’s the way the ground lies, is it? Poor fellow! +Poor unhappy soul. I’m sure I feel very +sorry for him indeed!” +</p> +<p> +“He is unhappy, dearest cousin, and he can’t +reach her without breaking down the door,” went +on Billie. “Her father reads all her mail and +Mr. Moore simply can’t get at her.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72'></a>72</span> +</p> +<p> +“Has the girl no mother to take her side? I +don’t wish to preach disobedience, but why +doesn’t she run away? She might look the wide +world over and never find a nicer husband than +that fine young man.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s what he can’t understand,” said Billie. +“His letters have all been returned and he thinks +they have told her something about him.” +</p> +<p> +“He says if he could only get one more message +to her——” +</p> +<p> +“Just a line——” +</p> +<p> +“Just a word——” +</p> +<p> +“And we——” +</p> +<p> +“And we’ve got the word,” finished Billie in +great excitement, flourishing the letter. “We are +not to deliver it if we feel that it would be dangerous, +but if we can manage to slip it to her it +will make two people very happy.” +</p> +<p> +“But how can it be done? It sounds like a +very risky adventure to me.” +</p> +<p> +The girls exchanged sly glances while Billie +related the plan. Many a time had they won Miss +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73'></a>73</span> +Campbell over to their schemes by touching her +romantic heart. +</p> +<p> +“It’s quite simple, you see, Cousin Helen. The +mention of Fontainebleau will explain everything +to Evelyn. You see, they met in Paris, and spent +one beautiful day together at Fontainebleau.” +</p> +<p> +There was a long pause while Miss Campbell +considered the situation. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t think any harm would be done,” she +said at last. “He has been very kind to us, and +if we could help him along a little, bring two loving +souls together——” +</p> +<p> +She paused and looked into the eager, interested +faces of the four young girls. Could she +refuse to help two lovers? +</p> +<p> +“I’ve always heard those Mormons were a very +revengeful race of people; but we’ll take the risk, +dear children. I don’t see that there will be much +danger in it for us. Billie can write a perfectly +non-committal note saying that she is in Salt +Lake City for a few days, and would like to see +Miss Evelyn, and it would do no harm, I’m sure, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74'></a>74</span> +to add, ‘Have you forgotten the beautiful time at +Fontainebleau?’” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, yes; that is exactly the thing to say,” +cried the others, and they began to count the days +and weeks before they could reach Salt Lake City +beyond the great wall of the Rocky Mountains. +</p> +<p> +They were still chatting in close conversation +when a voice behind them startled them. A deep, +sonorous voice that had an ominous ring like distant +thunder, and yet the words spoken were commonplace +enough: +</p> +<p> +“Ladies, do you wish to buy any shoestrings, +jewelry, handkerchiefs, pins and combs?” +</p> +<p> +They looked up quickly. +</p> +<p> +A peddler had approached and was now about +to open his pack. From his coarse dark skin and +black hair, long enough to show underneath his +slouch hat, they judged he was at least half-Indian, +and he stood over them, a silent, statuesque +figure, his narrow eyes becoming slits of blackness +as he regarded them. +</p> +<p> +“I am very sorry,” said Miss Campbell politely, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75'></a>75</span> +</p> +<p> +“I’m afraid we don’t need any of those things. +We are already well provided.” +</p> +<p> +This courteous lady was always apologetic +when she couldn’t accommodate persons of a wandering +character. +</p> +<p> +“Maybe the lady would like something better +than shoestrings,” continued the man, slipping his +pack to the ground and opening a lower secret +compartment from which he drew a long, narrow +box. +</p> +<p> +Spreading a square of dark green cotton material +on the ground, the halfbreed emptied out +a double handful of beautiful opals. +</p> +<p> +“These opals I found in Mexico,” he said, letting +the stones drip through his fingers like glorified +drops of milk. “They are very perfect ones. +This one would make you a beautiful ring, +madam. And this young lady would look well in +a necklace of opals. I will sell them to you for +half their value.” +</p> +<p> +The girls looked at the stones with grave interest, +but nobody wanted an unset opal, and at +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76'></a>76</span> +the beginning of this long journey they had no +intention of buying jewels. +</p> +<p> +“I am exceedingly sorry, my good man,” said +Miss Campbell, “but we do not wish to buy anything, +especially opals, because they are unlucky +stones.” +</p> +<p> +“Only for those, lady, who are not born in October. +Now, I should say that this young lady +was born in that month,” he added, pointing to +Billie. +</p> +<p> +“I was,” said Billie, somewhat startled, “but +how could you tell?” +</p> +<p> +“Lady, those who sleep under the stars are +sometimes gifted in that way. Since you were +born in October, you should have an opal. +</p> +<p> + “‘October’s child will not be blest<br /> + Who wears no opal on her breast.’”<br /> +</p> +<p> +“But I have one,” protested Billie, “only I left +it at home.” +</p> +<p> +“Then you will not buy one of these stones!” +exclaimed the halfbreed darkly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77'></a>77</span> +</p> +<p> +“No,” replied Miss Campbell, gently but firmly, +“we wish nothing whatever. I think we must be +going now, girls,” she added, rising. +</p> +<p> +The man began to put away his wares sulkily +while the girls gathered their belongings together +and started for the automobile. +</p> +<p> +When he had fastened the pack to his back he +walked over to the Comet in which they were already +seated, while Billie cranked up the machine. +</p> +<p> +“Yesterday afternoon, in front of the place +called Sevenoaks, a man in an automobile was +struck by lightning and killed,” he said. “Only +a little while before his master had refused to buy +from me. And I cursed them for their meanness. +I was poor and they had money, but they refused +to buy. And now I curse you. I curse you and +your country and your parents and your grandparents. +I curse the machine which carries you. +May your way be hard and full of dangers. May +the lightning play about you and the thunder +smite you. May you be lost in the mountains and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78'></a>78</span> +starve in the desert and sleep without a roof over +your heads. Curses be upon you and yours.” +</p> +<p> +Having delivered himself of his burden of hatred, +he strode down the road, a very figure of +vengeance and enmity. +</p> +<p> +“Great heavens! the dreadful creature,” exclaimed +Miss Campbell, cowering in her seat +fearfully. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t notice him, Cousin Helen,” said Billie +over her shoulder. She had started the car and +they were speeding along at a rapid rate. “He +is insane, of course, and I’m glad we got rid of +him so easily.” +</p> +<p> +“Dear, dear, I hope we won’t meet any more +persons like that. He seems to be just a vessel +of bitterness, as poor dear grandmamma used to +say.” +</p> +<p> +They rode along silently for some time in the +bright sunshine without speaking. At last Elinor +and Billie burst out simultaneously, as if they had +both been pursuing the identical train of thought +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79'></a>79</span> +and at the same moment had reached an exciting +conclusion. +</p> +<p> +“The man struck by lightning,” they cried. +</p> +<p> +“Must have been Peter Van Vechten’s chauffeur,” +went on Elinor. +</p> +<p> +“And that was why Peter Van Vechten rushed +into the house yesterday in the storm,” pursued +Billie. +</p> +<p> +“Then the poor chauffeur must have been in +the house with us all night,” said Mary, shuddering. +</p> +<p> +“And that was why Mr. Moore was gone so +long, and then wouldn’t tell us what was the matter. +He was afraid it would frighten us,” added +Elinor. +</p> +<p> +“It’s very strange, but I believe you are right,” +observed Miss Campbell, shivering at the thought +that there had been death and destruction about +her while she slept all unconscious in the big +leather chair by the fire. +</p> +<p> +That night they crossed the border line and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80'></a>80</span> +slept in comfortable beds in a fine hotel in +Omaha, Nebraska. +</p> +<p> +“Billie,” said Nancy, with the covers drawn +well about her head, so as to shut out the memory +of that revengeful individual who had cursed +them in such round terms, “Billie.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” replied her friend sleepily. +</p> +<p> +“Did that peddler’s face remind you of anyone?” +</p> +<p> +“I can’t say it did,” she answered, almost slipping +off into the region of dreams. +</p> +<p> +“Not Miss Hawkes, who was so fond of +dates?” asked Nancy. +</p> +<p> +“There was a faint likeness,” answered Billie, +making an effort to pull herself out of the deep +pit into which she was fast sinking, and falling +back again helplessly, like a prisoner shackled +with too many chains to escape. +</p> +<p> +“Do you suppose she could have had Indian +blood?” asked Nancy. +</p> +<p> +But there was no reply. Billie was sleeping +deeply. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81'></a>81</span><a name='chVI' id='chVI'></a>CHAPTER VI.—UNDER THE STARS.</h2> +<p> +All day long the Comet had been plodding +faithfully, and although he did not know it, and +his five mistresses did not know it, it was really +uphill work. Very gradual uphill work, only at +the rate of ten feet a mile as they went westward, +but the Comet was tired. +</p> +<p> +For the last fifteen miles Billie had noticed a +complaining, whining little sound in his interior +mechanism, but she urged him on with the mercilessness +of one who drives machines, for they +must reach a certain small village that night, +which the map purported to be still ten miles distant. +</p> +<p> +About them, as far as the human eye could +see, and many, many miles farther still where the +human eye could not reach, rolled an infinite +stretch of prairie. Like a misty, blue sea it spread +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82'></a>82</span> +before them. Here and there were groups of +cattle grazing, and far back along the road they +could see a black speck which they took to be a +human being. +</p> +<p> +The five travelers were no longer homesick, +and they were not tired. The peace of the plains +had entered into their souls, and when the Comet +suddenly gave an exhausted croak and stopped +short, they exchanged good-natured smiles as if +it were the commonest thing in the world for five +lonely ladies from the East to be stranded on a +Western plateau. +</p> +<p> +“There’s a screw loose somewhere,” said Billie +calmly, jumping out and looking critically at +the outer workings of the car. “Ladies, I must +ask you to descend while I take a look at the +Comet’s organs. His heart beats are not regular +and his liver seems to be very torpid. The truth +is, I think his condition is run down.” +</p> +<p> +“I should think it would be,” observed Miss +Campbell, stepping nimbly to the ground. “Since +eight this morning he’s been running it down.” +</p> +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i002' id='i002'></a> +<img src="images/illus-082.jpg" alt="“There’s a screw loose somewhere,” said Billie." title=""/><br /> +<span class='caption'>“There’s a screw loose somewhere,” said Billie.</span> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83'></a>83</span></div> +<p> +Billie, and Mary, who had been her pupil on +the trip and was fast learning all that Billie could +teach her, donned their “puncture coats,” as they +called them. These were two long, brown linen +dusters, the sleeves of which were secured at the +wrists with rubber. They buttoned up from top +to toe, and every vestige of dress underneath was +protected. +</p> +<p> +Billie now became chief mechanician and Mary +was her assistant. Together they opened up the +front of the car and spreading a linen cover on +the ground, Billie crawled under and fell to work. +</p> +<p> +You may think that Billie was unusually wise +in her generation, but she had had a long training +as a chauffeur and could pass muster with +the best of them. However, she was not wise +enough that evening to diagnose the Comet’s +trouble. The two girls poked their inquisitive +noses into every part of the machinery. They +screwed and unscrewed and performed miracles +of investigation in the Comet’s interior, but he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84'></a>84</span> +persisted in the stand he had taken of suddenly +becoming an invalid. +</p> +<p> +“I believe it’s the steering gear,” said Mary. +</p> +<p> +“No, child, listen to your grandmother talk. +It’s this screw here that’s worn out.” +</p> +<p> +While they tinkered and worked, evening set +in. There was a chill in the air, as there is always +on these western plateaus after sunset. +First one pale star and then another glimmered +in the depths of the sky. And all the while the +black speck on the road was drawing nearer. +</p> +<p> +At last the peace of the plains which had entered +their souls became somewhat disturbed. +</p> +<p> +“This won’t do,” suddenly exclaimed Miss +Campbell, breaking the long silence that had settled +upon them. “This will never do in the world. +Billie, child, can’t you fix that thing? It’s getting +dark. We mustn’t be left in this lonely place +all night. Hurry up, children. Do screw up +something or other and let us be getting on.” +</p> +<p> +“I only wish we could,” exclaimed Billie ruefully. +“I thought there was nothing about this +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85'></a>85</span> +machine I did not know, but I can’t find the +trouble.” +</p> +<p> +“Besides,” pursued Mary, defending her captain, +“it’s so dark we can’t see what we are doing.” +</p> +<p> +“What’s to be done?” cried Miss Campbell, +spreading out her hands with a gesture of helplessness. +</p> +<p> +The girls looked at each other. What was to +be done? In their infinite respect for Billie’s +powers as a chauffeur, they had never conceived +of a danger like this. +</p> +<p> +“We could make a tent for Cousin Helen of +one of the rugs and use cushions for a mattress, +and the rest of us could roll up in our steamer +blankets and sleep on the ground,” suggested +Billie with a certain thrill of anticipation in her +voice. Deep in her secret soul she could not help +enjoying this little adventure. +</p> +<p> +“Then, in the morning,” pursued Nancy, who +was likewise a silent partner in this guilty pleasure, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86'></a>86</span> +“we can go to the nearest farmhouse or +ranch and ask for help.” +</p> +<p> +“But—” objected Miss Campbell and Elinor +in one voice, and then paused for want of a better +suggestion. +</p> +<p> +In the ocean of shadows, somewhere an immense +distance away, one little light twinkled +and blinked at them tantalizingly. +</p> +<p> +“Nancy and I might go over and ask for help +where that light is,” began Billie. +</p> +<p> +“Never! never!” cried her cousin. “Oh! my +child, what are you thinking of? Could you imagine +for a moment I would let you and Nancy +go wandering off into the wilderness? Better die +together than apart.” +</p> +<p> +“But we won’t die at all, dearest cousin,” Billie +assured her. “We’ll all live to tell what a +wonderful night we spent together under the +stars.” +</p> +<p> +“I think we’d better build a fire and get supper,” +put in Mary. +</p> +<p> +This was an agreeable suggestion and settled +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87'></a>87</span> +the discussion without more words. In this high, +dry climate appetites were too big to mention in +polite society, and each one yearned for the comfort +of her evening meal. +</p> +<p> +In another twenty minutes Miss Campbell and +the Motor Maids had gone into camp. At the +side of the road was a group of scraggy pine +trees, and under these they pitched the blanket +tent. While Billie and Nancy, armed with a +hatchet, went in search of firewood, the other +girls unpacked the alcohol stove and the tea +basket and Mr. Moore’s box of provisions. In a +little while the two foragers returned with their +arms loaded with firewood. Their cheeks were +glowing with exercise and there was a sparkling +freshness in their happy laughter. +</p> +<p> +“We’ve turned wood choppers,” cried Nancy. +“We found a dead pine tree, and lo and behold, +we’ve converted it into logs.” +</p> +<p> +Together they built a fire on a most scientific +plan and presently the fragrance of broiled ham +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88'></a>88</span> +filled them with pleasurable but subdued anticipation. +</p> +<p> +“Scramble the eggs now, Mary,” ordered +Elinor as she brewed the tea. +</p> +<p> +“I think my girls are very capable,” observed +Miss Campbell, watching the proceedings with +much pride from her cushion seat near the fire. +“If we live through this night we shall have much +to tell about.” +</p> +<p> +“Just imagine you’re a gypsy, Cousin Helen,” +called Billie, as she spread a lunch cloth on the +ground. “And nothing ever happens to gypsies, +although they live this way all the time.” +</p> +<p> +Nancy set the table with the jam pot in the +middle for decoration, and presently they sat +down like a company of hungry boys eager to be +helped. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, how good things taste,” exclaimed Elinor. +“I’m not a bit afraid out here in the dark. My +only sensations are hunger and sleep.” +</p> +<p> +“Wasn’t it lucky we brought our steamer +rugs?” cried Nancy. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89'></a>89</span> +</p> +<p> +“Wasn’t it lucky we came?” said Mary, going +her one better. +</p> +<p> +“Aren’t we glad we’re living?” added Billie. +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell tried to pinch herself awake. +Was it possible that she, Helen Eustace Campbell, +spinster, accustomed to every luxury in life, +was about to lie down on the ground and sleep +in a far Western, lonely, unprotected spot? She +thought it was highly possible, and her heavy +eyelids and unconquerable drowsiness urged her +to hasten the business of getting ready for the +night. +</p> +<p> +The four girls put on their polo coats and after +building a big fire they rolled themselves into +their steamer rugs and presently were sleeping +as deeply and soundly as they had ever slept in +their lives. +</p> +<p> +And now the moon rose and shed its radiance +on them. The fire died down and the night grew +deeper and stiller. A chill crept into the air and +they snuggled closer under their blankets and +slept and slept and dreamed. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90'></a>90</span> +</p> +<p> +Billie dreamed that the black speck she had +seen on the road in the distance evolved itself into +a man. He was riding a pony. She was sure of +it, because in her dream she heard the sound of +horse’s hoofs as they came nearer. Then the +sounds stopped and all was silent again, a long, +long silence. She remembered sitting up to see +if the horseman had passed, but the invisible +chains of sleep bound her closely and back she +sank into slumber. But always in her dream she +felt that some one was near. Had a light been +flashed across their faces or was it the rays of +the moon which hung in the center of the heavens +like a great lantern, illuminating the landscape +for miles around? +</p> +<p> +At last, after slipping into the immeasurable +distances of time and space, which only a dream +can compass, there came the sound of a motor. +For a moment it was quite near, and then gradually +it died away and the night was all serene +again. +</p> +<p> +As the dawn crept up, Miss Campbell waked. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91'></a>91</span> +But she waited, not wishing to disturb her sleeping +companions. She lay with her back to the +road, her face turned toward the limitless prairies +which were now suffused with a rosy light. Then, +trailing clouds of glory after him, the sun burst +into view over the edge of the world. Never before +had Miss Campbell seen a sunrise. +</p> +<p> +“Girls, girls!” she cried, “you must wake up +and see this marvellous sight.” +</p> +<p> +They jumped up and stood in a silent, wondering +row as the plains were flooded with light. +</p> +<p> +Suddenly Billie turned her face toward the +road. +</p> +<p> +Throwing her hands over her head with a gesture +of despair, she began to weep bitterly. +</p> +<p> +“Oh! oh!” she cried, “the Comet, my beloved +Comet! He has been stolen!” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92'></a>92</span><a name='chVII' id='chVII'></a>CHAPTER VII.—BARNEY M’GEE.</h2> +<p> +It was almost as much of a shock to Miss +Campbell and the others to see Billie so unstrung +as to find the Comet stolen. +</p> +<p> +The young girl’s feeling for her car was of a +very real character, and if the Comet had been a +favorite animal or a human being even, she could +not have been more distressed. +</p> +<p> +“Billie, my darling, you must not give way so,” +cried her cousin, putting her arms gently around +Billie’s neck. “We shall find the Comet, I’m +sure.” +</p> +<p> +“I never dreamed anyone would take him,” +sobbed Billie. “I thought he would be quite safe +in this lonely place. It was stupid of me to have +left him unprotected like that all night long.” +</p> +<p> +Her friends, who had been subdued and silent +in the presence of her grief could hardly refrain +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93'></a>93</span> +from smiling at the notion of Billie’s sitting up +all night to protect the automobile from kidnappers. +Billie, her normal, cheerful self, was the +most sensible person in the world; but Billie, the +prey of tears and doubts, was just as unreasonable +as any other weeping, unhappy girl. +</p> +<p> +While she had her cry out on Miss Helen’s +shoulder with her devoted Nancy hanging over +her, Mary and Elinor began to look about them. +</p> +<p> +“The robber must have been a chauffeur, +Elinor,” said Mary, “and a very good one, too, +because he not only knew how to run the Comet +but to repair it.” +</p> +<p> +“What are we going to do?” asked Elinor irrelevantly. +</p> +<p> +The two girls stood thinking. The robber had +not taken their suitcases which they had been +obliged to unstrap and open the night before; nor +had he touched their camping outfit. Only the +motor had been filched from them while they +slept. +</p> +<p> +“I think the first thing to do is to make ourselves +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94'></a>94</span> +comfortable,” Mary remarked as her eyes +fell on the alcohol stove. “Then we’ll get breakfast +and Billie will be more cheerful. Perhaps +someone will come along by then.” +</p> +<p> +As soon as Billie noticed her friends arranging +their tumbled hair and washing their faces from +the bottle of drinking water they always carried +with them, she stopped crying at once. +</p> +<p> +“I’m awfully ashamed,” she exclaimed, as embarrassed +as a boy caught in the act of shedding +tears. “I’m afraid I’ve been a fearful cry-baby, +as if weeping could do any good. Here, let’s +wash them off and get busy,” she added, trying +to smile while she poured some of the water over +her pocket handkerchief and bathed her red eyes. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t you care, Billie,” cried Nancy. “I was +glad to see you a little human like the rest of us. +And it was a dreadful blow.” +</p> +<p> +Mary, with her unfailing desire to make everybody +comfortable under the most trying circumstances, +began presently to prepare coffee over +the alcohol stove, and the fragrance of the bean +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95'></a>95</span> +did seem to comfort them somewhat in their trying +position. When the most optimistic person +in a party becomes the prey of wretchedness, the +others usually pretend a cheerfulness they by no +means feel. But now that Billie had regained +her composure, Miss Campbell’s spirits began to +sink. +</p> +<p> +She made a pitiful little toilet with a teacupful +of drinking water and her eau de cologne. +She arranged her snow white hair in its usual +three-finger puffs, pinned on her lace jabot with +great care and then surveyed the far-stretching +country with an uneasy glance. +</p> +<p> +“If one robber is around another is sure to +be,” she began. “Oh, dear, oh, dear! if we had +only never started on this madman’s journey. +Your father was a foolish fellow ever to have +consented, Billie. What are we but five weak +helpless women lost in the wilderness?” +</p> +<p> +“No, we are not,” protested Billie. “Indeed +we are not any of those things, Cousin Helen. I +was for a moment when I found we had lost the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96'></a>96</span> +Comet, but I know we shall get the Comet back +and everything will be all right, I don’t yet know +how, but I certainly don’t intend to give up hope +at this stage of the game.” +</p> +<p> +“First breakfast,” said Mary, spreading out +the lunch cloth and supplying each person with +an orange, a soft boiled egg and a cup of coffee. +“First a little nourishment and then see how +much more hopeful you’ll all feel.” +</p> +<p> +It was hardly what might be called a cheerful +meal and it was quickly dispatched especially by +Billie in whose mind a plan was already formulating. +</p> +<p> +“Nancy,” she said to her friend who had followed +her to the edge of the grove and was +standing silently beside her, “where are your field +glasses?” +</p> +<p> +The glasses were promptly produced from +Nancy’s suitcase. +</p> +<p> +“Do you think,” Billie continued, “that I could +climb one of those pine trees? I believe if I could +get to one of the upper branches, I could see for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97'></a>97</span> +miles around the country. I might even see the +Comet.” +</p> +<p> +“You know Miss Campbell would never consent, +Billie,” Nancy objected, “even if you could +shin up that slippery pine tree.” +</p> +<p> +“Just you engage Cousin Helen in conversation +for five minutes and I’ll engage to do the +rest. It’s really a matter of costume, anyhow.” +</p> +<p> +So saying, Billie calmly slipped off her corduroy +skirt and coat, revealing herself in pongee +bloomers and a pongee blouse. Then she kicked +off her russet leather pumps and hung the long +strap of the field glasses over her shoulder. +</p> +<p> +The tree she had chosen to climb was the tallest +one in the group, and, as is the case with pine +trees, it had not put forth any substantial limbs +until more than half-way up. But the trunk was +scarred and corrugated with the marks of former +limbs that had died, and Billie used these as footholds +as she shinned up the tree. +</p> +<p> +Nancy had not attempted to engage Miss +Campbell in conversation. She stood rooted to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98'></a>98</span> +the spot, fascinated while Billie worked her way +up and finally swung herself into a fork where +the big stone pine divided and became as two +trees. Then, choosing the next largest branch, +she climbed on as nimbly as a sailor in the rigging +of a ship. Nancy admired her friend’s graceful +and agile figure, and occasionally through the +foliage, she caught glimpses of Billie’s earnest +face. Her gray eyes were filled with the fire of +her resolution, and her mouth, in which sweetness +and determination were blended, was closed +tightly. Not a lock of her fine light brown hair +had been disturbed by the climb and the two side +rolls were as smooth and glossy as silk. +</p> +<p> +All this while Miss Campbell and the others +had been busy storing away the breakfast dishes +which could not under any circumstances be +washed. It was various degrees between seven +and half-past by the several watches in the party +and the sun had mounted the Eastern heavens +and was shedding its glory over the great plain. +</p> +<p> +“Someone must surely be coming this way +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99'></a>99</span> +soon——” Miss Campbell was saying when a +jolly voice singing an Irish song broke in on the +silence. +</p> +<p> + “I had a sister Helen, she was younger than I am,<br /> + She had so many sweethearts, she had to deny ’em;<br /> + But as for meself, I haven’t so many,<br /> + And the Lord only knows, I’d be thankful for any.”<br /> +</p> +<p> +A man on horseback immediately hove into +sight around a bend in the road. He was long +and lean and brown with eyes as mildly blue as +the summer sky above them. The thin lips of his +large mouth had a nervously humorous twitch +at the corners, and his yellow hair, much longer +than men wear their hair in the East, could be +seen underneath his sombrero. He wore a blue +flannel shirt with a bright scarlet tie, velveteen +trousers and long cowhide boots which extended +beyond the knees. He was, in fact, a cowboy. +The girls were certain of it although he did not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100'></a>100</span> +wear the fantastic sheepskin trousers they had +seen in pictures. But he had every other mark +of the cowboy, the lean Texas horse, the high-built +saddle, much decorated, and the jingling +spurs on his high-heeled boots. +</p> +<p> +Giving the belated motorists one grand, sweeping, +comprehensive glance, he was about to amble +on politely, since it was none of his business to +show interest in things that did not concern him, +when Miss Campbell rushed dramatically into +the road and stretched out her arms with gestures +of distress. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I beg of you, sir, don’t leave us,” she +cried. Billie in the garb of Peter Pan watching +from the tree tops could not restrain her smiles; +and Nancy from behind the same tree giggled +audibly. +</p> +<p> +“Excuse me, ma’am, I didn’t know you were +in any trouble,” said the cowboy reining in his +horse and lifting off his sombrero. “I’m Barney +McGee, at your service, ma’am. What can I do +for you?” +</p> +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i003' id='i003'></a> +<img src="images/illus-100.jpg" alt="“I’m Barney McGee, at your service, ma’am.”" title=""/><br /> +<span class='caption'>“I’m Barney McGee, at your service, ma’am.”</span> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101'></a>101</span></div> +<p> +“Our motor car broke down here last night +and it was too dark to repair it. We were obliged +to stay here all night. And while we slept, a robber +stole it. We are simply stranded on the +road. What can we do?” +</p> +<p> +Barney McGee gave a long, melodious whistle. +</p> +<p> +“Lifted your motor, ma’am! That was a +d——, excuse me, a devilish low scoundrelly +trick. If I could get to a telephone, we would +round him up before he gets to Wyoming.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Mr. McGee, if you would only help us, +we would owe you a debt of gratitude all our +lives.” +</p> +<p> +“You say the motor was out of fix, ma’am?” +he asked. “Then it may have broken down, again. +I’ll just climb up and take a look at the countryside. +What color was the car?” +</p> +<p> +“Red.” +</p> +<p> +To Nancy’s consternation, Barney McGee +stood up on his saddle and grasping a limb, drew +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102'></a>102</span> +himself up into the very tree in which Billie was +now making herself as scarce as possible. +</p> +<p> +It was an absurd situation and the two young +girls hardly knew whether to keep silent or to +speak. Billie kept saying to herself: +</p> +<p> +“I’m sure I look just as I do when I wear my +gymnasium suit, but, oh, dear, I wish he hadn’t +chosen this tree.” +</p> +<p> +As the cowboy swung up the next limb, Billie +leaned around and looked straight down into his +face. She was about to say: +</p> +<p> +“You needn’t come any further. I can see the +country perfectly,” when words failed her and +she burst out laughing. +</p> +<p> +Barney McGee smiled gravely back. +</p> +<p> +“Excuse me, I am afraid I’ve intruded,” he +said, observing the silk bloomers with an expression +of guarded amusement. +</p> +<p> +“I suppose he thought I was a Suffragette,” +Billie laughingly told her friends afterwards. +</p> +<p> +“Billie, my dear child, what are you doing?” +cried Miss Campbell, who now for the first time +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103'></a>103</span> +saw the strange bird roosting in the tree above +them, and the good lady groaned aloud as her +eye took in her young relative’s costume. +</p> +<p> +“Wilhelmina,” she exclaimed in a shocked +voice, “what will Mr. McGee think of you—in—in +those things?” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t scold her, ma’am,” called down the cowboy, +“it’s an illigent climbing costume.” +</p> +<p> +“I have some glasses, Mr. McGee,” said Billie +calmly. “I haven’t been able to manage them +yet and keep my balance. Perhaps you can do +better than I can.” +</p> +<p> +Barney McGee, as nimble as a mountain goat, +as he pulled himself above Billie, his spurs jingling +musically, now took the glasses and scanned +the surrounding country. +</p> +<p> +While he looked, Billie scrambled down as fast +as she could and in two seconds had slipped back +on her skirt and buckled her patent leather belt. +</p> +<p> +The Motor Maids and Miss Helen felt not unlike +a shipwrecked party with a sailor aloft in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104'></a>104</span> +the lookout searching for a sail in that vast ocean +of prairie. +</p> +<p> +“Hip, hip, hurray!” cried Barney McGee, so +suddenly, that he gave Miss Helen a start of surprise. +“I’ve found it, ma’am. I’ve found the +red motor and it’s coming this way. Sure as me +name is Barney, it is. It’s driven by one person +and it’s goin’ fast.” +</p> +<p> +“Coming this way?” they cried in unison. +</p> +<p> +“It’s about three miles to the southwest and at +the rate it’s goin’ it ought to be here in no time.” +</p> +<p> +“Is it on this road?” cried Billie. +</p> +<p> +“It is, Miss, and it’ll pass by here unless it +shoots out over the prairie, which it won’t.” +</p> +<p> +“It is very strange,” said Miss Campbell. “I +should think the thief would take another direction.” +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps he’s doubling on his tracks,” suggested +Mary. +</p> +<p> +Barney had a long pistol in his belt and this +he now took from its case, and examined critically +while the girls looked on fearfully. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105'></a>105</span> +</p> +<p> +“You’re not going to shoot him, I hope?” asked +Billie. +</p> +<p> +“It may not be necessary, Miss.” +</p> +<p> +“No, no. Don’t do that under any circumstances,” +put in Miss Campbell. +</p> +<p> +Barney gave a humorous, good-natured grin. +</p> +<p> +“I’ll defend the ladies,” he said. +</p> +<p> +The suspense of waiting was almost more than +they could endure. Miss Campbell proposed that +they pile all the suitcases one on top of the other +and take their stand behind them, like an improvised +fort. +</p> +<p> +Billie suggested that they lay them across the +road so that the car would be obliged to stop. As +for Barney, he leapt on his Texas horse and took +his stand like a sentinel in the middle of the road, +pistol cocked. +</p> +<p> +But the Comet appeared before the girls could +do anything. They saw it a long way off like a +red speck on the road and as it came nearer, their +wonder grew in proportion. On the chauffeur’s +seat sat Peter Van Vechten. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106'></a>106</span><a name='chVIII' id='chVIII'></a>CHAPTER VIII.—CUTTING THE BONDS.</h2> +<p> +Peter Van Vechten was driving the car but +he made no attempt to stop it. In fact, he seemed +not to recognize their faces as he came toward +them, and it was evident that Barney McGee unless +he wanted to be run over would have to +make haste to get out of the road, for the motor +car was taking a very uncertain and rickety +course on the highway. +</p> +<p> +Another half minute and they found themselves +standing helplessly in the road, the automobile +fifty yards away. +</p> +<p> +Barney, flourishing his pistol and digging his +spurs into his horse was after it like a flash. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!” they screamed. +“We know him.” +</p> +<p> +But it was too late. There was the report of a +pistol and the sound of the motor ceased almost +instantly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107'></a>107</span> +</p> +<p> +Rushing down the road, Billie in the lead, they +found the car at a standstill, Peter Van Vechten +lying out on the ground with Barney leaning +over him. +</p> +<p> +“You’ve killed him,” cried Miss Campbell. +</p> +<p> +“No, no, ma’am. It was the tire I punctured, +and not the thief. He fainted of his own accord.” +</p> +<p> +“But there is something the matter. He is injured,” +exclaimed Mary. “Look at the bruise on +his forehead.” +</p> +<p> +“Poor boy! Poor Peter,” said Miss Campbell, +and immediately they all set to work to restore +the aviator. +</p> +<p> +“Better take him back to the camp, ma’am,” +suggested Barney, “and if you’ve got a bit of +rope handy, we can bind him before he comes +to.” +</p> +<p> +“Bind him?” they repeated. +</p> +<p> +“Why certainly, ladies, didn’t he rob you of +your car? Automobile thieves in this country +ain’t tolerated any more than horse thieves.” +</p> +<p> +It was difficult to keep reminding themselves +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108'></a>108</span> +that this nice young man was a thief. But visions +of Miss Helen’s fifty dollars persisted in floating +before them, and it occurred to them furthermore +that he might be one of the most daring +criminals in the country, since he had made good +his escape from Chicago in an aeroplane. +</p> +<p> +“Lift him in the car, then,” ordered Miss +Campbell in a resigned tone of voice. “But it’s +hard to believe.” +</p> +<p> +“Caught with the goods, ma’am,” the cowboy +assured her. “Caught red-handed with the goods +on him.” +</p> +<p> +They took him back to the encampment in the +maimed Comet, Barney following on his horse, +and presently they had him securely bound, feet +and hands, with stout pieces of cord. +</p> +<p> +“It seems a shame to bring the poor fellow +back to life as a prisoner,” observed Miss Campbell, +as she applied her bottle of smelling salts to +Peter’s nose. +</p> +<p> +All this time Billie had remained silent. She +was not so forgiving of Peter’s sins as the others. +In fact, she marveled at their moderation. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109'></a>109</span> +</p> +<p> +“I’m sure I don’t see why he should go scot +free any more than any other thief,” she said. +“This is the second time he has robbed us, first +of fifty dollars and then of the Comet——” +</p> +<p> +Barney McGee looked up at this and Peter himself +opened his eyes and regarded them all steadily +with what Mary described to herself as “a long +brown look.” +</p> +<p> +“You’re caught, you see, young feller,” said +Barney, smiling amiably. “You shouldn’t have +doubled on your tracks. Sometimes that trick +works, but not in this country of wise men.” +</p> +<p> +Peter looked into the lean brown face of the +cowboy and smiled so delightfully, that immediately +his captors felt the magnetism of his +glance and stirred uncomfortably. +</p> +<p> +“What do you take me for, a thief?” he asked. +</p> +<p> +“What else are you, young man?” asked Barney. +“Didn’t you steal upon five helpless and unprotected +ladies in the night and take their automobile. +And this ain’t the first time you’ve +robbed them, either.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110'></a>110</span> +</p> +<p> +Peter made a sudden effort to rise and fell back +helplessly, finding himself bound hand and foot. +</p> +<p> +Then a look of recognition came into his eyes. +</p> +<p> +“It’s Miss Campbell and the young ladies,” he +exclaimed. “So it <em>was</em> your automobile. I had +no time to examine it, but I remembered the color +was red.” +</p> +<p> +“If you are feeling quite yourself, now, young +feller,” interrupted Barney, “I think we’ll be +taking you along to the next village where we +can leave you to be dealt with according to the +law in these parts.” +</p> +<p> +“I suppose you won’t believe me, Miss Campbell,” +began Peter in a rather weak voice, “but +I give you my word of honor I’m not a thief. The +real thief has my own car.” +</p> +<p> +“But who is the real thief?” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know. I never saw him. I was sound +asleep when some one gave me a stunning blow +on the forehead. I don’t know whether I was +unconscious hours or minutes. It seemed only +minutes, only an instant, really when I was able +to crawl out of my blankets and start up this red +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111'></a>111</span> +motor car. My one idea was to catch the thief, +but the car was in bad shape, that was why he +took mine, I suppose, and my head was so dizzy +I hardly knew what I was doing.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s a queer tale, young man,” said the +cowboy. “The only thing you’ve got to prove +it’s true is the lump on your forehead.” +</p> +<p> +But Peter felt too ill to argue the subject. +Miss Campbell was moved with pity by his condition. +</p> +<p> +“You are almost a boy,” she said. “I want to +be charitable, but I do think you should be punished +for having caused so much uneasiness of +mind. Will you give me your word to reform——?” +</p> +<p> +“No,” interrupted Peter fiercely; “no, I’ll not +give my word to you or anyone else. It’s absurd.” +</p> +<p> +“Do you think we don’t know who you are?” +here put in Billie, whose anger had flamed up +at the sight of his defiance and the memory of +her beloved Comet snatched away in the night. +“Do you think we haven’t heard how you escaped +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112'></a>112</span> +from Chicago with the police at your very heels? +We might have thought there was some mistake +even then, if Cousin Helen’s pocket book hadn’t +disappeared along with you after we had taken +you into the automobile. Fifty dollars it had in +it. And now you come in the night and steal +the Comet, and when you are caught you lay +the blame on another man’s shoulders.” +</p> +<p> +Peter Van Vechten looked calmly into the faces +of his accusers. Then suddenly he began to +laugh. +</p> +<p> +“I have had bad luck this trip,” he said. He +appeared to be talking to himself. “Nothing but +disasters all the way.” He lay back and closed +his eyes. +</p> +<p> +“There’s a cold blooded criminal for you,” said +Barney McGee. “He’s the kind the East produces +and sends out West to be finished off. A +pretty finishing school you’ll find here, too, me +boy.” +</p> +<p> +Peter laughed again. +</p> +<p> +Just then a drove of cattle passed, and at intervals +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113'></a>113</span> +vehicles and motor cars followed; also +men on horseback and some walking. +</p> +<p> +“This is County Court Day,” observed Barney. +“They’re all goin’ to the next town. Shall we +turn the thief over to some of them or take him +ourselves? One of you ladies will have to appear +against him later.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell looked uncomfortable. +</p> +<p> +“Dear, dear,” she exclaimed. “That means +we shall have to go to court and give testimony +and all that sort of thing. It may delay us ever +so long.” +</p> +<p> +“No it won’t,” called the implacable Billie, who +was now hard at work repairing the Comet. “We +can just turn him over as an escaped convict.” +</p> +<p> +Peter looked at her with an expression of +weary amusement, but said nothing. She did +not trust herself to return his glance just then, +but after that, every time she caught the cool +brown look of his eye, like two clear pools in a +forest, she felt a strange disturbance. +</p> +<p> +Miss Helen Campbell was of two minds and +both minds were aggrieved. Nancy was all on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114'></a>114</span> +Billie’s side. Elinor was still undecided. She +was trying to be perfectly just, but it did seem +to her that Peter Van Vechten, as he called himself, +was in a very unfortunate predicament. +</p> +<p> +As for little Mary, her eyes had become two +wells of pity and she was afraid to speak lest +she betray her sympathy for the young man. +</p> +<p> +All morning Billie and Mary worked over the +Comet. The thief, whether Peter or another, +had repaired the machine enough for it to run +with a good deal of rattling and rumbling, but the +girls were not satisfied and they worked as hard +over it as two young mechanics. The company +lunched early from the contents of the hamper, +and the prisoner’s hands were unbound in order +that he might feed himself. Then he was bound +again. +</p> +<p> +At noon the sun’s rays were exceedingly warm. +Miss Campbell, with Nancy and Elinor, withdrew +under a distant tree, with steamer rugs, and +soon were sleeping soundly. +</p> +<p> +“How long before you’ve finished, Miss?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115'></a>115</span> +asked Barney of Billie. He had been their faithful +guard all morning. +</p> +<p> +“In half an hour at the very least,” she had replied, +and leaping on his small, swift horse, he +cantered away, calling out: +</p> +<p> +“I’ll be back against the time you’ve finished.” +</p> +<p> +Billie was out under the car, absorbed in her +work. The whole world seemed to be asleep in +the stillness of noon. Mary looked about her +fearfully. Then, with sudden resolution, she +took a little silver penknife from her pocket and +tiptoeing over to where the prisoner lay, bound +and shackled, she quickly cut the twine. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t say anything,” she whispered to the +astonished youth. “I don’t believe a word about +your being a thief, and some day they will find +out that they were mistaken, too. Once I was +accused like that, and I know how you must feel. +Hurry up, now, and go to the East, because +Barney is riding the other way. Perhaps a +wagon will pick you up.” +</p> +<p> +Peter Van Vechten seized her hand warmly +in his. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116'></a>116</span> +</p> +<p> +“You’re a little brick,” he whispered. +</p> +<p> +“Take the cords with you,” she answered. +“Then they won’t know.” +</p> +<p> +Another moment and he had made off down +the road, and Mary went quietly back to her +work. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117'></a>117</span><a name='chIX' id='chIX'></a>CHAPTER IX.—THE GIRL FROM THE GOLDEN WEST.</h2> +<p> +“It’s like being in a play, Elinor,” whispered +Mary, who was sitting next to her at the long +dinner table in the dining room of the little hotel. +“They are all here, cowboys and curious looking +people. And there were two Indians at the door +a moment ago. The cowboys are like Barney +McGee. They have good, rough manners.” +</p> +<p> +The Motor Maids felt as if they had known +that ingratiating young man a long time now. +Twice he had bobbed up unexpectedly on their +journey, and finally made them promise to visit +the ranch where he lived in Southern Wyoming, +if only for a half a day. +</p> +<p> +The room they were in was low-ceiled with +wooden walls and bare board floors. At one side +was a large yellow oak sideboard where stood +rows of glass tumblers in which folded fringed +napkins with red borders had been stuck, like so +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118'></a>118</span> +many bouquets. The table was filled with guests +and two shabby looking young waitresses handed +the dishes with a kind of careless abandon which +seemed to be in keeping with the place. +</p> +<p> +Many of the people were to take the stage next +morning to a ranch which was conducted as a +sanitarium. There were several trained nurses +who had brought their patients along, and Billie +turned her eyes away from one young man whose +pale face and sunken chest made her ashamed of +her own glowing health and sunburned cheeks. +</p> +<p> +Not even in Europe had Billie seen such an +interesting and varied collection of people in one +dining room as she now saw in this remote and +obscure little western inn. There was a group +of young Englishmen who had bought a great +cattle ranch and were on their way to inspect it. +There was a party of men traveling West by +motor car. Two of them were famous millionaires, +she heard it whispered. But most interesting +of all, and the one on whom the Motor Maids +cast many covert and curious glances, was a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119'></a>119</span> +beautiful young woman who seemed to be traveling +alone. +</p> +<p> +It so happened that she was placed next to +Miss Campbell, who had gathered her charges +under her wing at one end of the table, as an +anxious little hen gathers her chicks, but by +leaning over, they were able to see the strange +girl’s lovely face; her hazel eyes and red gold +hair half hidden under a broad brimmed riding +hat. She wore a khaki riding suit with divided +skirts, and knotted about her neck was a beautiful +burnt orange silk scarf that seemed to tone +in with the yellow of her eyes and hair. +</p> +<p> +They wondered where her party was. Evidently +she did not belong to any one at the table +for she spoke to no person and scarcely lifted +her eyes from her plate. +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps her mother is ill and she has had to +come down alone,” thought Elinor, who had conventional +ideas rooted so deeply in her soul that +nothing could stir them. +</p> +<p> +“May I ask you for the butter?” Miss Campbell +had said in her most polite and perfect manner, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120'></a>120</span> +that had started the conversational ball +a-rolling. +</p> +<p> +“With pleasure,” answered the strange girl +promptly, “although I am afraid you’ll be disappointed +with the bread. It’s quite soggy.” +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps you will allow me to offer you some +of our zwieback,” put in Miss Campbell, stretching +forth her hand for the box. “We have it +sent to us from time to time, because we simply +cannot eat the bread out here.” +</p> +<p> +“You are traveling West?” asked the girl. +</p> +<p> +Then Miss Campbell, always ready and willing +to make friends, explained and introduced the +Motor Maids. +</p> +<p> +There was something extremely appealing +about the beautiful face of the stranger, and +when presently she saw that she was attracting +the notice of other people at the table, she blushed +and pulled her hat well down over her face, and +drew nearer to Miss Campbell’s side. The girls +liked her from the first. Then there was the +mystery about her which added to her charm—the +mystery of whom she was and where she was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121'></a>121</span> +going. She had asked questions, but had volunteered +nothing about herself. +</p> +<p> +After dinner they strolled into the hall of the +hotel, which served as a sort of lobby, where +they hoped to find letters awaiting them from +the evening mail. The girl followed them timidly. +</p> +<p> +“I hope I’m not in the way or presuming too +much,” she said to Miss Campbell, as they proceeded +into the hotel parlor to wait for the mail +stage. +</p> +<p> +“Not at all, my dear,” answered the kind soul. +“If it is any pleasure to you, I’m sure it is a great +pleasure to us. Are you alone?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” hesitated the girl. +</p> +<p> +“You are taking a riding trip?” Miss Campbell +looked at the riding suit. +</p> +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> +<p> +“Alone?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t you think it just a little bit of a risk, +my dear?” +</p> +<p> +“It’s not a pleasure trip. I—I’m looking for +a place to live.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122'></a>122</span> +</p> +<p> +“Oh, then you have no people?” +</p> +<p> +The girl hung her head. The Motor Maids +were quite breathless with interest. +</p> +<p> +“My dear child,” continued Miss Campbell, +kindly, taking the young girl’s hand, “it’s none of +my business, but I am an old woman, and I feel +I must give advice to a beautiful young girl. Let +me beg of you to think a long time before you +do anything rash. Girls leave home thinking +life will be easy and it so often turns out to be +very, very hard.” +</p> +<p> +“But I’ve been very unhappy,” whispered the +girl choking. “You can’t understand—you can’t +know——” +</p> +<p> +Two tears welled in her eyes and rolled down +her cheeks, the sight of which was beyond the +endurance of the Motor Maids. They gathered +around her in a solicitous little group. They +took her hands and pressed against her and +patted her on the shoulder. And Miss Campbell +kept saying: +</p> +<p> +“There, there, my dear, you mustn’t cry. I am +afraid I hurt you.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123'></a>123</span> +</p> +<p> +While the girl was choking back her tears +and at the same time endeavoring to tell them in +a broken voice that things at home had been unbearable, +Billie and Elinor, who were facing the +entrance, saw a very tall, black figure darken the +doorway. Only for a moment he stood there, a +great square shouldered, ungainly man who gave +the impression of having been carved out of a +block of wood, from the straight folds of his +black Prince Albert coat to his square cut iron +gray beard, which had once been black. The +only live thing about him appeared to be his fiery +dark eyes, which now took them all in with one +sweeping, comprehensive glance. +</p> +<p> +The two girls almost shuddered and felt a certain +relief when he promptly withdrew from the +door. +</p> +<p> +“Won’t you come to our rooms and tell us all +about it, dear?” Miss Campbell was saying. +“Perhaps we can help you and at least I can take +you under my protection while we are here.” +</p> +<p> +“You are under arrest, Miss. Don’t make no +noise and I won’t make none,” said a sharp shrill +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124'></a>124</span> +whispering voice behind them, and a long skinny +hand was thrust into their midst, grasping the +runaway by her arm. +</p> +<p> +“Let me go! How dare you?” she exclaimed, a +flood of color rushing into her cheeks. +</p> +<p> +“Now, don’t make no scene,” said a shabby, +unkempt looking individual. “You know who +wants you as well as I do. He’s there in the +hall, and you know mighty well he’s not goin’ to +let you go this time.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, save me! save me!” whispered the girl, +hiding her face on Miss Campbell’s shoulder. +</p> +<p> +The little lady drew herself up to her full +height of five feet two inches and glared at the +man. +</p> +<p> +“This young lady has placed herself under my +protection, sir, and I refuse to have her annoyed. +Will you please leave the room?” +</p> +<p> +The man was so overcome by Miss Campbell’s +grand air that he fell back a step in astonishment. +</p> +<p> +“Lady,” he said, after a pause, “you won’t +make nothin’ by interferin’ in this here case. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125'></a>125</span> +This young lady stole a horse out of her father’s +stable and run away from home, an’ if you don’t +believe it, you can ask him——” +</p> +<p> +“It was my own horse,” said the girl stamping +her foot. +</p> +<p> +“Evelyn!” the voice which spoke was so +deep and resonant it might have come up from +some subterranean cavern. It made them all +start, and when the name was repeated again, +Miss Campbell fairly shivered at the sound. +</p> +<p> +“Evelyn!” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, father,” answered the girl faintly. +</p> +<p> +“Come at once.” +</p> +<p> +White as a sheet, with her hands clasped together +as if to give herself courage, Evelyn +turned to the great wooden tower of a man. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t want to, father. I prefer to stay here +with—with my friends.” +</p> +<p> +The man took out a gold watch as big as a +turnip and looked at it. +</p> +<p> +“I will give you three minutes to obey,” he +said. +</p> +<p> +The girls had a feeling Evelyn was going to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126'></a>126</span> +her doom, and this was her last farewell. She +threw her arms around Miss Campbell’s neck and +kissed her; then she kissed each of the Motor +Maids. She might have been a devoted daughter +and loving sister saying good-by for a long time. +</p> +<p> +“Good-by! Good-by!” she whispered, trying +to stifle her sobs. +</p> +<p> +Curious people were beginning to drift into +the parlor. +</p> +<p> +The next moment there was the sound of an +automobile outside and Evelyn was whisked off +in the darkness. +</p> +<p> +“Dear, dear, dear,” ejaculated Miss Campbell +“I am so upset! That exquisite young girl and +that terrible giant creature of a father!” +</p> +<p> +“Her name was Evelyn, too. Wasn’t it +queer?” observed Nancy. +</p> +<p> +“Evelyn, Evelyn,” they repeated. +</p> +<p> +“Evelyn Stone. Mr. Daniel Moore’s Evelyn +Stone.” +</p> +<p> +In an instant they were all talking at once. +It was Evelyn Stone. They recognized her now +from the picture, although there was only really +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127'></a>127</span> +a faint resemblance. What picture could do justice +to such coloring? The auburn hair, the +golden brown eyes and the blush that crept in and +out of her face with her changing emotions. But +it was she, they were sure of it. She had the +same smile—the “snapshot smile.” +</p> +<p> +“If we had only recognized her sooner,” cried +Billie. “We might have delivered the letter. We +might have saved her from that great dragon +of a father. We might have done dozens of +things.” +</p> +<p> +They were deep in their thought when the +stage drove up to the door with a great flourish +and a man hastily dragged in several bags of +mail. +</p> +<p> +Everybody gathered around the desk to wait +for letters, and when the motor party had each +received a package of mail, the first for many +days, they hurried to their rooms to read the last +news from home. Miss Campbell had half a +dozen letters to engross her attention, and it was +not until she had read the last word of every one +that she opened a package covered with postmarks, showing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128'></a>128</span> +it had been forwarded from +place to place and had followed them over most +of their route. +</p> +<p> +“My goodness gracious me,” she cried out in +a loud astonished voice as she drew out the contents +of the packet. +</p> +<p> +The girls dropped their letters and ran into her +room. +</p> +<p> +“What is it?” they demanded breathlessly. +</p> +<p> +“My morocco pocket book with the fifty dollars, +the one I lost——” +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell could say no more. She was +quite overcome and on the verge of tears. She +handed a note to Billie to read aloud. +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +Dear Madam: (it ran) +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +I picked this pocketbook up in my field, +though how it happened to be near a broken box +kite I cannot tell you. I am sending it to the +address on the visiting card and would be glad +if you would notify me that you have received +it. +</p> +<p style='text-align:right; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-right:2em;;'>Yours truly,</p> +<p style='text-align:right; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-right:2em;;'><span class='sc'>James Erdman</span>,</p> +<p style='text-align:right; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-right:2em;;'>Dealer in Vegetables, Poultry and Eggs.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129'></a>129</span></div> +<p> +“He is a very honest man,” exclaimed Miss +Helen at last, when Billie had finished reading +the note. +</p> +<p> +“And Peter Van Vechten——?” began Mary. +</p> +<p> +They all looked at each other silently. +</p> +<p> +“How glad I am he escaped,” cried Miss +Campbell. “Never, never will I accuse anyone +on circumstantial evidence again.” +</p> +<p> +“I am the one to apologize to him,” said Billie. +“I insulted him.” +</p> +<p> +“All of us did, I think,” put in Elinor. +</p> +<p> +“We called him a thief,” added Nancy sadly. +</p> +<p> +“I was the one who cut the cords,” at last Mary +volunteered in a small voice. +</p> +<p> +How they pummeled her and laughed. +</p> +<p> +“And never told, you sly minx!” they cried. +</p> +<p> +But Billie meant some day to apologize openly +to Peter Van Vechten. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130'></a>130</span><a name='chX' id='chX'></a>CHAPTER X.—STEPTOE LODGE.</h2> +<p> + “King Borria Bungalee Boo,<br /> + Was a man-eating African swell,<br /> + His sigh was a hullaballoo,<br /> + His whisper a horrible yell—A<br /> + horrible, horrible yell!<br /> + <br/> + “Four subjects and all of them male<br /> + To Borria doubled the knee,<br /> + They were once on a far larger scale,<br /> + But he’d eaten the balance, you see—Scale<br /> + and balance is punning, you see!<br /> +</p> +<p> +“Scale and balance is punning, you see!” +roared the chorus. +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell and the girls exchanged rather +amazed glances. +</p> +<p> +They had drawn up in front of a long low +rancho. It was quite dark, but from an inside +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131'></a>131</span> +court they could hear the tinkle of a banjo accompanying +a deep baritone voice, with many +other deep voices joining in the chorus. The +singing went on: +</p> +<p> + “There was haughty Pish-Tush-Pooh-Bah,<br /> + There was lumbering Doodle-Dum-Dey,<br /> + Despairing Alack-a-Dey-Ah<br /> + And good little Tootle-Tum-Teh!<br /> + Exemplary Tootle-Tum-Teh,”<br /> +</p> +<p> +rang the chorus. +</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p> +“My dear, I don’t think we’d better try it,” said +Miss Campbell. “It sounds very rough. I feel +quite uneasy—it’s very much of an adventure at +any rate.” +</p> +<p> +The truth is the five ladies had done an exceedingly +reckless thing. Barney McGee had +invited them to come and see a real ranch, and +they had accepted his invitation. At first Miss +Campbell had declined. It was rather too much +to expect him to entertain five guests. Besides, +how could he when he was not owner of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132'></a>132</span> +ranch. He was part owner, he said. But if +they preferred they could stop at Steptoe Lodge +just as they could at an inn—engage rooms, that +is. His cousin, Brek Steptoe and his wife often +had boarders—people who came for their health. +</p> +<p> +Nebraska was filled with Easterners who were +trying to gain health in the West, and the good +State not only often gave them health but wealth +too—fine strong bodies and work that paid. +</p> +<p> +Therefore the motorists had taken down detailed +directions from Barney McGee, but they +had not arrived at Steptoe Lodge as soon as they +had expected. An exploded tire had caused a +long delay. No doubt Mrs. Steptoe had given +them up for the day now, for it was long after +dark when they finally found themselves at the +rancho. +</p> +<p> +A light streamed out from a door suddenly +opened, and the voices in the court yard grew +louder as the song progressed. +</p> +<p> + “There is musical Doh-Reh-Mi-Fah,<br /> + There is the nightingale Doh-Reh-Mi-Fah.”<br /> +</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133'></a>133</span></div> +<p> +“Does Mr. McGee live here?” asked Billie +timidly of a tall athletic looking young man who +had opened the door. He was dressed in buckskin +with high boots, a blue flannel shirt and a +silk handkerchief knotted around his neck. The +girls thought him quite the most picturesque person +they had seen since they left home. Even in +the darkness they could see the deep flush of embarrassment +mount to his face. +</p> +<p> +“There is a Mr. McGee who lives here—yes,” +he answered, choking with bashfulness. +</p> +<p> +“Will you ask him to come out at once, please,” +said Miss Campbell, with a growing uneasiness +that there might be some mistake. +</p> +<p> +But her fears were immediately allayed, for +Barney himself came running around the side of +the rancho. +</p> +<p> +“Ladies, I hope you’ll excuse me for not bein’ +on the spot as soon as you arrived. I waited for +you some hours on the door step. Tell the fellers +to shut up, Jim, and stop starin’ there like a +wooden injun. Call Rosina. Tell her the ladies +have arrived.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134'></a>134</span> +</p> +<p> +The place suddenly became as still as the grave, +and by the time the Motor Maids and Miss Helen +had alighted and been conducted into a cemented +courtyard around which the house was built, +after the Spanish style, there was not a person +to be seen except Jim, who followed obediently +with some of the luggage. +</p> +<p> +Rosina Steptoe, who had married Barney’s +cousin, Brek Steptoe, now hurried into the +room. She was a wiry little woman with a dark +swarthy face, beady black eyes, black hair and a +rather sweet expression which saved her from being +really very ugly. The girls thought at first +she might have some Spanish blood. Her manners +were gracious and she shook hands with +them cordially when Barney made the introductions. +</p> +<p> +“Will you come right in to supper?” she said, +without asking them to go to their rooms. “We +want to get through early because Barney is +giving a dance for you to-night, and the people +will be coming before we finish if we don’t +hurry.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135'></a>135</span> +</p> +<p> +“Dear, dear,” ejaculated Miss Campbell under +her breath. +</p> +<p> +They had not counted on being entertained by +the cowboy, and began to wonder what they had +been drawn into. +</p> +<p> +Feeling very dusty and a little tired from their +trip across the plains, they followed Mrs. Steptoe +into one of the rooms opening on the court. +It was a very large apartment with little furniture +in it except a long table and the inevitable +oak sideboard which always gave Billie the horrors. +They afterwards learned that it was the +pride of Mrs. Steptoe’s heart, and had been +bought in the East at a great sacrifice. +</p> +<p> +Four men were waiting at the table: Barney +McGee, Brek Steptoe, who was a handsome, middle +aged man with a weather-beaten face; Tony +Blackstone, whom the girls discovered presently +was English. It was he who had done the singing +they found; also he had good manners and +was not at all bashful, but very quiet. Jim made +the fourth man. +</p> +<p> +As they sat down at table, a Chinaman thrust +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136'></a>136</span> +his head in the door and then disappeared. Mrs. +Steptoe herself waited on them and the food was +really much better than they had expected. +</p> +<p> +Nancy was seated next to Jim, who, when she +was not looking, devoured her with his eyes, and +when she turned to him, dropped his lids and +flushed crimson as if he had been caught in a +felony. +</p> +<p> +“We didn’t know there was to be a party,” she +said to him innocently. “You see we aren’t +traveling with much baggage. I’m afraid we +can’t dress up properly.” +</p> +<p> +“Clothes don’t matter out here, Miss——” he +began. +</p> +<p> +“Nancy,” she finished. +</p> +<p> +“Miss Nancy,” he repeated, and then said it +over to himself as if the name pleased him +mightily. +</p> +<p> +“People don’t come to see the clothes. It’s the +dancing they want to see and—and——” +</p> +<p> +“And what?” she demanded. +</p> +<p> +“And the gir—the ladies. You see we don’t +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137'></a>137</span> +have many of them out here and they are all married.” +</p> +<p> +“Every girl is a belle in this part of the country, +I suppose,” observed Nancy. “Even the +ugly ones.” +</p> +<p> +Jim assented, regarding Nancy’s charming +face as if he had never seen a girl before in all +his life. +</p> +<p> +“And as for the pretty ones, Miss——” +</p> +<p> +“Nancy.” +</p> +<p> +“Miss Nancy, they are fairly worshipped.” +</p> +<p> +“Are there any pretty ones?” she asked. +</p> +<p> +“There weren’t until you came,” replied Jim +almost in a whisper, and then dropped his knife +on the floor. He stooped for so long to find it +that Nancy thought he must have had a sudden +attack of vertigo. She was sure of it when he +finally lifted his crimson face. +</p> +<p> +“I think I have one pretty dress,” she said irrelevantly, +looking into Jim’s eyes with just a +ghost of a smile. “I think it would be nice to +dress up a little. Don’t you?” +</p> +<p> +“I’m afraid I can’t,” muttered Jim. Then, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138'></a>138</span> +once more, plucking up courage, he asked: “Can +I have the first dance?” +</p> +<p> +In the meantime, Mr. Steptoe was explaining +many things to Miss Campbell regarding the +rounding up of cattle and life on the plains. +</p> +<p> +“There are no more real cowboys,” he said, +“except in the Buffalo Bill Show. They are +passing out. Barney here is about as good a +representative of the class as there is.” +</p> +<p> +“And Tony,” suggested Barney. +</p> +<p> +“Tony is a good imitation but he’s not the real +thing because he wasn’t born to it. Was you +Tony?” +</p> +<p> +The man named Blackstone frowned. +</p> +<p> +“Birth has nothing to do with it,” he answered, +and quickly changed the subject. +</p> +<p> +“He’s the younger son of an English lord,” +whispered Steptoe, “but he don’t like to have it +mentioned.” +</p> +<p> +It was rather surprising on the whole to see +how polite these rough men were. Following +Tony’s example, they stood up when the ladies +filed out of the room, led by Rosina Steptoe. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139'></a>139</span> +</p> +<p> +Bedrooms in the Steptoe rancho were not luxurious +apartments by any means. There were +no bathrooms and only small ewers of water supplied +the wants of the guests. +</p> +<p> +“I feel as if I had the yellow jaundice,” exclaimed +Nancy, as she critically examined her +features in a small wooden framed mirror back +of the washstand. There was no dressing table. +</p> +<p> +“To the naked eye you appear to be perfectly +healthy and normal,” replied Billie, “but I suppose +Miss Nancy-Bell, you are taking notice with +a view to dressing up, and for my part, I think +we should go down just as we are. It’s a cowboy +dance.” +</p> +<p> +There was a continuous argument about +clothes between Nancy and Billie which Miss +Campbell invariably had to settle. On this occasion +Miss Campbell was for appearing as spectators +at the dance and not as active guests. She +had not counted on being entertained at the +Lodge, and she was unable to conceal her misgivings. +</p> +<p> +“I think it would be very rude not to dress up,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140'></a>140</span> +cried Nancy hotly. “Mrs. Steptoe is going to +wear a pink cotton crêpe. She told me she was, +and they are all looking forward to seeing us in—well—something +different than this.” +</p> +<p> +The other girls laughed teasingly. +</p> +<p> +“Anything to show off that new frock of yours, +Nancy,” cried Billie. “Cowboys and Indians will +do if you can’t find a better audience.” +</p> +<p> +Nancy was offended. She flushed hotly and +her eyes filled with tears. She had very sensitive +feelings somewhere hidden under her gay +careless manner. +</p> +<p> +“Bless its heart! Are its feelings hurt?” exclaimed +Billie, putting her arms around her +friend’s neck and kissing her warmly. “I +wouldn’t have gone fer to hurt its feelings for +anything in the world. It shall wear its little +folderols if it chooses, shan’t it, Cousin, and put +on all its ribbons and laces.” +</p> +<p> +“Silly old tease,” said Nancy, laughing through +her tears. “You’re just as anxious as anybody +to dress up only you’re too proud to admit it because +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141'></a>141</span> +you’re afraid people will think you are +vain.” +</p> +<p> +“Go along with you, you foolish children, and +get into your clothes,” here interrupted Miss +Campbell. “If Nancy wants to appear in a party +frock, I think it won’t do any harm to these poor +isolated ranchmen.” +</p> +<p> +It so happened, therefore, that the girls, in +another twenty minutes, for the first time since +they had left Sevenoaks, the home of their friend, +Daniel Moore, attired themselves in their prettiest +gowns. Only simple muslin frocks, but +with plenty of hand embroidery and lace +insertions to make them fine, and ribbon bows to +set them off. +</p> +<p> +Nancy, beguiling creature that she was, tied +a pink satin ribbon around her curly hair, and +the picture she made when she entered the dining +room in her white dress with her floating +ribbons and dainty little black patent leather +pumps, was a sight Jim was not to forget in a +hurry. +</p> +<p> +Elinor might have been a young princess who +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142'></a>142</span> +had condescended to step out of the back door of +her palace and mingle with her low subjects for +a brief space. She held her head with its coronet +braids slightly higher than usual in the +strange company which now began to congregate. +</p> +<p> +She wore a straight white dress all fine tucks +and embroidery without a sign of lace or ribbon +to mar the effect of very elegant simplicity. Billie +had tied around the smooth rolls of her light +brown hair a blue velvet band to match the embroidery +on her marquisette dress. She was a +glowing picturesque figure, her face flushed with +interest and enthusiasm. Mary, who always +falls to the last in our descriptions, perhaps because +she is so small and unassuming, wore a +soft white mulle frock with a pale blue Roman +sash knotted around her waist, a relic of her +mother’s own girlhood. +</p> +<p> +You may imagine, I am sure, what a sensation +our dainty young girls and Miss Campbell, +in a beautiful gray silk, made on the rough company +now assembled. There were subdued murmurs of surprise +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143'></a>143</span> +and admiration. The few plain +weather-beaten looking women who had driven +miles across the plains for a glimpse of the Motor +Maids, looked down hastily at their own pitiful +attempts at finery, and ranchmen and cowboys +craned their necks for a glimpse of the fair vision +which had been vouchsafed them. +</p> +<p> +On a table at the far end of the room sat the +two musicians, Mexicans. Each with a guitar +and a fiddle. The kerosene lamps, hung against +reflectors on the wall, cast a yellow glow on the +scene so new to the travelers. Five chairs had +been arranged in a row at the other end of the +room as places of honor for the Eastern guests, +who might have been five new prima donnas at +the opera for the intense interest they excited. +</p> +<p> +The music now set up a whining jig tune. +There was an embarrassed shuffling of feet for a +moment, and clearing of throats. Presently two +cowboys started to dancing the old fashioned +polka together, and in a jiffy the whole company +was whirling about the room madly. The five +Easterners looked on for a while quite gravely. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144'></a>144</span> +In the joy of the dance they had been quite forgotten. +</p> +<p> +Not quite forgotten, for Jim now appeared, +handsome as a picture, with a new red silk handkerchief +knotted around his neck, his black hair +as smooth and slick as brush and water could +make it. +</p> +<p> +“Are you willing to try it?” he asked, bowing +before Nancy, who little knew what struggles +between bashfulness and courage now rent his +soul. +</p> +<p> +“I was wondering where you were,” she said +smiling sweetly as she floated away with him like +a soap bubble on a summer breeze. +</p> +<p> +Tony Blackstone then asked Elinor to dance, +and she had condescended, comforting herself +with the secret knowledge that he was the son of +an English lord. Barney McGee had led forth +Mary. And Mrs. Steptoe, having introduced her +brother, whose name Billie had failed to catch, +that young woman had permitted herself to be +circled around once. But her partner did not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145'></a>145</span> +please her for some reason and she preferred to +sit with Miss Helen and watch the dancers. +</p> +<p> +“Are you tired so soon?” he asked. +</p> +<p> +“No,” she answered, always truthful under the +most trying circumstances, “but I don’t care to +dance.” +</p> +<p> +The man flashed an angry glance at her and +for the first time she looked in his face. Where +had she seen those dark scowling eyes before? +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t catch your name,” she said. “I +would like to introduce you to my cousin.” +</p> +<p> +“Hawkes,” he answered in an almost threatening +tone of voice. +</p> +<p> +“Why, you are—” but she never finished the +sentence for the man named Hawkes had abruptly +turned away. +</p> +<p> +“Strange,” said Billie to herself, reflecting inwardly +on the passing likenesses one sees everywhere. +“But, no, it is impossible, for this man +is very well dressed, better than any man in the +room, I think, and besides he’s Rosina Steptoe’s +brother.” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146'></a>146</span><a name='chXI' id='chXI'></a>CHAPTER XI.—THE HAWKES FAMILY.</h2> +<p> +Breathless and flushed with exercise the other +girls now dropped into their seats. The hot, +crowded room, the dust raised by the shuffling of +many feet on the floor and the strange company +rather bewildered them. Only Nancy had really +enjoyed the experience, because Jim was an excellent +dancer; and he had guided her carefully +through the mazes of the jigging two-step. +</p> +<p> +But there was to be further entertainment before +they might be allowed to stroll out under the +stars and breathe in the fresh air. A Mexican +cowboy with a broad crimson sash around his +waist, a border of bright-colored fringe edging +the side of his trousers and jingling spurs on his +high-heeled boots, danced a wild fandango to a +Spanish tune with a throbbing accompaniment +on the guitar, which seemed to grow faster and +faster as he struck his heels on the floor. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147'></a>147</span> +</p> +<p> +Then the music stopped and two Indians appeared. +One of them squatted on the floor and +began beating monotonously on a small kind of +a drum or tom-tom. The other Indian in full regalia +began dancing slowly in a circle, stooping +low as if he were hiding from his prey which he +would presently pounce upon and destroy utterly. +He was a barbaric and war-like figure and the +girls unconsciously shrunk back as he danced by +them. Gradually the dance grew wilder and the +steps quicker. The Indian gave a strange bird-like +cry, and for the fraction of a moment paused +in front of Billie. With another cry that had a +familiar sound he flashed a black glance of +hatred into her face and was gone. +</p> +<p> +Again Billie thought she recognized a likeness. +She turned her bewildered eyes downward, her +face flushing with embarrassment. There in her +lap was a long, grayish feather. +</p> +<p> +“What’s this for?” she demanded, turning to +Barney McGee. +</p> +<p> +“I reckon it’s a complimentary souvenir for +you, Miss Billie,” replied the ranchman. “It’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148'></a>148</span> +one of Hawkeseye’s jokes, a quill from a hawk’s +wing.” +</p> +<p> +“Hawkeseye,” repeated Billie. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, yes, we call him that for fun. His name +is Buckthorne Hawkes. He ain’t all Injun, you +know. He’s really the Missus’ brother, but he +can certainly fix himself up to look as much like +a full-blooded Indian buck as if he had just come +from the reservation.” +</p> +<p> +“Was he ever a peddler?” Billie asked. +</p> +<p> +Barney laughed. +</p> +<p> +“He’s a graduate of Carlyle University,” he +answered. “He’s come out West to teach school.” +</p> +<p> +In the meantime, Elinor had been led by Tony +Blackstone into the courtyard, where they sat +down on a bench. Overhead the stars gleamed +with incredible brilliancy, partly because the stars +from a Western plain seem infinitely larger and +grander than they do anywhere else, and partly +because they gazed at them from the depths of +a small dark courtyard. +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps Miss Campbell would not like to +have me leave the—the ballroom,” said Elinor, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149'></a>149</span> +not knowing how to designate the dining room +in its present use. +</p> +<p> +“It’s only a step away,” said Tony Blackstone, +“and we can’t talk in there very well. You remind +me of—of an English girl I once knew, +and it would be just common charity to talk to +me a little.” +</p> +<p> +“Are you homesick, then?” asked Elinor. +</p> +<p> +“Sometimes. If anything happens to remind +me of—of my other home.” +</p> +<p> +“Then you are not happy here?” the young girl +demanded quickly, as if this were a confirmation +of her suspicions. +</p> +<p> +“There are times when I am happy,” he said. +“When I am riding at night across the plains on +a horse that goes like the wind. It is wonderful +then, especially when the moon is full. I can almost +forget that I have an identity at such +times.” +</p> +<p> +There was a long pause. Elinor hardly knew +what to say, and she watched the young man +gravely. That he was deeply moved by the memories +her own face had conjured up she could +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150'></a>150</span> +plainly see. His lips twitched convulsively and +he clenched his hands as if he were trying to +choke the thoughts that would rise in his mind. +Why had he come away from home and lost himself +in this distant place? +</p> +<p> +They sat thus for some time watching the stars +silently. A sympathy had sprung up between +them and they seemed to have known each other +for a long time. +</p> +<p> +“What was her name?” she asked at last in +a low voice. +</p> +<p> +“Elinor,” he burst out. “Elinor, the same as +yours,” and he turned his face away. +</p> +<p> +Perhaps he was crying. Elinor never knew, +although it seemed strange for a big splendid +cowboy to shed tears. +</p> +<p> +“I’m so sorry for you,” she said kindly, and +laid her hand on his arm, a great piece of condescension +for her. “Touch-me-not” was a nick-name +given her long ago by her friends. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Elinor, Elinor,” he exclaimed, taking her +hand in his, “if you could only understand what +the sight of your face and the sound of your +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151'></a>151</span> +voice mean to me! If you could only know what +I have lost by my folly, my wretched, miserable +folly!” +</p> +<p> +“Aren’t you ever going back?” she asked, and +she did not withdraw her hand. +</p> +<p> +“It’s too late now,” he said. “She hates me—they +all hate me!” +</p> +<p> +“Are you sure?” she persisted. +</p> +<p> +“Perfectly certain.” +</p> +<p> +“Elinor, dear, I think you had better come +back, now,” called Miss Campbell, who never let +her girls out of her sight for long. +</p> +<p> +“Is Blackstone your real name?” Elinor asked +as they paused before the door of the dancing +room. +</p> +<p> +“My real name,” he replied, “is Algernon +Blackstone de Willoughby Winston.” +</p> +<p> +Elinor repeated the names after him and +buried them deep in her mind. +</p> +<p> +A Virginia reel was forming and Mrs. Steptoe +has asked as an especial favor if the young ladies +would not dance. Nancy had given her hand to +Jim for the dance. It was the third time she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152'></a>152</span> +had bestowed this honor upon him, and with unconcealed +joy he stood at the top of the line ready +to lead off. Billie was dancing with Barney +McGee. Mary had accepted Brek Steptoe as a +partner and Elinor, with Algernon Blackstone +de Willoughby Winston now joined the line. +</p> +<p> +There were only three or four other women +including Mrs. Steptoe, and for the rest, cowboys +and ranchmen danced together with perfect +good nature. +</p> +<p> +How strange it seemed to Miss Campbell, her +four girls dancing among these queer people. No +wonder the other dancers forgot the figures of +the reel while they drank in the picture of their +fresh young faces. It was to them as if a garden +of roses had suddenly sprung up in the +desert. +</p> +<p> +“Down the center,” called the musician. “Now, +right and left all around.” +</p> +<p> +The fiddle whined. The guitar thrummed +passionately. Miss Campbell’s head was in a +whirl. +</p> +<p> +“Ought we to have taken the risk of this +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153'></a>153</span> +visit?” she kept saying. “When one is traveling +one must have experiences,” her thoughts continued. +“Besides, what harm can come of it? +They are rough, kindly people, and have taken +so much trouble to give us this entertainment. +But I really don’t care for all this noise and dust. +I hope I shall never go to another one.” +</p> +<p> +The little lady leaned her head wearily against +the wall and closed her eyes. An arm slipped +around her waist. It was Elinor, who having +danced her turn had quietly joined her. Her +partner had disappeared in the courtyard. +</p> +<p> +The two women exchanged meaning glances. +The noisy dance, the jingling spurs of the cowboys +as the dancers came down the middle, and +an occasional loud laugh did not appeal to Elinor +either. +</p> +<p> +“We must excuse ourselves, dear,” Miss +Campbell was saying, when suddenly the courtyard +resounded with a loud cry. +</p> +<p> +“You insufferable, black-livered hound,” came +the voice of Algernon Blackstone de Willoughby +Winston, “if I catch you sneaking around here +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154'></a>154</span> +again with your knives, I’ll throw you out to the +coyotes.” +</p> +<p> +The dance continued, and only one dancer +dropped out. Either they had not heard the disturbance, +or else such disturbances were too common +to notice. It was, consequently, Rosina +Steptoe alone, with face aflame and eyes snapping +like two little wells of fire, who signed to +her partner and approached the doorway. She +was too angry to notice how near Miss Campbell +and Elinor were sitting to the open door. +</p> +<p> +“Tony, how dare you speak to my brother like +that,” she hissed into the court. “I told you before +I wouldn’t have it.” +</p> +<p> +“Nonsense, Rosina, your brother deserves a +good thrashing for his tricks. I just caught his +arm as he was about to throw this dagger into +the room.” +</p> +<p> +“It was only a little joke, Rosy,” whined her +brother. +</p> +<p> +“Joke be hanged,” broke in the Englishman, +“how dare you attempt to frighten these ladies +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155'></a>155</span> +by such a joke. Try it again and I’ll keep my +word.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t you be so interferin’ with the Hawkes +family,” cried Rosina shrilly. +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell rose. The dance was just reaching +a climax with its final right and left all +round. She beckoned to the girls. +</p> +<p> +“If you don’t mind, Mrs. Steptoe, I think we’ll +say good-night. We’ve had a long day. The +entertainment has been most delightful.” +</p> +<p> +Rosina became humble under the gaze of the +elegant little woman. +</p> +<p> +“I will show you to your rooms,” she said +meekly. +</p> +<p> +They bade the company a general good night, +and it was not long before they had locked themselves +into their bedrooms, and following Miss +Campbell’s instructions, had pushed the heaviest +piece of furniture in the room against each door. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156'></a>156</span><a name='chXII' id='chXII'></a>CHAPTER XII.—INTO THE WILDERNESS.</h2> +<p> +Steptoe Lodge in the morning was very different +from Steptoe Lodge at night. The dark +courtyard, full of shifting shadows, was now a +clean and open space bright with new light. +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell alone of the motor party had +not slept well because she had been afraid to +open her windows. She had cautioned the girls +against opening their’s, but Billie had flatly rebelled. +</p> +<p> +“I cannot sleep in a vacuum, Cousin Helen, +and if anyone were tall enough to crawl in the +window, we could among us make enough noise +to raise the roof off the house.” +</p> +<p> +But the night had been peaceful and the cheerfulness +of the June morning with the sweet scents +of the innumerable wild flowers which starred +the plains, dispelled Miss Campbell’s fears. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157'></a>157</span> +</p> +<p> +Someone was singing in the courtyard, a song +which Elinor knew and loved. +</p> +<p> + “Hark, hark, the lark from Heaven’s gate sings,<br /> + And Phoebus ’gins arise,<br /> + His steeds to water at those springs<br /> + On chaliced flowers that lies;<br /> + And winking Mary-buds begin to ope their golden eyes:<br /> + With everything that pretty is, my lady sweet, arise,<br /> + Arise, arise.”<br /> +</p> +<p> +“It’s Mr. Wins——,” she broke off, “Mr. +Blackstone, I mean.” +</p> +<p> +“Isn’t it strange that he should be here among +these rough uneducated people,” observed Mary, +thoughtfully. “Did he tell you anything about +himself last night, Elinor?” +</p> +<p> +But Elinor kept her own counsel. She was not +one to tell the secrets of others even to her own +particular, intimate friends and she knew that +what Algernon Blackstone de Willoughby Winston had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158'></a>158</span> +confided to her the night before, he had +meant for her ears alone. +</p> +<p> +A tap on the door, however, interrupted her +guarded reply. +</p> +<p> +It was Barney McGee. Would any of the +young ladies like a gallop on the plains before +breakfast? +</p> +<p> +“I would, I would,” cried Billie, instantly in +a state of joyous anticipation. +</p> +<p> +“Now, Billie, dear,” interrupted her cousin, +“I am desperately afraid to have you ride one of +those wild untamed horses. Remember those animals +we saw in Buffalo Bill’s Show. They were +Western horses, all of them, and they jumped +around like so many contortionists.” +</p> +<p> +“We’ll give her the tamest beast in the stable, +ma’am,” Barney assured her. +</p> +<p> +“Not one of those frightful bronco creatures, +Barney, I hope?” +</p> +<p> +“No, no, ma’am, a gentle little Texas horse +that goes like the wind and never balks or +kicks——” +</p> +<p> +“How fast a wind, Barney? A cyclone?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159'></a>159</span> +</p> +<p> +Barney laughed. +</p> +<p> +“He’s a first rate little horse, ma’am and any +lady could ride him—who knows how to stick +on,” he added in a lower voice. +</p> +<p> +But Barney knew he could trust Billie on a +Texas pony, having seen her take a canter on his +own lean animal. +</p> +<p> +“I haven’t any habit,” announced Billie. +</p> +<p> +“Rosina keeps this one for the ladies who stop +here,” said Barney, disclosing a khaki divided +skirt which had been in a bundle under his arm. +</p> +<p> +Ten minutes later, Billie was waiting at the +long low shed which answered for a stable, while +Barney led forth a small gray horse called Jocko. +Two little impish devils peeped from the depths +of Jocko’s eyes, but he flicked his tail lazily and +lowered his head in a deceivingly humble manner. +</p> +<p> +Rosina was to ride with them. Miss Campbell +would on no account permit Billie to ride +unchaperoned on the plains, even with the trustworthy +Barney as a companion. +</p> +<p> +The mistress of the rancho presently emerged +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160'></a>160</span> +from the stable, leading a small sorrel horse. She +also wore divided skirts, and with one bound +leapt into the saddle, a feat Billie had not expected +from her awkward, rather dumpy appearance. +But it was very evident Rosina enjoyed +the sport. With a curious cry, not unlike +that given by her brother, Blackthorn Hawkes, +the night before, when he danced the Indian war +dance, she flew over the plains, followed by Barney +and Billie. +</p> +<p> +Never had Billie enjoyed anything so much as +that wild morning ride. The air was cool and +crisp. The sky intensely blue, and everywhere, +as far as the eye could see, were the rolling purple +prairies, dotted with wild flowers. +</p> +<p> +She forgot Miss Campbell, forgot her three +friends, indeed her mind was filled only with the +joy of the moment. +</p> +<p> +Perhaps an Arabian horse on the desert might +outstrip him, but indeed Jocko’s feet seemed +hardly to touch the earth as he skimmed along. +</p> +<p> +Soon he was ahead of the others. Billie +looked back over her shoulder and saw Barney +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161'></a>161</span> +making wild gesticulations as the distance between +them widened. But Jocko’s mouth was as hard +as steel, and when the young girl began presently +to draw him in, she made no more impression on +him than the wind along the waste. +</p> +<p> +“Whoa, Jocko,” she cried. “Stop, stop, you +little beast.” +</p> +<p> +On went Jocko, swifter than the wind, swifter +than anything Billie had ever imagined. Leaning +far over, like a jockey, she pressed her knees +into his sides and held to his mane for dear +life. +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps he will tire out,” she thought. “In +the meantime, the best I can do is to stick on.” +</p> +<p> +Only once, did she give an upside-down, backward +glance through the crook in her elbow, but +her companions were nowhere in sight. Just +how long Billie gripped the pony’s neck in this +manner and kept her seat, she hardly knew. It +might have been five minutes and it might have +been thirty. She felt as a shooting star must +feel as it flashes through the universe; a secret, +blind exhilaration and an immense vacancy of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162'></a>162</span> +space which seemed to surround her, and withal +an overpowering fear. +</p> +<p> +Then there came a sudden and utterly unexpected +halt. At the same moment she unconsciously +loosened her grip on the horse’s mane. +Head over heels she went, straight over the +pony’s head, and lay huddled on the ground, +limp and inert. +</p> +<p> +Jocko sniffed at her an instant and then turned +and trotted away. The two little imps in his +eyes had retired, and he was once more a mild-mannered +demure gray pony. +</p> +<p> +Imagine yourself the one small human speck +in a great vast wilderness of prairie and you +can form a vague idea of Billie’s sensations when +she opened her eyes. +</p> +<p> +Trying to collect her scattered senses, she +pulled herself together and stood up. Her head +swam and she had a shaky sensation in her knees. +</p> +<p> +“Let me see,” she said out loud in a puzzled +voice. “Cousin Helen and the girls are—well +where are they? And——Oh,” she cried, pressing +her hands to her head as memory came back +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163'></a>163</span> +to her and she perceived herself to be alone on +the plains. Then she looked about for the treacherous +Jocko, but he had disappeared over the +horizon. +</p> +<p> +When Billie’s blood had resumed its normal +tempo and her head had ceased to throb, she began +to walk in what she judged from the sun to +be a Southerly direction. She walked for a long +time but nowhere could she see signs of her +friends. +</p> +<p> +“I might as well be a canoe in the middle of the +ocean,” she said at length, sitting down on the +ground in despair. “I don’t seem to get anywhere, +and—Oh, dear, how hot and tired and +thirsty and hungry I am!” +</p> +<p> +Once she tried calling, but her voice seemed to +her only a small piping sound in the great emptiness. +</p> +<p> +“I declare, I feel about as large as a microscopic +insect,” she exclaimed with a little sobbing +laugh. +</p> +<p> +Then with a sudden resolution, she began to +run. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164'></a>164</span> +</p> +<p> +“I won’t be lost,” she cried. “I won’t! I won’t! +Haloo-oo-o, Barney—Rosina—where are you?” +</p> +<p> +Perhaps you have heard of the madness of +people lost in a great forest or in the desert. It +is a terrible growing fear which often turns into +insanity unless it is held in check. Billie had +heard of this madness. Her father had once told +her of the sad case of a man lost in the Adirondacks +who ran round and round in a circle, and +when at last he was found, he was still running +in a circle, completely out of his senses. +</p> +<p> +Checking her impulse to give way to this delirium, +the young girl sat down and began to think. +</p> +<p> +“Now, Billie,” she said out loud, as if she were +addressing some one else, “don’t go and make an +idiot of yourself. Be silent and go quietly, or +you’ll be a raving lunatic in five minutes. Of +course the whole ranch will set out to find you +as soon as they know you are actually lost. And +of course they will find you. There can be no +doubt of that. You are not going to die yet. +You are far too young and strong and fond of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165'></a>165</span> +life and—and hungry,” she added with a little +quaver in her voice. +</p> +<p> +But not again did Billie give way to the delirium +of the lost. With her back to the sun she +hurried on, not even a village of prairie dogs attracting +her absorbed attention. As the sun began +his afternoon course, she became conscious +of an intense, unconquerable thirst. At first she +fought against it, but at last she sat down and +indulged in memories of spring water. All the +cool bubbling wells she had ever seen came back +to her mind. Memories of a little trickling brook +on Seven League Island beside which she had +once knelt and taken deep long draughts; then +there was Cold Spring, where she had been on a +picnic. What a spring that was! A perfect +fountain of delicious clear water. She recalled +a swim she had had in a mountain lake where +the water was as clear as crystal and very cold. +She had swallowed quite a mouthful when she +dived off a rock, and she could still feel the coolness +on her lips. +</p> +<p> +“But best of all,” she murmured, “best of all +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166'></a>166</span> +was the water in that sunken barrel spring on +Percy’s place. Oh, for a drop of it now,” she +cried. +</p> +<p> +She lay down on the ground and pillowed her +head on her arms. Through the tall grasses +she could see someone still a great way off coming +toward her so rapidly that the figure loomed +larger and larger on the landscape. She sat up +and waited. +</p> +<p> +“Here I am,” she heard herself calling. Then +she laughed wildly. What she had taken for a +dumpy squat lady in a bonnet trimmed with two +pointed velvet bows, turned out to be a great +stupid jackrabbit with ears as big as a mule’s, +who leaped on his hind legs with incredible +rapidity. +</p> +<p> +“Silly old thing,” exclaimed Billie irritably. +“I thought you were a nice, kind, fat old person +bringing me a glass of water.” +</p> +<p> +The truth is the rabbit did bear a striking resemblance +to the janitress at West Haven High +School. +</p> +<p> +Billie fell asleep and dreamed she was in a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167'></a>167</span> +fiery furnace calling to her father, when suddenly +a delicious wetness touched her lips and a +few drops of water trickled down her parched +throat. She opened her eyes. Buckthorne +Hawkes, Rosina’s brother, was leaning over her +with a flask of water in his hand. +</p> +<p> +Was she still dreaming or did she hear him +say: +</p> +<p> +“Next time you will buy an opal of me, eh?” +</p> +<p> +She opened her eyes again and looked into the +face of the peddler who, ages back, had cursed +them and their ancestors. +</p> +<p> +But old Mrs. Jack Rabbit had come back. +There she was, dark and black and squat. +</p> +<p> +“Good day, Mrs. Jack Rabbit,” Billie called, +“did you bring the water?” and then she went +to sleep with a feeling of security and peace. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168'></a>168</span><a name='chXIII' id='chXIII'></a>CHAPTER XIII.—HOT AIR SUE.</h2> +<p> +A heated argument was taking place. +</p> +<p> +“Go on, Hot Air Sue and mind your own business. +You are too full of curiosity. I tell you +I found this girl here. She had run away from +home.” +</p> +<p> +“Umph! Umph! Hawkeseye big lie. Hawkeseye +always big lie!” +</p> +<p> +“Woman, will you be quiet. Do you want to +make big money. Father rich man, see? He +pay big money to get girl back. Hot Air Sue +make much gold. Hot Air Sue have necklace +and fine new dress.” +</p> +<p> +“Umph! Umph!” +</p> +<p> +“If I promise to take you, will you keep quiet?” +</p> +<p> +“Umph! Umph!” +</p> +<p> +Billie’s wandering mind had returned to its +dwelling place but she still kept her eyes closed +even when she felt two strong arms lift her up +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169'></a>169</span> +and place her on a seat which seemed almost familiar. +She half opened her eyes and looked +through the lashes. She was in an automobile, +but it was not the Comet. +</p> +<p> +“Get in, Sue. Sit here and hold her beside +you. I’ll run the car.” +</p> +<p> +Evidently there were only two seats to the +motor car. Billie was squeezed into a seat beside +the woman and while the peddler, Indian, or +whatever he was, was cranking up the machine +she opened her eyes and looked straight into the +little pig eyes of a fat Indian squaw. +</p> +<p> +“Shut eyes,” whispered Hot Air Sue and +Billie promptly closed them again, feeling suddenly +very wide awake and alert. +</p> +<p> +Presently they were moving smoothly and silently +over the prairie. The automobile was a +very fast one and the wind raised by the swift +motion had a reviving, refreshing effect on the +exhausted girl. +</p> +<p> +“Water and food,” she whispered into the ear +of Hot Air Sue. +</p> +<p> +“Umph!” grunted the squaw. “Girl ver’ sick,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170'></a>170</span> +she said to Hawkes. “Must have water and +bread.” +</p> +<p> +The man stopped the car and from under the +seat drew forth a box of crackers and a bottle +of water. Billie ate some of the crackers and +drank deeply from a tin cup of the water. She +never stopped to think of how clean the cup was +or where the sandwich had come from. +</p> +<p> +Then she laid her head on the Indian woman’s +breast and pretended to go back to sleep. +</p> +<p> +“Where going?” she heard Hot Air Sue ask. +</p> +<p> +“Across the border,” he said. “Into Colorado. +We’ll get there by evening.” +</p> +<p> +The air was beginning to have a cool feeling. +They had left the plains abruptly behind them +and were nearing the mountains. +</p> +<p> +“I must get back tonight,” said Billie to herself. +“Cousin Helen will die of heart failure if +I don’t.” +</p> +<p> +Although her body was exhausted, her mind +was clear and with her eyes closed, she was able +to think connectedly and deeply. “I am being +kidnapped,” her thoughts continued. “Hot Air +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171'></a>171</span> +Sue is my friend and will save me if she possibly +can. The trouble is we haven’t any money between +us, I suppose.” +</p> +<p> +Once after a long time they stopped and +Hawkes jumped out and examined one of the +tires. +</p> +<p> +“Sue save young lady,” whispered the old Indian +woman. “Sue not afraid. Don’t wake up.” +</p> +<p> +The man came and stood at the side of the car +and looked into Billie’s face. +</p> +<p> +“Hot Air Sue good old girl,” he said. “Hot +Air Sue won’t be sorry she helped Hawkeseye. +Give me water bottle. Hawkeseye get water. +Hot Air Sue look after girl. She mustn’t run +away. No money, no girl.” +</p> +<p> +“Umph! umph!” grunted the woman. “Sue +would get water for young chief, but Sue must +hold girl.” +</p> +<p> +Hawkeseye took the bottle and started down to +a spring which bubbled out of the rocks at the +foot of a small precipice at one side of the road. +</p> +<p> +Billie watched him as he leaped nimbly from +one rock to another. Then with one flying leap +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172'></a>172</span> +she was out of the machine and had cranked it +up. At the sound of the motor the man looked +up quickly, dropped the bottle with a crash of +broken glass and began to run up the cliff. It +was a difficult place in which to turn, and Billie +was obliged to go backward down a narrow road, +but the young girl kept her head and moved the +machine slowly and deliberately. +</p> +<p> +“Hawkeseye come runnin’,” said the Indian +woman. “White girl hurry.” +</p> +<p> +Another moment and they were headed in the +other direction, but Hawkeseye had reached +them. With a bound he seized the back of the +machine and was lifting himself on his elbows. +</p> +<p> +Instantly Hot Air Sue whipped out a knife +which she had hidden somewhere in the depths +of her shawl, and slashed him across the wrist. +With a yell of fury the man fell backward and +lay on the ground. Billie gave one glance over +her shoulder. Never had she felt so deliberately +and cruelly cold-blooded as at that moment. If +Buckthorne Hawkes’ back had been broken she +would have gone on just the same. But it was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173'></a>173</span> +not broken, for a second glance showed him +crawling to the side of the road. +</p> +<p> +“I’m at Steptoe Lodge. Do you know where +that is?” she asked Hot Air Sue, who was regarding +her efforts at running the motor car with +stolid admiration. +</p> +<p> +“Steptoe Lodge thirty miles away.” +</p> +<p> +“Thirty miles? That’s nothing,” replied Billie +cheerfully. “Is this the right road?” +</p> +<p> +“This is first right road. This road wrong +later.” +</p> +<p> +“You mean we take another road that branches +off from this?” +</p> +<p> +“Umph!” +</p> +<p> +“Will you tell me when we get to it?” +</p> +<p> +“Hot Air Sue tell everything. Hot Air Sue +talk much. That’s why cowboys call her ‘Hot +Air.’” +</p> +<p> +Billie laughed. Was it possible she had been +dying of thirst in the desert only a few hours before, +and here she was exhilarated and almost +shouting with joy over her escape; riding with +Hot Air Sue in a perfectly strange automobile. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174'></a>174</span> +But was it perfectly strange? She leaned over +and looked at the color as they sped along. It +was gray. It was a racing car and it was built +for two. +</p> +<p> +“Hawkeseye bad man. Hawkeseye call himself +school-teacher. He bad Indian,” went on Sue. +“He no teacher. He thief. He no Indian, +either. He only half Indian. That’s why Hawkeseye +bad man. All white or all red better.” +</p> +<p> +“Hawkeseye steals automobiles,” said Billie. +</p> +<p> +“Umph! Umph! His sisters, they spoil +Hawkeseye. They work to send him to school +and give him fine clothes.” +</p> +<p> +“Has he got another sister?” +</p> +<p> +“Hawkeseye got two sisters—Rosina and +Maria.” +</p> +<p> +“The illustrious Hawkes family,” said Billie +to herself. “Well-known in the West. I think +the most dangerous member of that family had +better be locked up.” +</p> +<p> +The first stars were just coming into view +when Billie drew up in front of Steptoe Lodge, +but in all that big ranch house only two human +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175'></a>175</span> +beings were there to greet her—Miss Helen +Campbell and the Chinese cook. +</p> +<p> +Seizing a trumpet made of a cow’s horn the +Chinaman rushed to the top of the house and +blew half a dozen blasts that resounded over the +prairie like the call of the wild huntsman, and +in fifteen minutes from every direction horses +and ponies bearing cowboy riders were dashing +across the plains toward the Lodge. But far +more amazing to Billie was the sight of her own +red Comet hastening eagerly toward her, and +at the wheel sat Mary, clever little pupil that she +was, and in the back seat were Elinor and Nancy +crying and calling and waving their handkerchiefs +all at once. +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell had been completely prostrated. +She was in bed with a wet towel around her head +and her eyes were red with weeping. Billie also +was put to bed and fed by her devoted friends +with hot soup and dry toast. She was more exhausted +than she cared to admit, and it was Hot +Air Sue, with her talent for inexhaustible conversation, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176'></a>176</span> +who made explanations to the household +of Steptoe Lodge. +</p> +<p> +The next morning two men arrived at the +Lodge. They bore a warrant for the arrest of +one, Buckthorne Hawkes, automobile thief. But +Buckthorne Hawkes was not to be found. However, +they confiscated the gray racing car, and +the girls knew that Peter Van Vechten was once +more in possession of his property. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177'></a>177</span><a name='chXIV' id='chXIV'></a>CHAPTER XIV.—ON THE ROAD AGAIN.</h2> +<p> +The Comet had now a guide. No more excursions +into the wilderness of the unknown for him. +Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close +to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as +the highway permitted, for they were about to +go through the wild rugged country where rise +the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains. +</p> +<p> +With a sigh of relief they said good-by to +Steptoe Lodge. +</p> +<p> +“It was interesting, but uncomfortable,” Miss +Campbell had said. For a whole day Billie’s +experience had quite shaken Miss Campbell’s enthusiasm +in the journey. It was not a permanent +distaste, however. Having remained quietly in +West Haven for a quarter of a century, the little +woman was now possessed with a thirst for +travel. She had developed into a high-toned +Gypsy with a disposition to perpetual wandering. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178'></a>178</span> +</p> +<p> +The partings at Steptoe Lodge had some of +them been quite moving; but not Rosina’s, who +had bade them a chilly farewell. Her nature was +a stormy one, a strange mixture of hot and cold, +anger and humility, courage and fear. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know whom she’s angriest with,” Billie +had observed, “our ex-teacher, Maria, for putting +her brother up to such lawless tricks or us +because we were the victims.” +</p> +<p> +“I hope they catch him,” said Miss Campbell +firmly. “I do, indeed, and shut him up in prison +for a long, long time. Such dangerous characters +ought not to be allowed to run at large.” +</p> +<p> +“They’ll catch him if Brek Steptoe has any influence,” +put in Nancy. “Barney told me his +cousin was never going to put up with Hawkeseye +again. He had stood all he intended. Rosina +was now to choose between them.” +</p> +<p> +“What is that you’re looking at, Nancy?” demanded +Elinor, changing the subject. +</p> +<p> +Nancy blushed and laughed. +</p> +<p> +“A parting gift from Jim,” she replied. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179'></a>179</span> +</p> +<p> +Poor Jim had ridden for some miles beside the +Comet and they had gone slowly in order to enjoy +his company. Then, with a last hand-shake +all around and a heart-breaking sigh, he stopped +in the middle of the road, his sombrero in one +hand and his horse’s reins in the other. And +there he stood as still as a statue until the motor +car was reduced to a small scarlet dot on the +horizon. When he had shaken hands with +Nancy, he thrust a small package into her lap. +There were tears in Nancy’s eyes when she looked +at the contents of the package, although her +laugh rang out as merrily as her friends’ as she +drew forth the hind foot of a jack rabbit mounted +on a plaited loop of horsehair. +</p> +<p> +“Does he expect me to wear this thing around +my neck,” she cried dangling the clumsy paw +between her small thumb and forefinger. +</p> +<p> +“There’s a note,” said Mary, leaning over +Nancy’s shoulder. +</p> +<p> +Nancy smiled again as she read the note, first +to herself and then out loud: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180'></a>180</span> +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +“<span class='sc'>Dear Miss Nancy</span>: +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +“I killed the rabbit in an Indian burying +ground in the dark of the moon. The hair came +from my horse’s tail. He’s a fine little animal, +my horse. I love him best in the world next to—something +else I like better. I wish it were +a gold rabbit’s foot set in diamonds, but it’s a +long ways here from a jewelry store, and this is +the best I can do. I’ve had it a long time, +and it’s brought me good luck at last, because +I’ve met you. I hope it will bring you luck. +Good-by. It’s the hardest good-by I ever had to +say. If I ever strike a gold mine I’m coming +East. Good-by again. +</p> +<p style='text-align:right; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-right:2em;;'>“<span class='sc'>Jim.</span>”</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +“P. S.—Don’t forget me.” +</p> +<p> +“Poor, lonely soul!” exclaimed Miss Campbell, +wiping the moisture from her eyes. “Where are +his people, I wonder?” +</p> +<p> +“He hasn’t any,” answered Nancy. “His father +was a miner and he died when Jim was a +little boy. He’s worked in lumber camps and +lived around like this all his life. I think he’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181'></a>181</span> +very gentlemanly, considering. He says Tony +has taught him a lot. Jim is only eighteen, you +know, although he looks much older.” +</p> +<p> +Deep down in her heart Miss Campbell made +a resolution that she would like to do something +very nice for Jim. +</p> +<p> +They slept that night at Cheyenne, which had +once been a rude little frontier town, and was +now a handsome city, and the next day pushed +on toward Laramie. After riding hundreds of +miles over level prairie grounds, the eyes become +accustomed to wide stretches of landscape and +the mind, too, takes a broader and more generous +outlook on life. What is called “the peace of the +plains” seems to brood over the traveler. +</p> +<p> +Our five motorists were filled with this quietude +as they went Westward. All the difficulties +of the trip and past dangers were forgotten. +They were as peaceful as holy pilgrims journeying +toward Mecca. At last, late in the afternoon, +Billie suddenly stopped the car and pointed +silently toward the setting sun. She had caught +her first glimpse of the Rocky Mountains. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182'></a>182</span> +</p> +<p> +Far in the distance they lay, the first vague +misty opalescent peaks of the great chain which +divides the West into countries. They were only +the earliest indications of the wild and beautiful +scenery of Wyoming through which they were +about to pass. +</p> +<p> +“And after Wyoming comes Utah,” observed +Mary Price, thinking aloud. +</p> +<p> +“And in Utah comes Evelyn,” called Billie. +</p> +<p> +The girls thrilled at the thought of Evelyn. +What might not have happened to her since she +had been compelled to return to Utah. +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps her father has made her marry a +Mormon,” suggested Mary in an awed tone of +voice. +</p> +<p> +“Or shut her in a dungeon,” pursued Nancy, +who had a vague idea such things might take +place in this strange city. +</p> +<p> +“It’s like the story of the wicked king and the +princess,” here put in Elinor, her thoughts running +on royal blood as usual. +</p> +<p> +The girls smiled, but the notion was a disquieting +one at any rate and Billie began silently to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183'></a>183</span> +calculate how long it would take before they +could reach Salt Lake City, weather and Comet +permitting. +</p> +<p> +“I wish—I wish——” she began, but the whistle +of a locomotive interrupted her. +</p> +<p> +“It’s the express,” exclaimed one of the girls. +</p> +<p> +“It’s going to stop.” +</p> +<p> +“But there’s no station.” +</p> +<p> +“A man is flagging it, don’t you see. It’s the +track walker, I suppose. Perhaps something is +the matter ahead.” +</p> +<p> +A very tall man with a lean figure, broad shoulders +and a flopping sombrero hat was, in fact, +waving a red flag in front of the Western express, +which slowed up and presently, almost opposite +the motor car, came to a full stop. The +Comet also paused and waited to see what was +the trouble. +</p> +<p> +The engine was too far in front to hear the +conversation between the engineer, who now +thrust his head out of the window, and the individual +with the flag. But what happened next +was exceedingly strange. The flagman, casting +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184'></a>184</span> +aside his signal, followed the engineer down the +track to the first coach, which was the baggage +car, and presently emerged on the platform leading +to the next coach. +</p> +<p> +And now the engineer was not alone. Several +baggage men and train officials had joined him, +and they walked with their arms held up in the +air. So absorbed was the motor party with the +strange actions of the train people that they +failed at the moment to notice what the lean individual +was carrying in his hand. Neither could +they tell what was taking place in the first passenger +coach, but as the train officials were +herded across the platform, still with arms uplifted, +they suddenly became aware that the pockets +in their coats, trousers and waistcoats were +turned wrong side out, and that the man who +was driving them in front of him like a herd of +cattle held a pistol in his right hand, on the barrel +of which the sun shone brilliantly. +</p> +<p> +“Billie, Billie, go on as fast as you can go, they +are train robbers,” whispered Miss Campbell +hoarsely, almost bereft of her voice from fright. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185'></a>185</span> +</p> +<p> +Billie jumped out of the machine, wishing with +all her heart that somebody would invent a motor +car that wouldn’t need to be cranked up. +</p> +<p> +“Beggin’ your pardon, Miss, will you kindly +stay where you are?” said a soft, drawling voice +behind them. +</p> +<p> +They turned quickly and faced another broad-shouldered +individual with a sombrero half covering +his lean, sunburned face. His gray eyes +twinkled with amusement when he saw their consternation. +</p> +<p> +“We won’t do no harm to you, ladies, except to +ask you for a lift after this little business is over. +Jes’ keep perfectly quiet and ask no questions, +and we’ll tell you no lies.” +</p> +<p> +Somehow, Billie did not feel frightened at this +gentle, humorous person. +</p> +<p> +“Suppose we don’t care to give you a lift,” she +said, her hand on the cranking lever. +</p> +<p> +“That would be a pity, Miss,” answered the +man coaxingly, “because,” he went on slowly, +“you see——” his hand slipped in his hip pocket +and drew out a small, dangerous-looking revolver. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186'></a>186</span> +</p> +<p> +“Billie, darling, don’t oppose the creature!” +cried Miss Campbell in a strangled voice. +</p> +<p> +“Steady! steady!” said the man. “Don’t git +nervous, lady. You’ll come through the ordeal as +well as you ever was in your life. Jes’ draw in a +bit.” +</p> +<p> +Never had the moments dragged so slowly as +they did now. Through the car windows they +could see men and women with arms uplifted. +Was it possible that one man could rob fifty? +No; not one. They perceived two confederates, +who had sprung up from somewhere, followed +behind with a pistol in each hand. An intense +quiet seemed to hang over the place as the robbers +went silently through the train, and at last +emerged from the back. The herd of officials +were now made to get out and walk toward the +engine. The engineer was permitted to climb +into his engine, the others climbed in anywhere +after him. As the train began to get up steam +a man called out: +</p> +<p> +“Good heavens! there’s an automobile full of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187'></a>187</span> +girls. We can’t leave them at the mercy of these +blackguards.” +</p> +<p> +“They’re confederates!” called another man. +</p> +<p> +“Confederates? Nonsense! Don’t you see +that fellow has a pistol aimed at them?” +</p> +<p> +As the train started, the passenger ran back +to the platform and jumped off. The next moment +three train robbers and a young man without +any hat surrounded the Comet: +</p> +<p> +“Now, don’t try any monkey business, young +feller,” said the first robber, pointing his pistol +at the passenger. “Jes’ stay right where you +are. I don’t want to commit murder.” +</p> +<p> +“Put that pistol up, Jim Bowles. I’m not +afraid of you or of any of your disreputable acquaintances. +These ladies are friends of mine, +and I intend to stay with them.” +</p> +<p> +The girls, who had huddled down in the car +white and silent, took courage and looked up. +</p> +<p> +It was Daniel Moore who was speaking. +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell gave a little tremulous cry like +a child’s. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188'></a>188</span> +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Mr. Moore, I implore you not to leave +us.” +</p> +<p> +“I mean what I say,” pursued Jim Bowles. “If +you wanter be still breathing fresh air in another +two minutes, stay where you are.” +</p> +<p> +Daniel Moore looked him calmly in the eye. +</p> +<p> +“Do you remember Christmas Eve at +Silver Bow two years ago?” he asked. +</p> +<p> +The robber’s face was curiously twisted with +emotion. +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” he replied. +</p> +<p> +“I cut you down,” said Daniel Moore. “You +would have been strung up there yet if I hadn’t +come back in time. The scar is still there, I see.” +</p> +<p> +He glanced at the man’s sinewy throat around +which ran a deep red scar. +</p> +<p> +With one stride Jim Bowles reached the other +side of the automobile and seized Mr. Moore’s +hand. +</p> +<p> +“Wuz you the gennelman? Stranger, git in +and take it easy. We won’t do no harm to these +ladies. But we’d like to git a lift. I knowed you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189'></a>189</span> +wuz a brave man as soon as I seen you, and no +one kin ever say Jim Bowles forgits a favor.” +</p> +<p> +Daniel Moore climbed in behind with Miss +Helen and the girls who huddled down somehow, +while the robbers pressed themselves into the +front and Billie started the machine. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190'></a>190</span><a name='chXV' id='chXV'></a>CHAPTER XV.—IN THE ROBBERS’ NEST.</h2> +<p> +For an hour the Comet had been toiling upward +by a circuitous and intricate way. But he +had not lost in speed. Billie had made up her +mind not to linger. If they must see these men +into a safe hiding place it was well to get it over +with as soon as possible. +</p> +<p> +They had not been permitted to light the Comet’s +one illuminating eye, but had gone silently +and swiftly along. It was now eight o’clock by +the motor timepiece, but it was still light enough +to see the road winding in front of them like a +white ribbon in the blue gray atmosphere. +</p> +<p> +“We are most there now, young Miss,” Jim +Bowles observed respectfully. He admired intensely +this intrepid young woman who drove a +car better than most men. +</p> +<p> +“Most where?” she asked calmly, but with inward +quaking. “It’s better,” she thought, “to let +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191'></a>191</span> +him think I’m not frightened, but I am just the +same.” +</p> +<p> +“Most to the place we’re goin’ to,” he remarked +mysteriously. +</p> +<p> +“It’s very inconvenient for us,” she replied, +gathering courage as she noted his respectful +manner. “We had expected to reach Salt Lake +City the day after to-morrow.” +</p> +<p> +“Salt Lake City,” he exclaimed. “Young lady, +it’s lucky you spoke. I know a short cut through +the mountains and I’ve got a friend as’ll show +you the way.” +</p> +<p> +“But it’s just a pass, isn’t it? Not a road for +automobiling.” +</p> +<p> +“Many a prairie schooner has passed that way, +Miss, an’ wasn’t none the worse for it, neither. +The road ain’t known to everybody, but it’ll save +you half a day’s travel, an’ I’ll be glad to make +you acquainted with it and protect you on the +journey, too.” +</p> +<p> +“Only a few hours ago we were wishing to +find a short cut to Salt Lake City,” she thought. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192'></a>192</span> +“Wishes do come true in such an unpleasant manner +sometimes.” +</p> +<p> +The Comet slowed down. The road became +very steep and rugged, and straight above them +loomed a precipice, like an immeasurable black +wall. As they turned a curve a blast of cold air +blew straight into their faces, and they began +to feel strangely light, as if they had no bodies +and were floating in space. Presently in the dim +light they perceived three silent figures standing +across the road, each with a shotgun. +</p> +<p> +“Draw in, men, it’s friends,” called Jim +Bowles. “Take this road, Miss,” he added, pointing +to a broad trail that appeared to have been +cut through the rocks. +</p> +<p> +The motorists gave a start of surprise when +the Comet presently slipped into what proved to +be later a sort of cup in the side of the mountain, +well hidden by the rocky walls surrounding it. +</p> +<p> +In the dim light they saw a group of log huts +huddled close together, as if for companionship. +There were lights in the windows, and framed +in the doorway of the nearest hut was the figure +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193'></a>193</span> +of a woman whose face was turned anxiously in +their direction. +</p> +<p> +Jim Bowles crawled slowly out of the motor +car and began a whispered conference with his +confederates. +</p> +<p> +“Mr. Moore,” said Miss Campbell, as she +clutched his arm, “we are in a nest of robbers. +Do you think we shall ever get out alive? Tell +me the worst before they come back.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t let them know you are frightened. +These men admire courage more than anything +else in the world. I will keep with you every moment. +The man named Bowles owes his life to +me, and even with all their lawlessness, these +poor souls are not ungrateful. Don’t protest +about anything, and don’t make any demands. +Try to be perfectly calm and, above all, pretend +to be pleased. I believe they’ll do the best they +can for you tonight. They may even show us +out of the gulch, although I doubt it.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell lapsed into silence. She considered +that Daniel Moore had a very optimistic +turn of mind, considering the circumstances. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194'></a>194</span> +</p> +<p> +“You can’t git out of the gulch to-night, Miss,” +said Jim Bowles, returning to the side of the car. +“It’s too dark, and the roads ain’t good enough +for night travel in that there machine. You’ll +have to stay here tonight, but before we admit +you into our happy homes you’ve got to take an +oath, an’ if you break it it’ll be the worse for +you. We don’t take no half measures.” +</p> +<p> +“What do you want us to promise, Jim?” +asked Mr. Moore. +</p> +<p> +“You’ve got to promise before we let you leave +this place that you never will tell to nobody what +you know about it, and that the one that shows +you the trail to-morrow morning won’t git +pinched through you.” +</p> +<p> +Jim Bowles was not satisfied until he made +each occupant of the motor car say solemnly: “I +promise,” from Mary, with her high, sweet voice, +to Daniel Moore in his deeper tones. +</p> +<p> +And now there came that crucial moment when +the Motor Maids and Miss Helen Campbell were +obliged to leave the protecting interior of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195'></a>195</span> +Comet and mingle with a band of mountain +brigands. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t do it, Mr. Moore. I tell you, I shall +simply die of fright,” Miss Campbell whimpered +into the ear of Daniel Moore, who seemed like an +old and intimate friend in this dangerous situation. +</p> +<p> +“You must,” he said, giving her his arm. +“Keep up and don’t show you are frightened. If +you trust them, they’ll do their best for you, as +they have promised.” +</p> +<p> +Then followed Jim Bowles into the first cabin, +where the woman had been waiting. She was not +in sight now. +</p> +<p> +“Minnie!” called Jim, but there was no answer, +and he left the house with an exclamation of annoyance. +</p> +<p> +The girls looked about them timidly. The +strangeness and danger of their dilemma had +made them silent. Mary clung to Elinor and +Elinor pressed closely to Miss Campbell’s side, +while Billie and Nancy kept their hands clasped +together with that intimate grasp of two friends +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196'></a>196</span> +who need no words in which to express their feelings. +</p> +<p> +There were two rooms in the cabin. The first, +a bedroom, and the back room a kitchen; and they +were astonishingly clean and neat, considering +the wildness of their occupants. No doubt this +was due to Minnie, who now appeared, dark-eyed, +handsome and defiant. She stood in the +doorway, looking at them, half boldly and half +timidly. +</p> +<p> +Then Miss Helen Campbell made what she +considered afterward the effort of her life. +</p> +<p> +She walked straight up to Minnie and held out +her hand. +</p> +<p> +“How do you do, my dear?” she said. “It’s +very kind of you to take us into your nice little +home. Shall we not be friends? I must introduce +you to my four girls.” +</p> +<p> +She raised her heavenly blue eyes and gazed +blandly into the girl’s fierce dark ones, taking +Minnie’s limp hand into hers. Perhaps it had +been many a day since a lady had spoken kindly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197'></a>197</span> +to Minnie and treated her as an equal. At any +rate, she melted completely. +</p> +<p> +“I’m glad you come,” she said, smiling broadly +and showing two rows of even white teeth. “It’s +awful lonely here sometimes when Jim’s away.” +She looked across at Jim tenderly, and they all +of them understood at once what it was that +kept Minnie on this lonely mountain side. +</p> +<p> +It was not long before they were comfortably +installed in Jim’s cabin. On the little stove in +the back room bacon was sending out a pleasing +aroma. Nancy was engaged in making an omelette. +Elinor had charge of the tea, while Mary +and Billie brought from the store of provisions +in the Comet the best that it afforded in the way +of jam, cheese and mixed pickles. +</p> +<p> +Minnie helped them when she could, but she +was very shy and afraid of being in the way. +Daniel Moore and Miss Campbell sat near the +stove talking in low voices. Miss Campbell had +related to him the story of their chance meeting +with Evelyn Stone. Occasionally Jim Bowles +came and stood in the doorway. There was an +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198'></a>198</span> +expression in his eyes half wistful and half +amused as he regarded these unusual activities +in his home. +</p> +<p> +“Invite Jim and Minnie to supper,” whispered +Daniel Moore, “if you want to bind them to you +with hoops of steel.” +</p> +<p> +It was never very difficult for the little lady to +be charming, and having won over Minnie she +had somewhat overcome her fears. +</p> +<p> +“Mr. Bowles,” she said with a graciousness +that fairly captivated the brigand, “we cannot +take possession of your house unless you promise +to join us at supper. Will you sit here by me, +and Minnie, you would rather sit with the girls, +that is quite plain? Come, Mr. Moore.” +</p> +<p> +There was not room for all the party at the +table, however, and Minnie ate her supper with +Billie and Nancy on a bench by the stove. +</p> +<p> +With a sheepish smile on his face Jim Bowles +sat down obediently at the table and for the first +time in his life engaged in an agreeable conversation +on terms of equality with a real lady. +</p> +<p> +“If everybody was as nice as you, ma’am,” he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199'></a>199</span> +said, “I think I would be willing to—to—well, +give all this up. It’s excitin’ but it’s dangerous, +and it ain’t respectable.” +</p> +<p> +“Mr. Bowles,” said Miss Helen, “I believe you +are an honest man at heart. No man could have +such a devoted wife and not have some good in +him. The moment you decide to give up this—this +wild life and are looking for honest employment, +I shall be glad to help you. There is my +card. I have only one thing to ask in return: +that you see us safely through the mountains to-morrow.” +</p> +<p> +“Granted!” cried Jim, taking the card she offered. +</p> +<p> +Minnie, who had left the bench and was standing +near Miss Campbell’s chair, with a rapt +expression on her face, cried out fiercely: +</p> +<p> +“If you only would, Jim! If you only would!” +</p> +<p> +Suddenly Jim stood up and stretched out his +hand for silence. +</p> +<p> +“Listen!” he whispered. +</p> +<p> +In the distance came the sound of horses’ hoofs +ringing out on the hard mountain road. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200'></a>200</span> +</p> +<p> +The door opened and one of the desperadoes +thrust in his head. +</p> +<p> +“Beat it, Jim! Git to the cave! They’re comin’.” +</p> +<p> +“Ladies, remember your promise!” cried Jim, +and with one bound he was out of the house and +gone. +</p> +<p> +And then, as if this were not enough to shatter +their nervous system into little bits, Minnie flung +herself on the floor in front of Miss Campbell in +a perfect passion of tears. +</p> +<p> +“You won’t give him up!” she cried, beating +her hands together in misery. “You ain’t goin’ +fer to give him up?” +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell looked at Daniel Moore, but +he refused to advise even by a glance. +</p> +<p> +Billie kneeled down beside Minnie and put her +arm around the poor girl’s neck, while she looked +appealingly at her cousin. +</p> +<p> +“My poor child,” said Miss Campbell, after a +very perceptible pause, “we won’t tell on your +husband. He is certainly a very lawless character, +but maybe he’ll reform if he has a chance.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201'></a>201</span> +</p> +<p> +“Thank you! Thank you!” cried Minnie, kissing +Miss Campbell’s small hand with all the fervor +of her warm nature. +</p> +<p> +“Now, Minnie, go about your work as if nothing +had happened. The girls will help you, and +leave the rest to me. Well,” she observed in a +low voice to Daniel Moore, who was standing by +the window, looking anxiously out, “if any one +had told me this morning that this evening I +should be protecting a train robber from the law, +I should never have believed them in the world. +But things seem to happen out in the West that +never could happen in the East.” +</p> +<p> +At that moment fully half a dozen horsemen +dashed up to the door. +</p> +<p> +“Go and sit down,” whispered Daniel Moore. +“I think we might protect this poor girl if we +can, wrong as it would seem to the law.” +</p> +<p> +The door was flung open and several pistols +were pointed into the room. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t move! Keep still, everybody, or you +know where you’re at!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202'></a>202</span> +</p> +<p> +“Nobody has any intention of moving. Come +in,” said Daniel Moore. +</p> +<p> +A big man in a black slouch hat strode in. +</p> +<p> +“Come out, Jim Bowles. Don’t try to escape. +The house is surrounded. You’ll git shot for +your pains if you do.” +</p> +<p> +“Jim Bowles is not in this house,” said Daniel +Moore. +</p> +<p> +“Who are you?” +</p> +<p> +“My name is Moore. I come from Iowa.” +</p> +<p> +“And who might these be?” demanded the +sheriff, pointing to Miss Helen and the girls. +</p> +<p> +“These ladies are taking a motor trip.” +</p> +<p> +“Let the women answer for themselves. Who +are you?” demanded the sheriff roughly. +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell drew herself up. +</p> +<p> +“Would you mind taking off your hat?” she +said. “It is easier for me to reply to a man when +he is not wearing a hat.” +</p> +<p> +The sheriff removed his hat quickly. +</p> +<p> +“Excuse me, ma’am,” he said. “We don’t often +see ladies in this wild country.” +</p> +<p> +“We are a party of motorists.” said Miss +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203'></a>203</span> +Campbell. “We took the wrong road, and this +very kind woman gave us shelter. To-morrow +we hope to resume our journey.” +</p> +<p> +“Do you know you are probably in the cabin +of one of the worst outlaws in the State?” +</p> +<p> +“Are you sure, sir? It is very difficult to believe, +and where one is treated with so much hospitality +one does not look for such things.” +</p> +<p> +The sheriff turned to Minnie: +</p> +<p> +“Where is your husband, girl?” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know.” +</p> +<p> +“Is he hiding in this house? Tell me the +truth.” +</p> +<p> +“Look for yourself!” cried Minnie, flinging +wide the door into the bedroom. +</p> +<p> +“I believe there’s a mistake, Sheriff,” said one +of the men. “The chief’s nest is farther up the +mountain. These people could never have found +it in a motor car.” +</p> +<p> +Presently the men left the house. There was +a long, long interval when they sat listening with +strained ears for sounds in the darkness. Once +there were shots in the distance. At last, as their +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204'></a>204</span> +heads were drooping with fatigue and they +yearned to lie down anywhere and sleep, the door +opened and Jim Bowles crept cautiously in. +</p> +<p> +“Minnie will guide you to the Gap,” he said. +“I will meet you there, and show you the short +cut through the mountains. Good night. And, +Miss Campbell, I’ll accept your proposition. I’ve +been bad, I suppose, because I thought there +wasn’t nobody good, even the people that claimed +to be—an’ there wasn’t no use of me bein’, +neither. But I was mistaken, by a long shot. +You kin have back the money, too. I reckon I’ve +got enough on hand to give the boys their share +and still make it out. I was savin’ up to buy a +ranch in Idyho. But there’s more ways than this +of gittin’ on. Minnie, I reckon you’ll be glad. +Ain’t you, gal?” +</p> +<p> +“Glad?” whispered Minnie, moving to his side +and resting her cheek against his shoulder. +</p> +<p> +He kissed her shyly. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t want to git caught—understand?” he +said. “But I’ve done with this old life forever, +so help me.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205'></a>205</span> +</p> +<p> +He raised his hand to heaven in token of his +solemn oath. +</p> +<p> +“We’ll all help you, Jim,” said Daniel Moore. +</p> +<p> +But Miss Helen Campbell considered Jim and +Minnie her private discovery and particular property, +and that night, reposing on a steamer rug +spread over their bed, she dreamed golden +dreams of their future. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206'></a>206</span><a name='chXVI' id='chXVI'></a>CHAPTER XVI.—IN THE ROCKIES.</h2> +<p> +Billie slept later than her friends next morning. +Even their movements about the room as +they dressed did not disturb her, and when at last +she opened her eyes the sun was pouring his rays +through the small window of the cabin and outside +was the glory of a mid-summer day; for it +was June 21st, and was to be a memorable day in +the annals of their trip. +</p> +<p> +“Dear me,” she exclaimed, “why doesn’t somebody +repeat, ‘Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider +her ways and be wise.’ I seem to scent +coffee in the air. Chief cook and bottle washer, +what have you got for breakfast?” +</p> +<p> +“Corn bread from Minnie’s corn meal,” replied +Nancy, who answered to this title, “and shirred +eggs, the last in our storehouse, and chopped +beef——” +</p> +<p> +Billie jumped up. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207'></a>207</span> +</p> +<p> +“You lavish and wasteful young persons,” she +cried. “How do you know we won’t need some +of these things before we get back to civilization?” +</p> +<p> +“There are still baked beans,” said Nancy reproachfully. +Nancy was a born cook, and, like +other born cooks, she was only amiable when +she was not interfered with. +</p> +<p> +“Go out and look at the scenery,” she continued, +“and leave us in peace. We won’t starve. +There’s a box of wheaten biscuit left.” +</p> +<p> +“I’d just as soon eat a bale of hay,” cried Billie +contemptuously. “And there’s the Comet. He +has to be fed this morning. How do I know that +our provisions will last? If the food fails and +the gasoline likewise, ‘<em>et puis bon jour</em>,’ as the +song says.” +</p> +<p> +But Billie wasn’t really apprehensive. The +day was too fine and her spirits too high. +</p> +<p> +“The truth is, we are all like the angels in +heaven rejoicing over one sinner repented,” said +Mary in a low voice, for Minnie could be seen +approaching with a pail of water from the spring. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208'></a>208</span> +</p> +<p> +Toilets are meagre affairs in a cabin in the +Rocky Mountains, and in a quarter of an hour +Billie was fully clothed, washed and combed. +Mary had closed the door of the cabin while she +dressed. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t look out until you see it all at once,” +she said. “It’s too wonderful to take it by piece-meal.” +</p> +<p> +Billie, therefore, had not an inkling of what +was in store for her until she stepped out of the +cabin. +</p> +<p> +Nothing on all her journeys with her father +could equal the grand panorama which was revealed +beyond the cabin door. They appeared +to be in a world of peaks—“Mr. and Mrs. Peak, +and all the young Peaks,” she wrote to her father +later. In the far distance were snow-capped +peaks and nearer were lesser peaks. The cabin +was built alarmingly near the edge of a great +cañon, at the foot of which, hundreds of feet +below, lay a little green valley amazingly peaceful +in all this rugged scenery, in which cattle no +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209'></a>209</span> +bigger than pinheads at that distance, were +quietly grazing. +</p> +<p> +Billie trembled to think what they might have +climbed the night before without suspecting it. +This was certainly a good place for a robbers’ +nest. The cabin was perched on a shelf in the +side of the mountain, and brave were the men, +Billie thought, who dared to climb the path that +led to it. +</p> +<p> +It was a gay breakfast party that gathered +around the small table that morning and Minnie’s +eyes glistened with appreciation at sight of the +white cloth and the bunch of wild flowers in the +center, which had been Elinor’s contribution to +the breakfast. +</p> +<p> +Even Daniel Moore reflected the good spirits +of Miss Campbell and the Motor Maids, although +his hat and coat and all his luggage had been +carried away on the train. He had talked a little +of Evelyn with Miss Helen before breakfast. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t you think she is beautiful, Miss Campbell?” +he asked. +</p> +<p> +“I certainly do; but she is very young and impetuous, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210'></a>210</span> +and we must be extremely careful what +we do, especially if you think she has been influenced +against you in some way. Her father +seems dreadfully stern and cruel. It made me +shiver even to look at him.” +</p> +<p> +“He’s really quite fanatic about his religion,” +answered Mr. Moore. “And you know what +such people are—almost madmen; but he is crafty +and shrewd and very cruel, and I would hate to +involve you and the girls in any trouble. That is +the reason I was hurrying on to Salt Lake City. +From the itinerary you gave me, I judged that +would be your next address, and I wanted to stop +you before you got into difficulties.” +</p> +<p> +“The girls have set their hearts on seeing +Evelyn again,” said Miss Campbell, carefully refraining +from mentioning that her own heart had +some leanings in that direction also. +</p> +<p> +But the call to breakfast interrupted the conversation. +</p> +<p> +Another hour and the front of the little cabin +appeared like an inscrutable face on the side of +the mountain, with closed eyes and sealed lips. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211'></a>211</span> +No need to bar the door now from the sheriff and +his men, for the birds had flown. But because +she was never to see the little house again, and +because, in spite of everything, she had known +some happiness there, Minnie dropped the calico +curtain at the window and fastened the wooden +latch on the door. It was the last rites before +she buried her old life forever in the mountains +and began a new one with Jim in the East. +</p> +<p> +With an expression of grave determination on +her face she took her seat beside Nancy in the +front and never once looked back until they had +rounded the curve of the mountain. +</p> +<p> +Nobody talked much on that morning ride. Billie +was engaged in guiding the Comet carefully +along the dangerous road which cut through a +cleft in the mountain, and in many places was +just wide enough for the car to pass. Sometimes +they were on the edge of such dizzy heights that +Miss Campbell held her breath and clenched her +teeth to keep from crying out. +</p> +<p> +“I dare not even whisper,” she said to herself, +“for fear of startling that child at the wheel.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212'></a>212</span> +</p> +<p> +She contented herself with clutching Daniel +Moore’s arm, but in her heart she doubted if even +Jim’s salvation was worth the risk of so many +lives. As for the girls, they had hardly realized +the dangers of the ride, so absorbed were they in +the marvelous scenery. The snow caps of the distant +ranges gleamed pink in the sunshine, and +deep purple shadows lay on the ravines below. +</p> +<p> +As the Comet mounted up and up the steep +grade, Miss Campbell’s head became lighter and +lighter, and her fears seemed to slip away. The +high altitude had a strangely intoxicating effect +on Nancy, too. She began to laugh just from +the sheer joy of living. +</p> +<p> +“I feel like an inhabitant of Mars,” she said. +“Just a brains and a stomach, and no body. I +haven’t but two sensations—hunger and happiness.” +</p> +<p> +“Minnie, it’s ten minutes of twelve o’clock,” +said Billie presently. “Are we anywhere near +the Gap?” +</p> +<p> +The car had now turned a curve on the mountain +and was going down grade. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213'></a>213</span> +</p> +<p> +“It’s just down there,” answered Minnie, “but +I don’t see Jim,” she added, looking about uneasily. +</p> +<p> +“Well, really——” began Miss Campbell, and +paused. +</p> +<p> +The notion that Jim might not be there to guide +them out of this wild country had never come to +any of them. +</p> +<p> +“He’s had a long ways to go to get here,” said +Minnie. “He’s had to travel all night on horseback, +but if nothin’ happens to him, Jim’ll keep +his word. He ain’t never broke it in his life.” +</p> +<p> +This was reassuring in one way, but discouraging +in another—if nothing happened! Why +had it not occurred to them that many, many +things could happen? +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell looked reproachfully at Daniel +Moore. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t be uneasy,” he said. “I daresay we can +get a guide if Jim doesn’t show up.” +</p> +<p> +The road now took a downward turn so precipitate +that they wondered how the emigrant vans +of the Mormons which had once traveled this way +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214'></a>214</span> +had been prevented from rolling over the horses +and pitching headlong down the incline. +</p> +<p> +But the Comet made the down grade slowly +and deliberately. Back of them they could see +the road winding around the side of the mountain. +Suddenly a group of horsemen came into +sight around the curve. They were mere specks +of black against the white roadway at this distance, +but Minnie recognized them. +</p> +<p> +“Jim!” she called, her voice rising to a high +treble, “Jim, man, it’s the sheriff!” +</p> +<p> +And then, looking like some wild creature +which had been summoned out of the dark places +of the earth, Jim himself appeared, running down +the side of the mountain, stooping low like a +hunted animal. The sweat poured from his face; +his clothes were torn in ribbons and his hands +were cut and bleeding. +</p> +<p> +“You see, I didn’t break my word,” he said; +“but it ain’t likely I’ll escape now. I’m too tired. +I’ve been runnin’ for half the night.” +</p> +<p> +Minnie was sobbing bitterly. +</p> +<p> +“Cousin Helen, couldn’t we——” began Billie. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215'></a>215</span> +</p> +<p> +“But, my dear, how can we? What shall we +do, Mr. Moore?” +</p> +<p> +“We couldn’t hide him in the car. Besides, +if they caught him, it would get you into no end +of trouble,” answered Daniel. +</p> +<p> +“He could have saved himself if it hadn’t been +for us,” said Nancy reproachfully. +</p> +<p> +“We could disguise him in Billie’s polo coat +with a veil and goggles,” suggested Mary suddenly. +</p> +<p> +Don’t blame these good people for what they +now proceeded to do. Certainly it was the wildest, +most reckless and dangerous adventure ever +engaged in by six sensible, well-brought-up people, +and two of them at least old enough to know +better. Remember only that their sympathies +were very much engaged, and that every cent +stolen from the limited express was to be returned. +While the horsemen were hidden behind +a wall of rock, Jim’s identity was changed. He +became a female of uncertain age in a polo coat, +an automobile bonnet, goggles and a chiffon veil, +which concealed his countenance. And sitting +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216'></a>216</span> +between Miss Campbell and Daniel Moore on the +back seat he resembled any other motorist on a +long trip. +</p> +<p> +They moved slowly down into the valley, and +the horsemen as they passed lifted their black +felt hats with quite a gallant air to Miss Campbell +and her party. +</p> +<p> +And so Jim was snatched from the clutches of +the law. As he will not appear again in this +story it will probably interest you to know what +became of this highly romantic, daring individual. +After turning over to the railroad by a secret +agent—none other than Daniel Moore himself—a +most remarkable letter, printed below (which +you no doubt have seen, since it was published +broadcast in every paper in the country) and returning +every penny of the money taken that day +from the passengers, Jim disappeared from the +world as a public character. Taking his real +name, Jim Dolan, he became a private citizen, and +at this very moment Jim and Minnie Dolan are +tenants of one of Miss Campbell’s beautiful +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217'></a>217</span> +farms in the vicinity of West Haven. They have +two children and are useful members of society. +</p> +<p> +And all because a lady asked a common thief +to eat supper with her and treated him as a guest. +</p> +<p> +Here is Jim’s letter to the railroad company, +written in a large, sprawling handwriting: +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +“<span class='sc'>To Whom It May Concern</span>—and chiefly +the Union Pacific Railroad Company: The undersigned +was once Jim Bowles, train robber. I am +a reformed man from this day. I ain’t got religion +exactly, but the world is a better place than +I thought it was. I made a mistake. There are +some mighty nice people in it, after all. I herewith +return moneys took; henceforth from now +on forever more, amen, I lead a new life, so help +me God! There are two kinds of repentant sinners. +The ones that pray all day for forgiveness +and forgets to work, and them that works so +hard they haven’t got no time to pray. I’m the +last kind. I’m going to work. Amen! +</p> +<p style='text-align:right; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-right:2em;;'>“(signed) <span class='sc'>Jim Bowles—that was.</span>”</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218'></a>218</span><a name='chXVII' id='chXVII'></a>CHAPTER XVII.—SALT LAKE CITY.</h2> +<p> +Imagine a lovely valley, green and fertile, encircled +by a great chain of mountains. Glistening +to the westward, like a gem on its bosom, is a +beautiful lake, and from the very heart of the +valley rises the city itself. It nestles at the foot +of a vast granite temple, which towers above the +homes of the citizens like a great, gray mountain. +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps the Land of Canaan looked like this +to the Israelites,” exclaimed Mary Price, as the +Comet paused on the steep road in order to give +our pilgrims their first glimpse of the old Mormon +city. For the last thirty-six hours they had +been surfeited with magnificent scenery. +</p> +<p> +“Snow-capped mountains and cañons and +waterfalls are getting to be just everyday affairs,” +wrote Billie to her father, still in distant +Russia. +</p> +<p> +It was a rest to their eyes and their minds, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219'></a>219</span> +therefore, to look down on this peaceful and exquisite +valley, Evelyn’s home. +</p> +<p> +“It’s all very beautiful,” observed Miss Campbell. +“I’m sure I never saw a more enchanting +scene in my life. But there’s one thing that +makes it more beautiful to me even than the +Vale of Cashmere, and that’s a hot bath. I’m +looking forward to a hot bath, my dears, and a +good night’s rest on a hair mattress in the best +hotel in the city. I trust you feel the same.” +</p> +<p> +The girls laughed. +</p> +<p> +“We look a good deal like a United States +geological surveying party, after three months in +the wilderness,” answered Daniel Moore, looking +quizzically at the girls’ sunburned faces, and +glancing down at his gray flannel shirt, borrowed +from Jim Bowles. +</p> +<p> +“I do feel as if I had returned to my natural +element,” said Elinor; “just a handful of dust. +I am chewing dust and seeing dust and hearing +dust. My hair is dust and so are my clothes.” +</p> +<p> +“After we are scrubbed and shampooed and +manicured and fed and rested,” here put in Billie, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220'></a>220</span> +“I shall write a note to your Evelyn, Mr. +Moore.” +</p> +<p> +The young man hesitated. +</p> +<p> +“I’ve repented my bargain with you, Miss +Billie. I’m afraid you might get into some kind +of trouble. I should never forgive myself if I +involved you in any difficulties.” +</p> +<p> +“Nonsense,” said Billie, who, having made up +her mind to see Evelyn, was not going to be +thwarted at the eleventh hour. “There could be +no possible harm in my writing and asking her +to call. Besides, we know her now anyhow, +quite well. Don’t we, Helen?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes-s—,” hesitated her cousin. “But I agree +with Mr. Moore, that we had better not make +any more efforts to see Evelyn, although I can’t +possibly see how we could become involved in +any trouble by renewing our acquaintance.” +</p> +<p> +So the discussion came to an end. What this +beautiful city with the mysteries which hung +over it had in store for them, they could not +even guess. Perhaps they would visit its chief +points of interest like ordinary tourists, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221'></a>221</span> +perhaps, who knows, they might penetrate far +deeper into its secrets. They were certain of +one thing, however, that Daniel Moore, for all +his self-contained and calm exterior, was consumed +with an unquenchable flame of determination. +By hook or by crook, he would see Evelyn +Stone, and, provided she was willing, he +would take her away from Utah. +</p> +<p> +“And we are likely to be the ‘hook or crook,’” +observed Billie, through whose mind these +thoughts were passing, as she guided the Comet +into a broad, spacious street, lined with beautiful +stone houses. +</p> +<p> +“Where does Evelyn live?” asked Nancy. +“Couldn’t we go by the house on our way to the +hotel?” +</p> +<p> +“Their town house is on this very street,” answered +Evelyn’s lover, “but they are likely to be +in the country at this time of the year. That’s +another difficulty. You will see the place presently. +It’s on the corner. Old Stone is a very +rich person, I’m afraid. If he hadn’t had so +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222'></a>222</span> +much money, he wouldn’t have looked down on +me as a son-in-law.” +</p> +<p> +Billie slowed up as they neared the fine granite +mansion built by Evelyn’s father. The front +shades were all pulled down, and there was not +a sign of life about the place. +</p> +<p> +“It looks more like a prison than a home,” +Billie exclaimed. “Does he keep his pretty Evelyn +locked up there all winter?” +</p> +<p> +“I’m afraid so,” said Daniel ruefully. “She +hasn’t had much liberty since she met me, anyhow. +He’s an infernal old——” +</p> +<p> +Daniel broke off in the middle of a sentence, +for the front door of the Stone house had opened, +and there on the threshold, like a dragon at the +castle gate, stood John James Stone. He could +never be said to glance casually at anything, but +his sharp eyes only rested for a moment on the +passing motor car, and he turned on his heel and +entered the house. +</p> +<p> +“The old fox is never away, you see,” ejaculated +Daniel Moore. +</p> +<p> +But they soon approached an immense, splendid hotel, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223'></a>223</span> +and the thought of hot baths and clean +clothes was sweeter to the weary ladies at that +moment than the most idyllic romance ever conceived. +</p> +<p> +It was to this hotel that Daniel Moore’s luggage +had been checked, and there he found and +redeemed it with the check the late train robber +had considerately returned to him. +</p> +<p> +“You won’t see us again until seven o’clock +to-night, Mr. Moore,” Miss Campbell had said. +“And then you may not know us, we shall be so +transformed with soap and water.” +</p> +<p> +“I may have news for you by then,” he said, +as they separated at the elevator. +</p> +<p> +And that was the last they were to see of +Daniel Moore for many a day to come. +</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p> +“I suppose butterflies feel about as we do,” +observed Nancy that evening as they filed down +to dinner. +</p> +<p> +“Meaning when they cease to be worms and +appear clothed in fine raiment,” asked Billie. +</p> +<p> +“Not so very fine,” answered Nancy, fingering a streamer +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224'></a>224</span> +of her pink sash with a tender +touch, as she glanced complaisantly down at her +lingerie frock. +</p> +<p> +Billie laughed teasingly. +</p> +<p> +“Little butterfly,” she said, “is there anything; +you like better than pretty clothes?” +</p> +<p> +Nancy pouted and smiled. +</p> +<p> +“There is just this minute,” she answered. +“Dinner with waiters and soup and mayonnaise +and strawberry ice cream.” +</p> +<p> +They exchanged happy smiles over Nancy’s +inconsequential menu. +</p> +<p> +After a month’s Gypsying, it was good to be +civilized for a few days before the thirst for +wandering came over them again, and they must +push on toward California. +</p> +<p> +Daniel Moore was not at the appointed meeting-place, +in one of the small sitting rooms. +They waited impatiently for him for a quarter +of an hour, and finally left word at the desk +that he would find them in the dining room. +There, in the interest of dinner and of the occupants +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225'></a>225</span> +of other tables, their recent fellow traveler +completely passed from their minds. +</p> +<p> +“It takes a thousand miles of privation to +appreciate real comfort,” observed Miss Helen +Campbell, delicately nibbling the breast of a +spring chicken. “My dear children, how very +pleasant this is, to be sure.” +</p> +<p> +The Motor Maids fully agreed with her. The +lights and the flowers, the music and the well-trained +waiters, as well as the delicious dinner, +afforded them supreme enjoyment for the moment. +They tried to remember that less than +seventy years had passed since the first ox-drawn +emigrant wagon had entered the valley. +</p> +<p> +“And since that time all this has happened,” +cried Mary dramatically. For it was she, more +than the others, who loved the history of the +places through which they passed. “They say +Brigham Young saw it all in a dream,” she continued, +“and the moment he set eyes on the valley +and the lake, he said: ‘This is the place. +Drive on.’” +</p> +<p> +“‘And forty years later Brigham Young laid +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226'></a>226</span> +the corner-stone for the Temple,’” read Billie +from the guide book in a sing-song voice. “‘The +architecture is composite——’ What’s that?” +</p> +<p> +She raised her eyes questioningly. “Why, +you haven’t heard a word I——” she began. +</p> +<p> +Four pairs of eyes were turned toward the +entrance of the dining room, where stood a tall, +slender, young girl, in a white dress. Her red-gold +hair was coiled low on her neck. Her arms +hung limply at her sides, and she gazed with a +listless air into space, without seeing any of the +diners at the tables. Her father, the imperturbable +John James Stone, was on one side of her, +and on the other an equally imperturbable young +man, with a stern, rather hard countenance, a +square jaw and a mouth as inscrutable and enigmatic +as the shut door of a tomb. +</p> +<p> +The head waiter conducted the party to a table +in a far-distant corner of the room, where the +girls could see them without staring rudely. +</p> +<p> +“That’s Evelyn Stone,” said a woman at the +table next to them. “She’s with her fiancé, Ebenezer +Stone. He’s her second cousin, you know.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227'></a>227</span> +</p> +<p> +“When did you say they were to be married?” +</p> +<p> +“The day after to-morrow. That’s why they’re +in town. She is to be married in the annex of +the Temple on Saturday. They say she’s not +over-anxious, either. There was another man +in the case, you know. But something happened, +and she’s consented to marry Ebenezer, who’s +always wanted her. He’s a good Mormon and +hard working. He’s made a lot of money, I believe——” +</p> +<p> +“He’s a piece of granite without any soul,” +put in a man in the party. +</p> +<p> +“Strike it hard enough, and sparks will fly,” +said one of the women. +</p> +<p> +The Motor Maids and Miss Campbell exchanged +looks of dismay. +</p> +<p> +“Married the day after to-morrow,” they repeated +in whispers. “And stopping in this hotel. +Where, oh where, was Daniel Moore?” +</p> +<p> +They glanced at the door uneasily. +</p> +<p> +“I think we’d better not stop in here, children,” +said Miss Campbell in a low voice. “It would +be only a kindness to keep Mr. Moore from coming into +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228'></a>228</span> +the dining room while they are there.” +</p> +<p> +She led the way into the broad spacious hall +of the hotel. But Daniel Moore had not been +seen at the desk, nor was he in any of the parlors. +</p> +<p> +While they searched, Billie examined the hotel +register. There on the same page with their +own names were the three names—“John James +Stone, Miss Stone, Ebenezer Stone.” Six lines +above John James Stone, Daniel Moore had written +his name in a fine, manly hand. Billie noted +the number of Evelyn’s room, and then followed +her friends up to bed. +</p> +<p> +“It’s too late for us to interfere, I am afraid,” +said Miss Campbell sadly, as they stood in a silent +little group in her room. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229'></a>229</span><a name='chXVIII' id='chXVIII'></a>CHAPTER XVIII.—DAVID AND GOLIATH.</h2> +<p> +It was nine o’clock when Miss Campbell and +the girls bade each other a final good night. +They had talked the matter of Evelyn Stone to +shreds and ribbons, but Miss Campbell was determined +not to interfere. +</p> +<p> +“My dear children, you are young and romantic +girls, and I am a hardened old woman, and +from my knowledge of the world, I assure you +it would be unpardonable for us to thrust ourselves +into this strictly family matter. Miss +Stone evidently doesn’t want to marry Daniel +Moore, or she never would have consented to +marry that flint-like person named Ebenezer. +No one can be coerced into marriage these days,” +she added emphatically, as if attempts were being +made to force her into an unhappy marriage. +</p> +<p> +When Miss Campbell once and for all vetoed +a question under consideration, the Motor Maids +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230'></a>230</span> +knew that the case was settled and there was +no further appeal. Therefore, when those two +intrepid fighters in all difficult battles, Nancy and +Billie, retired to their bedrooms, their faces wore +the downcast expression of the conquered. +Nancy pressed a button which illuminated all the +electric lights in the room, including four at +the dressing table and a cluster in the center. +Then she began silently examining a brown +freckle on the end of her pretty nose. Billie sat +near the open window in her favorite position, +her hands clasping her knees. Nancy’s examining +her freckle in the mirror was also a favorite +position. The freckle, like the immovable cloud +in the heavens at Terre del Fuego, was a permanent +spot on Nancy’s physiognomy. When +she examined it most closely she was thinking +deeply, not of the freckle, but of something else. +Billie also was immersed in meditation. Her +brow was wrinkled—a danger signal with her. +She was about to disobey. +</p> +<p> +“Nancy-Bell, I’ll do it,” she burst out at last. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231'></a>231</span> +</p> +<p> +“Well, why don’t you?” answered Nancy, not +unprepared for the declaration. +</p> +<p> +“Have you guessed what it is?” +</p> +<p> +Nancy pointed silently to the telephone. +</p> +<p> +“You’re a mind reader, Nancy-Bell,” exclaimed +the other in admiration. +</p> +<p> +“It isn’t much to read your mind,” answered +her friend, not intending to be uncomplimentary. +“Your eyes have been glued to the reflection of +the telephone in the mirror for the last five minutes.” +</p> +<p> +“What shall I say to her, Nancy, dearest?” +</p> +<p> +Before Nancy could reply, she carefully removed +her best frock and laid it away. Then she +stretched herself on the bed. Nothing would induce +her to lie down in that cherished garment. +</p> +<p> +“Say?” she began, stretching herself out comfortably. +“Say—well—say ‘have you forgotten +Fontainebleau?’” +</p> +<p> +“The very thing,” replied Billie. “She doesn’t +know my name, of course. I might say—‘have +you forgotten Prairie Inn? That was where we +met her, and it wouldn’t involve Daniel. I think +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232'></a>232</span> +she’s down on him, Nancy. It’s a shame, poor +fellow.” +</p> +<p> +“I imagine,” continued Nancy reflectively, +“that she will go to her room early. She didn’t +look as if she cared to linger in the company of +Ebenezer. Perhaps they will stay down and +smoke some of those big black cigars like that +stony man was smoking when we first saw him. +If you want to catch her alone, you’d better try +her now, Billie.” +</p> +<p> +Billie rose and moved slowly toward the telephone. +</p> +<p> +“It’s against orders,” she said at last, with an +expression not unlike a bad little boy’s. +</p> +<p> +“I know it,” said Nancy, her eyes twinkling +mischievously. +</p> +<p> +“And it may get us into a peck of trouble,” +went on Billie. “Will you stand by me, Nancy?” +</p> +<p> +“Did I ever fail you, Billie?” +</p> +<p> +“Never, Nancy-Bell; and it was an insult to +your honor to have asked the question. Well, +here goes.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233'></a>233</span> +</p> +<p> +Billie marched to the telephone, and, with heroic +decision, put the receiver to her ear. +</p> +<p> +“Miss Evelyn Stone’s room,” she said. +“What’s that? Not allowed to call her up? Oh, +very well. I’ll give my name—Miss Wilhelmina +Campbell—an old friend—here for a few days.” +She placed one hand over the mouthpiece +and blinked at Nancy. “Shall I say Fontainebleau +or Prairie Inn?” she called softly to Nancy, +who, lying on her back on the bed, continued to +peruse the brown spot on her nose by means of +a small hand mirror. +</p> +<p> +“Prairie Inn,” said Nancy. “No—no, better +say Fontainebleau. The father was at Prairie +Inn.” +</p> +<p> +“Old Fontainebleau friend——” Billie called +over the telephone. Then she put up the receiver. +“The clerk will call us when he has delivered the +message,” she explained. “But I’m scared, +Nancy. I have a premonition of evil.” +</p> +<p> +The two girls waited breathlessly for five minutes. +The telephone bell rang out. +</p> +<p> +Billie sprang to the receiver. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234'></a>234</span> +</p> +<p> +“Hello,” she said softly. +</p> +<p> +Then she turned quite pale, and placing her +hand over the mouthpiece, she whispered: “It’s +old Stony-face. Come quick. You can hear.” +</p> +<p> +Even across the room Nancy caught some of +those vibrant base tones, and with her ear +against the telephone, she heard every word he +said. +</p> +<p> +“A friend of my daughter’s, you say? An old +school friend, eh? Humph——” +</p> +<p> +Billie had not said that, but she made no denial. +</p> +<p> +“Campbell the name. Are you aware that +my daughter is about to be married?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, yes,” called Billie. “That’s why I wanted +to see her. I—er—you know——” +</p> +<p> +She broke off lamely. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Nancy, what shall I say? I’m so frightened.” +</p> +<p> +Nancy had a brilliant idea, and one most characteristic. +</p> +<p> +“The trousseau,” she hissed. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235'></a>235</span> +</p> +<p> +“I do so want to see her trousseau,” Billie repeated. +</p> +<p> +There was a deep laugh, which shook the wires +like the roar of a lion. +</p> +<p> +“Girls are all alike,” he said. “They love finery. +Evelyn has got the finest trousseau that +money can buy. I suppose you have heard of it. +I’ll have you connected with her room.” +</p> +<p> +Evidently, Mr. John James Stone had spoken +to Wilhelmina from the office, where he had +made careful inquiries: five ladies in a motor car +registering from the East; chaperone very distinguished +looking. +</p> +<p> +Billie waited at the telephone. The ordeal of +conversing with John James Stone had brought +beads of moisture to her forehead. But she +was still not sure that the danger was over. A +man like that would be capable of keeping himself +connected so as to overhear the conversation. +The notion flashed into her mind, just as +a sweet voice said, “Yes?” and she determined +to take no chances. +</p> +<p> +“Is this Miss Stone?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236'></a>236</span> +</p> +<p> +“Yes. Who is this?” +</p> +<p> +“This is Wilhelmina Campbell”—there was a +long pause—“Billie Campbell,” she repeated. +“Evelyn, have you forgotten that day at Fontainebleau?” +</p> +<p> +Billie had played her trump card now. There +was nothing else she could do. But she was glad +she had not mentioned Prairie Inn, for instantly +the bass voice interrupted with—“I thought you +said school friend?” +</p> +<p> +“How angry she must be,” thought Billie, “to +have her father eavesdrop on her like this.” +</p> +<p> +Evelyn did not pause this time. +</p> +<p> +“How very nice to see you again. Are you +stopping here long?” +</p> +<p> +“Only a few days. But you made me promise +to look you up if ever I came to Salt Lake City, +and here I am, you see. There isn’t very much +time. Perhaps I can see you to-night——” +</p> +<p> +Billie and Nancy exchanged long, frightened +glances. They were meddling in matters which +did not concern them, and which Miss Campbell +had forbidden them to touch. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237'></a>237</span> +</p> +<p> +“Do come to-night My room is No. 400, on +the fourth floor.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll be there right away,” said Billie, and she +hung up the receiver. “Nancy, you’ll have to go +to bed, and turn out all the lights. I’m so frightened +about what I’m doing. It’s wrong, I suppose, +but I don’t want the others to know anything +about it.” She took Daniel Moore’s note +from her satchel and slipped it in the neck of +her dress. “No. 400,” she repeated to herself, +as she hurried from the room. “He’s certain to +go up on the first elevator. Fortunately, we’re +on the same floor.” +</p> +<p> +She fled down a corridor; turned a corner and +hurried down another, almost running into Ebenezer +Stone, Evelyn’s stern fiance. She heard +footsteps behind her, but she did not pause. +</p> +<p> +“You’ve been saying good-night, Ebenezer?” +said the voice of Mr. Stone. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, Cousin John; and, by the way, there’s +a little matter I wanted to see you about——” +</p> +<p> +Billie heard no more. She had reached No. +400, and old John James would be detained a moment. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238'></a>238</span> +As she tapped on the door, she drew the +letter out of her dress. Instantly the door opened, +and Evelyn, beautiful and pale, and very unhappy, +stood before her. +</p> +<p> +“Take this quickly,” whispered Billie. “Hide +it somewhere. It’s from Mr. Moore.” +</p> +<p> +“Danny!” exclaimed Evelyn, hiding the letter +under the pillow. +</p> +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> +<p> +“But he’s married.” +</p> +<p> +“He’s not anything of the sort. I should think +you’d feel ashamed to treat him so badly.” +</p> +<p> +Billie was standing with her back to the door, +and suddenly Evelyn threw both arms around her +neck and gave her a good squeeze. +</p> +<p> +“You were the girl at the inn,” she whispered. +“And you bring me such wonderful news. I +thought—they said—they showed me a clipping”—her +voice changed—“think of not having +seen you since Fontainebleau. You’re the +dearest, sweetest——” +</p> +<p> +Instinctively Billie felt that the father was +standing at the door. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239'></a>239</span> +</p> +<p> +“Good old friends?” she heard him say, in his +deep, hollow voice. +</p> +<p> +“I’m sure his body must be full of black caverns,” +she thought. +</p> +<p> +“Father, this is Miss——” There was just a +perceptible pause, and Billie felt certain that Evelyn +was searching vainly in her memory for her +name. With great presence of mind, she interrupted +her: +</p> +<p> +“Oh, your father and I have met,” she said. +“We were introduced over the telephone. I was +afraid you might think I was a boy when you +heard my name was ‘Billie Campbell,’” she +added, turning and facing that tower of strength +and sternness. The young girl and the big man +exchanged a long glance. They were not unlike +David and Goliath on the field of battle, and in +her heart Billie knew there was going to be a +struggle. +</p> +<p> +“Show the young lady your things, Evie,” he +said, with a certain complaisant pride in his tone. +As if to say: “We will dazzle this young person +with our magnificence.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240'></a>240</span> +</p> +<p> +Evelyn wearily led the way into the next room, +which was her bedroom, and evidently had no +outlet except through her father’s room. Billie +glanced at the filmy laces and beautiful frocks +with lukewarm interest. She was never particularly +interested in clothes. +</p> +<p> +“It’s a pity Nancy-Bell missed the opportunity,” +she thought. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Stone was called into the next room to the +telephone, and in the two minutes he was away, +Evelyn whispered: +</p> +<p> +“Where is Danny?” +</p> +<p> +“In town. You’re not going to marry +that——” +</p> +<p> +“I’m afraid I must.” +</p> +<p> +“Come with us in the motor to San Francisco.” +</p> +<p> +Billie hardly realized her own words. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t, I can’t,” whispered Evelyn, in an +agonized tone of voice. +</p> +<p> +“I must be getting back now,” said Billie, when +the telephone conversation was over. “The +things are lovely, Evelyn. Perhaps we shall see +you to-morrow. We are going sight-seeing all +day, but we shall be here for meals. Good-night.” +</p> +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i004' id='i004'></a> +<img src="images/illus-240.jpg" alt="“Come with us in the motor to San Francisco.”" title=""/><br /> +<span class='caption'>“Come with us in the motor to San Francisco.”</span> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241'></a>241</span></div> +<p> +The two girls kissed warmly. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Stone accompanied Billie around the corridor +to her room. +</p> +<p> +“Good-night,” she said, and held out her hand. +</p> +<p> +He took it in his enormous hand, and, looking +down at her with a quizzical expression, he said: +</p> +<p> +“You are a friend of Daniel Moore?” +</p> +<p> +Billie’s heart almost stopped beating, but she +returned his look steadily. +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” she replied, quickly withdrawing her +hand. Then she hurried in and locked the door +behind her. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242'></a>242</span><a name='chXIX' id='chXIX'></a>CHAPTER XIX.—A DAY OF SURPRISES.</h2> +<p> +“The Comet is going to have a rest to-day,” +observed Billie the next morning at the breakfast +table. “He’s being screwed up and oiled and +cleaned for his last spurt across the continent.” +</p> +<p> +“For my part,” said Miss Campbell, “I’m glad +to take a rest from the Comet. I think I have +automobile legs, just as ocean travelers have sea +legs. When I’m sitting still, I seem to be constantly +moving, and when I’m moving, I feel +like a young bird learning to fly. I believe that +by the time we reach San Francisco, my limbs +will refuse their office, as grandpapa used to +say.” +</p> +<p> +The girls laughed at the picture Miss Campbell +drew of herself. +</p> +<p> +“I think a bath in the lake will do us all good,” +said Billie. “You can’t sink, you know, Cousin +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243'></a>243</span> +Helen. All you have to do is to lift your feet +and you float about like a little chip.” +</p> +<p> +“First to the Temple; then to see Brigham +Young’s houses, and then to the lake,” said Mary, +studying the guide-book. +</p> +<p> +“And then back to the hotel for a good night’s +rest on a perfectly delightful bed,” added Miss +Campbell, who had enjoyed her night’s sleep exceedingly. +</p> +<p> +After breakfast, they inquired at the desk for +a message from Daniel Moore, but he had left +none and was not in his room. +</p> +<p> +As the five ladies left the hotel, half an hour +later, a messenger boy passed them on the run. +</p> +<p> +“A rush message for Miss Helen Campbell,” +he said breathlessly to the clerk. +</p> +<p> +“She’s gone out,” said the young man, looking +up the number of her room and examining her +letter box with official deliberation. “Her key’s +on the hook.” +</p> +<p> +And at that moment, Miss Campbell, with a +swish of her silk skirts and a flutter of blue chiffon +veils, had turned the corner and was out of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244'></a>244</span> +sight. If she had lingered three minutes longer +over the breakfast table; or if the messenger boy +had hurried his steps still more, or the clerk had +watched more carefully the comings and goings +of the guests of the hotel, the tide of this story +would certainly have been changed. +</p> +<p> +As it happened, the Motor Maids and Miss +Helen Campbell did not return to the hotel until +late that evening, and all that time this important +letter was waiting for them. +</p> +<p> +“On to the Temple!” cried Billie, engaging a +little boy to guide them to that enormous structure. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t like it at all,” announced Nancy, as +they approached the Mormon church. “It’s stern +and hard and ugly, and I am sure that Mr. John +James Stone is just a chip of granite out of one +of the sides.” +</p> +<p> +“He does bear rather a strong family resemblance,” +said Miss Campbell, gazing rather fearfully +at the great structure. +</p> +<p> +But opinions differed about the Temple. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245'></a>245</span> +</p> +<p> +“I think it’s very fine,” said Billie, “if only for +its bigness.” +</p> +<p> +“I like it as long as I don’t think of it as a +church,” observed Elinor. “I’m sure I couldn’t +say my prayers in it, without feeling that God +was a cruel king who would punish me severely +for my sins.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, that is what they believe, isn’t it?” asked +Mary. +</p> +<p> +“The only thing I know about their belief,” +observed Miss Campbell, with a top-lofty air, “is +that they frown on old maids.” +</p> +<p> +“They would never frown on you, dearest +cousin, if they saw you first,” laughed Billie. +</p> +<p> +The doors to the Temple were closed to visitors +that morning, but their little guide led them +behind the structure, where stood the Tabernacle, +a peculiar building, resembling a monster egg. +Here was the great organ, which Elinor desired +particularly to hear, and, by a lucky chance, +when they entered the auditorium, the place was +filled with music. Miss Campbell, with Elinor and +Mary, seated herself in one of the pews to listen, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246'></a>246</span> +while Billie and Nancy wandered up a side aisle, +looking very much like two pigmies under the +vast dome of the roof. Presently they also sat +down and composed themselves to listen to the +strains of the wedding march, the first notes of +which had been sounded on the organ. +</p> +<p> +Some one touched Billie on the shoulder. +</p> +<p> +It was Evelyn Stone. +</p> +<p> +“Just for a moment, so that I can talk to you. +No one will see us; there.” +</p> +<p> +Unnoticed by the others, the three girls tip-toed +down the aisle to the entrance, where they +hid themselves in a recess in the wall. +</p> +<p> +“I’ve been over to the annex with father and +the florist,” she said. “I am to be married there +to-morrow, you know—at least, I suppose I am.” +The annex was another chapel connected with +the Temple. +</p> +<p> +“Poor Daniel Moore,” ejaculated Billie. “We +are awfully sorry for him. We think he’s one of +the nicest men we ever knew.” +</p> +<p> +“Do you?” exclaimed Evelyn, clasping Billie’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247'></a>247</span> +arm and smiling into her face, as if she herself +had been paid a high compliment. +</p> +<p> +“Indeed we do,” cried Nancy. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, dear; oh, dear,” exclaimed the girl, beating +her hands together. “It would be a great +scandal if I ran away on my wedding day. But +I am so unhappy. Oh, so unhappy, and I do want +to see Daniel so much. Why, if he wasn’t married, +didn’t he ever come near me?” she added, +stamping her foot angrily. +</p> +<p> +“He tried and tried, and wrote letters, and +everything—but he couldn’t get near you. Your +father——” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, yes, father, of course,” said Evelyn, pressing +her lips together and frowning. “It’s not +only that Ebenezer is a Mormon. It’s other +things—money, I think. Father is involved, I’m +certain of it, and Ebenezer is rich—very rich.” +</p> +<p> +“You needn’t run away with Daniel to-morrow,” +put in Billie irrelevantly. “You can run +away with—with the Comet, our motor car——” +</p> +<p> +“Hush,” interrupted Evelyn. “I’ll send you a +note to-night. There they come now. Good-by, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_248'></a>248</span> +you dear, kind friends. I feel as if I had known +you always.” +</p> +<p> +The two girls hurried back into the Tabernacle +and a little later emerged from another door and +were conducted by their small guide to the homes +of Brigham Young. And very fine houses they +were, “The Beehive” especially, with its quaint +dormer windows and sloping roof. But somehow, +our five spinsters were not deeply interested +in these historic homes, and after wandering +around the city for another hour, they boarded +a small train headed for Salt Lake. +</p> +<p> +“When people are traveling, they will do anything,” +complained Miss Campbell, as she tucked +a small black bathing suit under one arm and disappeared +in the bath house. “They will wear +hired bathing suits, a thing I never expected to +stoop to——” her voice continued from the interior +of her compartment. +</p> +<p> +“And sleep on the ground,” called Elinor from +across the passage. +</p> +<p> +“And eat with robbers,” began Nancy, when +Mary stopped her. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249'></a>249</span> +</p> +<p> +“Hush, Nancy,” she said. “How do you know +there are not people listening to you?” +</p> +<p> +A few moments later they strolled out to the +pier in their hired bathing suits. A woman attendant +looked at them closely and then disappeared +into a telephone booth. +</p> +<p> +Some morbid people with bad digestions have +premonitions of approaching trouble, but our four +happy young girls and Miss Campbell, youngest +and happiest of them all in her heart, had no +inkling, on that glorious day, of disasters to +come. They sat silently in a row on the beach +and gazed enchanted at the wonderful scene. +There was not a ripple in the inland sea which +stretched before them like a sheet of green glass. +In its bosom were reflected the encircling mountains, +mysterious and mystical. They, too, were +like mountains of glass, in many pale colors, +pinks, blues, delicate greens and lavenders. +</p> +<p> +“It’s like a dream picture,” said Mary softly. +“I can hardly believe it’s true. No wonder it’s +called ‘the dead sea.’ It’s so silent and still.” +</p> +<p> +“Nothing lives in it, you know,” said Billie. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_250'></a>250</span> +“No fish of any kind. It’s salty beyond words +to tell.” +</p> +<p> +Hundreds of people were scattered about on +the beach, but their voices and laughter sounded +muffled and far away. It was all very strange +to the travelers who seemed to have fallen under +the spell of the enchanted lake on whose waters +they presently floated in a dreamy state, as if a +magician’s wand had changed them into so many +human boats. +</p> +<p> +They sat on the sands for a long time after +their bath, chatting in low voices. Then, after +another dip, they dressed and lunched in the +restaurant of the splendid bathing pavilion, one +of the finest structures of its kind in the world. +Again they sat on the beach watching the opalescent +mountains. They felt intensely drowsy +in the warm, dry air, and by and by sleep descended +on them, and they lay like so many enchanted +victims by the still waters of that mysterious +lake. +</p> +<p> +At last the sun set in a blaze of red and gold, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_251'></a>251</span> +wonderful to behold, and the five sleepers sat up +and rubbed their eyes. +</p> +<p> +“Dear children, it’s been a remarkable experience,” +announced Miss Campbell; but whether +she referred to the nap or the bath or the entire +splendid day she did not explain. +</p> +<p> +It was seven o’clock when they reached the +hotel in a blissful state of irresponsibility, like +human beings who had wandered unexpectedly +into fairy land. +</p> +<p> +There would be lots to tell Daniel Moore that +night at dinner, they were thinking. And perhaps +he would have news for them. +</p> +<p> +All this time Billie and Nancy had carefully +kept secret the meeting with Evelyn Stone. +</p> +<p> +Letters awaited them at the hotel, and last of +all, Miss Campbell opened a note from Daniel +Moore, so certain was she that they would see +him in ten minutes in the dining room. Suddenly, +without warning, she burst into the next +room where the four girls were engaged in a +quartette of buttoning up. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, my dears, my dears, something dreadful +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_252'></a>252</span> +has happened,” she cried. “Mr. Moore has been +arrested and put in jail for receiving stolen goods +from the train robbers. He expects to get bail, +he says, very soon, but he advises us to leave this +town at once. It’s that dreadful Stone man who +has done it. Poor Mr. Moore says—‘I look for +trouble for you and dread your being involved in +anything disagreeable. Don’t lose a moment in +leaving Salt Lake City. They have no case +against me, of course, but I am afraid the old +villain will keep me here until after Evelyn’s +marriage. He’s a very powerful man in this +town. I beg of you not to make any efforts to +see Evelyn. He is capable of most anything, I +think, and it is too late to stop the wedding now.’ +Now, wasn’t I right not to let you deliver that +note, Billie, dear?” she added triumphantly. “I +tell you it is most dangerous interfering with +other people’s affairs.” +</p> +<p> +Billie smiled faintly and exchanged a frightened +look with Nancy. +</p> +<p> +“We had better leave town to-morrow morning,” she said. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_253'></a>253</span> +“We can’t leave to-night. The +Comet isn’t quite ready.” +</p> +<p> +“Leave town, indeed!” exclaimed Miss Campbell. +“We have nothing on our consciences. We +shall stay as long as we choose. This is a free +country, and I am not in the least afraid of that +dreadful Mormon. Let us go down to dinner +and forget all about him.” +</p> +<p> +And down she went presently, sweeping into +the dining room like a haughty little queen, +the Motor Maids following behind her. Elinor +held her head high. She was a princess and +feared no man, neither Mormon nor Gentile. +Mary walked innocently at her side. Her conscience +was clear, and she was not afraid to look +the whole world in the face. Then came the +guilty ones, pale and silent. Oh, heavens! What +it is to have a black secret on one’s soul. The +food had no taste. The music clashed inharmoniously, +and the murmur of the conversation +of other diners grated on their nerves. +</p> +<p> +“Nancy, dear, you have no appetite,” Miss +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_254'></a>254</span> +Campbell was saying, when a waiter approached +bearing a long, official-looking envelope on a tray. +</p> +<p> +“Another communication from our poor friend, +I suppose,” she observed, breaking the seal and +drawing out the letter without noticing the inscription +on the envelope which announced that +it came straight from the Department of Police, +Salt Lake City. +</p> +<p> +As Miss Campbell read the communication +contained within this formidable cover, a deep +scarlet flush spread over her face, which gradually +faded into a deadly white pallor. She tried +to speak, but her lips refused to frame the words. +</p> +<p> +The girls were very much frightened and several +of the waiters drew near with evident curiosity. +It was Elinor who had the presence of +mind to say: +</p> +<p> +“Dear Miss Campbell, won’t you take my arm? +I am quite through dinner.” And the two walked +slowly from the room, taking the mysterious letter +with them. +</p> +<p> +“We had better wait a moment,” whispered +Billie to the other girls. “It would be less conspicuous +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_255'></a>255</span> +than if we all rushed out at once. People +are already looking at us.” +</p> +<p> +She tried to butter a piece of bread, but her +hands trembled and she felt that the color had +left her cheeks. Nancy was the picture of +misery. +</p> +<p> +“What is it, girls?” whispered Mary in a +frightened voice. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know,” answered Billie; “but something +dreadful has happened, I feel sure. The +letter was from the Chief of Police, I think. +I did deliver the note to Evelyn Stone, Mary. I +know it was wrong to have disobeyed, but +I couldn’t see the harm of giving one person a +letter from another person.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Billie!” exclaimed Mary, “there is no telling +what that dreadful man will do to us. He +may put us in jail, too.” +</p> +<p> +The notion was too much for their endurance, +and with one accord they rose and fled from the +room. +</p> +<p> +They found Elinor sitting on the floor beside +Miss Campbell holding her hand. The document +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_256'></a>256</span> +was spread out before them, and Miss Campbell +was reading it aloud. +</p> +<p> +“‘You are regarded as suspicious characters,’” +she read in a voice that had a tone of shrillness +in it the girls had never heard before. “‘As suspicious +characters,’” she repeated, hardly able to +take in the meaning of the words, “‘and, therefore, +as persons undesirable in this city, you are +requested to leave the town within twelve hours. +If not, you will be compelled to give an account +of certain actions not regarded as lawful in the +State of Utah. Signed, Chief of Police.’” +</p> +<p> +The girls were breathless with amazement +and horror. Driven out of town like criminals, +and all for having shielded a poor, repentant +thief who had returned what he had stolen. +</p> +<p> +Without a word Billie went to the telephone +and called up the garage wherein the Comet was +temporarily stabled. +</p> +<p> +“What time does the sun rise?” she asked +while she waited for the number. +</p> +<p> +“At about five o’clock, I think,” answered +Mary. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_257'></a>257</span> +</p> +<p> +“Have Miss Campbell’s motor car at the hotel +to-morrow morning at five o’clock,” she ordered. +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell rose. The girls looked at her +timidly. They had never seen her angry before. +</p> +<p> +“I won’t try to talk with you to-night,” she +said in a voice that was almost a whisper. “I +shall not attempt to speak again until we leave +this hateful city far behind us.” +</p> +<p> +She had hardly left the room when there was +a light tap on the other door. +</p> +<p> +Billie opened it and a chambermaid gave her +a note, and quickly departed down the corridor. +</p> +<p> +This is what the note said: +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +“I accept your invitation, and will meet you +to-morrow at the railroad station in Ogden. +Send a line by the chambermaid, who will wait +around the corner of the hall, letting me know +what time you intend to start. With a heart full +of gratitude from one who is most unhappy, +</p> +<p style='text-align:right; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-right:2em;;'>“E. S.”</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_258'></a>258</span><a name='chXX' id='chXX'></a>CHAPTER XX.—THE ELOPEMENT.</h2> +<p> +The morning mists still clung to the mountains +and the citizens of the Mormon city appeared to +be wrapped in a profound slumber when the +Comet flashed joyously along the quiet streets. +</p> +<p> +How good it seemed to settle back among his +comfortable cushions and hasten to leave this unfriendly +town. +</p> +<p> +Billie at the wheel looked straight in front of +her. Her heart was unquiet and her gray eyes +troubled. +</p> +<p> +“If I only had the nerve to break the news to +Cousin Helen that I have invited Evelyn to come +with us,” she thought. “By seven o’clock we +shall be there. Oh, dear! oh, dear! I have asked +her, so I suppose I’ll have to stand by my own +deeds, and I’m glad she’s going to run away, but +I do wish she had eloped in another direction.” +</p> +<p> +The other Motor Maids were likewise troubled +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_259'></a>259</span> +in their minds, and sat in uneasy silence. Miss +Helen herself finally broke the quiet. First she +removed a black veil, a thing she rarely wore, +and replaced it with her usual blue one. Her +face had resumed its normal happy expression, +and the dimple had returned to her left cheek. +Salt Lake City lay behind them. +</p> +<p> +“If I were not afraid of turning to a pillar of +salt,” she said, smiling her old, natural smile, “I +should like to look back just once on this strange +town that turns its visitors from its doors, for I +shall never come here again unless I’m brought +in irons.” +</p> +<p> +The girls smiled, somewhat relieved that their +beloved chaperone had emerged from the one fit +of rage in which they had ever seen her. +</p> +<p> +“But my heart bleeds for that poor girl,” she +continued. “I wish I had the power to help her. +Has the child no spirit that she permits herself +to be forced into this unhappy marriage?” +</p> +<p> +“Would you really like to help Evelyn Stone +if you had a chance, Cousin Helen?” asked Billie +suddenly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_260'></a>260</span> +</p> +<p> +“I only wish I had the chance, dear,” exclaimed +the other charitably. +</p> +<p> +Billie gave the merest blink of a wink to Nancy +and increased the Comet’s speed to forty miles +an hour. +</p> +<p> +It was long before seven o’clock, therefore, +when they drew up at the Ogden railroad station. +Only a few people were about at that early hour, +but framed in the doorway of the waiting room +stood a slender, girlish figure, dressed in gray, a +gray veil wrapped closely around her hat and +face. +</p> +<p> +Billie drew a deep breath. +</p> +<p> +“Cousin Helen, you’ve got the chance to help +Evelyn Stone,” she said, getting over the confusion +as quickly as possible. “I asked her the +other night to run away with us in the Comet, +and she has accepted. Here she is.” +</p> +<p> +There was not time for the astonished lady to +reply; for the girl in gray, seeing the red car, +rushed out, carrying her suitcase with her. +</p> +<p> +In another instant, she and her luggage were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_261'></a>261</span> +installed on the front seat with Nancy and a new +Motor Maid was added to the Comet. +</p> +<p> +“Dear Miss Campbell,” she said leaning back +and taking the older woman’s hand, “I can’t tell +you how happy I am. You are the kindest, the +nicest, the best—” she continued incoherently, +her voice choking with emotion. “If I had had +anyone else to go to—but I have no one except +my father’s sister, and she is not in sympathy +with me. I thought of going somewhere by +train, but where? The other time when I ran +away I had decided to teach school, but it was +very difficult to get a position, and when I found +you knew Daniel and Billie asked me, I couldn’t +resist it. You will forgive me, won’t you?” +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell was not proof against the +charms of the beautiful girl, and melted at once +into her old delightful and agreeable self. +</p> +<p> +“My dear,” she said, pressing the girl’s hand, +“it is a pleasure to add you to our party. I confess +I’m afraid of your father, but I trust he has +no idea you have run away with us.” +</p> +<p> +“No, no, he hasn’t. You see I left last night +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_262'></a>262</span> +before he came up to his room. He thought I +was asleep. I am certain he thinks I’ve gone +East, because I bought a ticket to Chicago and +took the midnight train. He has no way to know +that I left the train at Ogden and he has no legal +grounds for stopping me anyway, unless he +trumps up something as he did before when I +went off with the horse.” +</p> +<p> +“He’d be quite capable of trumping up anything +he could think of,” thought Miss Campbell, +but she said nothing and they did not allude to +the subject again that day. +</p> +<p> +Evelyn Stone, free from the thraldom of her +father and her unhappy engagement, was like a +bird out of a cage. She was so happy that it was +impossible to be sad in her presence. Although +indirectly she had been the cause of their disgraceful +departure from Salt Lake City, they +were obliged to admit that she was a great addition +to the party in their present strained state +of nerves. When she finally unwound the long +gray veil and disclosed her lovely face glowing +with color, the Motor Maids and Miss Campbell +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_263'></a>263</span> +felt that they would be willing to take almost any +risk to do her a service. +</p> +<p> +The whole thing was like a strange dream at +any rate. She was a beautiful princess flying +from her old ogre of a father through country +of surpassing loveliness; for nothing can exceed +the beauty of the scenery around Ogden. However, +they did not pause until they had left the +country of the ogre well behind them and had +passed into the state of Nevada. The Comet +covered one hundred and five miles that day and +they slept that night at a small country hotel +well on the other side of the border. +</p> +<p> +The next morning on the way to breakfast, +Evelyn bought a newspaper at the desk. +</p> +<p> +“I knew I would find something,” she said. +“Listen to this: ‘The wedding of Miss Evelyn +Stone, only daughter of John James Stone of Salt +Lake City, to Ebenezer Stone, bank president and +owner of gold mines, has been postponed on account +of the serious illness of the young woman. +The ceremony was to have taken place to-day at +twelve o’clock in the Annex of the Tabernacle. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_264'></a>264</span> +John James Stone has been called East on important +business. His daughter is with her aunt +at their country place, Granite Hills.’” +</p> +<p> +“Thank heavens, he’s going East,” observed +Miss Campbell, “since we are going West.” +</p> +<p> +Evelyn continued to search the paper +anxiously. +</p> +<p> +“Poor Danny, I’m afraid there’s no news +about him,” she said at last with a sigh. +</p> +<p> +“At least he’ll be glad to know that the marriage +didn’t take place,” suggested Elinor. +</p> +<p> +Once more Evelyn gave her radiant smile. +</p> +<p> +“To think that if it hadn’t been for all of +you—” +</p> +<p> +“Chiefly Billie—” put in Nancy. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, Billie, especially, I should have been this +morning the most wretched about-to-be-bride +that ever—” +</p> +<p> +She broke off suddenly and screened her face +with the newspaper. +</p> +<p> +“Father and Ebenezer passed by the door just +then,” she whispered. “Oh, what shall I do? I’m +so afraid of bringing trouble on you, Miss Campbell. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_265'></a>265</span> +Perhaps I’d better give up. There’s no use +trying—” the poor girl began to sob miserably. +</p> +<p> +Now, there was a decidedly martial strain in +the Campbell family which had produced soldiers +and fighting men in war and politics for three +generations in America and a dozen in Scotland, +and two members of that illustrious race at that +moment began to hear the pibroch of the clan +summoning them to battle. Two of the Campbell +children exchanged glances of stern Campbell +determination. Two descendants of Sir +Roderick Campbell, illustrious scion of a fighting +race, bore suddenly a strong resemblance to his +unflinching countenance as depicted in an old +portrait in Miss Campbell’s dining room. +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell rose from the table. There was +a dangerous light in her usually gentle eyes and +she held her head well up. +</p> +<p> +“Boom, boom!” sounded the call to battle in +her ears. The bagpipes of her ancestors were +playing a wild strain. Down through the ages +and across thousands of miles of land and water +she could hear that martial air: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_266'></a>266</span> +</p> +<p> + “The Campbells are coming, O-ho! O-ho!<br /> + The Campbells are coming, O-ho! O-ho!”<br /> +</p> +<p> +Then up rose the younger Campbell all booted +and kilted for the fray. +</p> +<p> +“Evelyn,” said the elder Campbell quietly, “are +you a girl of any spirit and courage at all?” +</p> +<p> +“I hope so,” exclaimed the poor girl, shrinking +into her chair miserably. +</p> +<p> +But we must not blame her for her lack of +courage. Remember, that she had been brought +up by a man who was granite straight through to +the heart. +</p> +<p> +“Well, now is the time to show it then, my +child. We shall fight for you, the girls and I, +and we will stand by you, but you must make +some effort yourself. You cannot be made to +marry if you don’t want to, and there is no law +that I know of that would require you to return +against your will to your father. You are not +a child.” +</p> +<p> +Fortunately that morning the dining room +was quite empty, and only a poor waitress saw +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_267'></a>267</span> +the two armies lined up for battle. The opposing +forces now entered. John James Stone and his +relative, Ebenezer, marched quietly into the field, +looking very formidable, it must be owned, with +their white, expressionless faces and black +clothes. General Helen Eustace Campbell and +Captain Billie lead the other army, which +marched gallantly out to meet them. The battle +was a brief one. +</p> +<p> +“Evelyn, disobedient and wicked girl, how dare +you mortify me as you have done?” began John +James in a voice of thunder. +</p> +<p> +Evelyn shook with fear. +</p> +<p> +“And how dare you,” exclaimed the intrepid +Helen, “interrupt me and my guests at breakfast? +This young woman, twenty years of age, +has placed herself in my care. She declines to +marry your relative and there is no law in this +country by which you can force her to do so. +She also declines your support and protection and +there is no law which will force her to accept it +if she does not wish. She is not a child.” +</p> +<p> +“Madam, do you know who I am that you dare +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_268'></a>268</span> +to interfere with me and my affairs?” cried the +infuriated Mormon. +</p> +<p> +“I do,” exclaimed Miss Campbell in a high, +clear voice, folding her arms. “I know that you +are a scoundrel and that you are willing to cheat +and lie in order to obtain your ends. I am not +afraid of you and I do not consider you of the +least importance. Your daughter is at this moment +my guest, and I refuse to have her +annoyed.” +</p> +<p> +The tall man and the little woman faced each +other while the poor, craven bridegroom that +was to have been, shrank back in amazement. +</p> +<p> +Then the most remarkable transformation took +place on the face of Goliath, John James. He +dropped his stone mask with a suddenness so +abrupt that they almost imagined they heard it +break as it fell to the floor. His brow cleared +and he flashed a smile that had a faint glimmering +of Evelyn’s in the curve of the lips. +</p> +<p> +“Madam,” he said, holding out his hand, “let +us be friends. I admit that I am beaten and that +I may say that I am not ashamed to be conquered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_269'></a>269</span> +by a woman of such spirit and courage. I only +wish my daughter had as much.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Helen put her small hand into his. She +was too amazed for the moment to realize what +she was doing. +</p> +<p> +“Come, Ebenezer.” +</p> +<p> +The great man made a low, ceremonious bow +and departed from the room. +</p> +<p> +Then, what did General Helen Eustace Campbell +do but have a genuine case of hysterics and +require to be supported to her apartment by five +highly excited young women! +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_270'></a>270</span><a name='chXXI' id='chXXI'></a>CHAPTER XXI.—A MEETING IN THE DESERT.</h2> +<p> +Sand hills and plains, plains and sand hills, +stretching out indefinitely and interminably. +There was only one bit of color in all the monotonous +landscape. A flash of red on the desert. +</p> +<p> +Six weary travelers, brown as Indians, hot +and thirsty, their clothes, their hair, their eyes +and nostrils filled with a fine dust. But a good +traveler never complains and not one voice was +lifted in protest. +</p> +<p> +Bang! went a tire—the second that day. Billie +wearily stopped the motor and climbed out +followed by the others. +</p> +<p> +“I feel as if we had come out of the nowhere +into the here,” observed Nancy in a sad, thin +voice. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t think there is any here,” replied +Elinor, endeavoring to wash the dust from her +face with her handkerchief and some eau de +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_271'></a>271</span> +cologne. “This is just as much nowhere as +where we came from.” +</p> +<p> +“Do you know, Elinor,” said Nancy after a +pause, in which the two girls looked about them +hopelessly, “I believe we are lost. I have been +thinking so for the last hour. Billie is afraid to +tell us, and so is Mary, but I have suspected it +ever since we lost sight of the railroad.” +</p> +<p> +“And this could hardly be called a road. It’s +nothing but a trail through sage brush.” +</p> +<p> +“It would be a pity to leave our bones to whiten +on the desert,” observed Nancy cheerfully. +</p> +<p> +“I shall make tea,” exclaimed Elinor with sudden +inspiration. “If you are lost in the desert on +the seventh of July, drink a cup of tea. It will +keep your veins from swelling and bring wisdom +and comfort.” +</p> +<p> +By the time Billie and Mary had put on a new +tire the tea was ready, and seated on the sand in +a circle, the thirsty travelers sipped the delicious +beverage. Billie was very quiet and black care +sat upon her brow. Mary also was silent. The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_272'></a>272</span> +truth is there was no trail at all. They had lost +it a mile back. +</p> +<p> +Now a trail is a very subtle and illusive thing, +once it’s lost, and one’s imagination plays many +strange tricks in a desert of sage brush. A +dozen times Mary had whispered to Billie: +“There’s the trail,” and Billie had replied, “That +looks a good deal more like it to the right.” No +matter which way they looked they saw the lines +which marked the trail. And when they looked +again, the lines had shifted into a new direction. +</p> +<p> +At last Billie rose up and faced the company. +</p> +<p> +“I have to report to you that we are lost,” she +said. “We are completely and utterly lost and +have been for two hours. It’s a quarter to five +o’clock and we can’t decide whether to turn back +Eastward or go on toward the West. I leave it +to the company.” +</p> +<p> +“Go on, go on,” they cried in one voice. +</p> +<p> +Why go back when there was no more trail +behind than there was in front? Back into the +Comet they climbed and on they went but progress +was slow and the way was heavy. Sage +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_273'></a>273</span> +brush impeded them greatly and at six o’clock +they appeared to be just as deep in it as ever. +They were very low in their minds and very +tired. In all the long journey things had never +seemed at such a low ebb. +</p> +<p> +At last Nancy leaned out of the car, for what +reason she could not have told, but suddenly there +came to her that inexplicable feeling that comes +to us all occasionally. She felt she was about to +enact a scene which somewhere, somehow she +had before. Her eyes swept the deep blueness of +the skies unseeingly and then fixed themselves +on—what was it—an enormous crane or was +it—? +</p> +<p> +“Billie, Billie,” she cried. “It’s the race. It’s +the flying machines—look, there are two, one +just behind the other!” +</p> +<p> +The Comet stopped mechanically in response +to the excitement of his mistress, and out they all +jumped for a better view. The aeroplanes were +coming toward them swift as birds on the wing. +The larger one, like a great eagle was well in +advance of a smaller one, following as a little +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_274'></a>274</span> +bird chases a big one. They were so high up +they might really have been taken for birds by +one who had never seen a flying machine. Then +that thing which had once happened was now re-enacted +before their astonished eyes. The small +bird advanced no farther, but swiftly and surely +began to drop. And as the machine neared the +earth back they jumped into the car and hastened +to the spot where they had seen it fall. But this +time there was no crumpled broken mass of +débris. The aeroplane had swooped down neatly +and quietly and a young man stood over it working +at the machinery with feverish haste. +</p> +<p> +“It’s Peter Van Vechten,” cried Mary, the first +to recognize him. +</p> +<p> +He looked up astonished to find human beings +about in that desert spot, and still more amazed to +find his former rescuers. +</p> +<p> +“We started from San Francisco on July 4,” +he explained, “and I was making good progress +until this beastly engine broke down. I’ve been +keeping right behind all the time, much to his +disgust. A train goes with us. You’ll hear it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_275'></a>275</span> +go by presently. What I wanted to do was to fly +all night to-night and get over the Rockies ahead +of him. My engine broke half an hour ago and +I had to come down and fix it and now I see it’s +beyond fixing.” +</p> +<p> +He smiled ruefully as they gathered around +him. +</p> +<p> +“If we could only do something,” exclaimed +Billie. “We can never forgive ourselves for +having taken you for a thief. I hope you will +accept our apologies.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t ever let it trouble you any more,” he +replied. “I had almost forgotten it really. When +one flies very high in the air, one forgets lots of +things that happen on the earth beneath.” +</p> +<p> +He turned again to his machine. +</p> +<p> +“It’s a beastly break,” he exclaimed, exasperated. +</p> +<p> +All this time, Nancy’s mind was very busy, +trying to recall something. “If only you could +remember, you could help him,” an inner voice +kept saying to her. +</p> +<p> +“I know,” she cried suddenly. “I have it,” and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_276'></a>276</span> +she rushed from the circle of sympathizing +ladies and began rummaging in an interior compartment +of the Comet. +</p> +<p> +“What is the child doing?” exclaimed Miss +Campbell, the only one to notice her remarkable +behavior. +</p> +<p> +And then the strangest thing happened. +</p> +<p> +“Mr. Van Vechten, will this help you any?” +she asked, returning with that small piece of +machinery she had kept as a souvenir all those +weeks ago, which seemed a century past. +</p> +<p> +The young man very nearly embraced Nancy +in his joy, and, Nancy would not have minded it +very much, perhaps, at that agitating moment. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, wonder of wonders,” he cried. “It’s the +very piece I was breaking my heart for a moment +ago, and here it is like a gift from heaven.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ve been saving it for you all this time,” +laughed Nancy, and her friends joined in her +merriment, for Nancy had really quite forgotten +the souvenir until this moment. +</p> +<p> +They learned from Peter Van Vechten that the +road was some two hundred yards away. They +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_277'></a>277</span> +had been running parallel to it all this time and +furthermore, a few miles on, he had caught +glimpses of a village where they might spend the +night. +</p> +<p> +“And where will you get your supper, Mr. Van +Vechten?” demanded Miss Campbell. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t think I’ll get any from present prospects,” +he answered. “I keep chocolates in my +pocket all the time and a flask of beef tea. One +needs lots of food up there,” he added pointing to +the skies. “It’s bitter cold.” +</p> +<p> +“Why can’t we have supper out here?” suggested +Billie. “We can get it ready while Mr. +Van Vechten mends his machine and it will be +so much jollier for everyone than going supperless +or eating canned things at the hotel.” +</p> +<p> +This was a most welcome suggestion and the +invitation was eagerly accepted by the young +aeroplanist. They brought out all their best +stores and prepared a real feast in his honor, with +hot coffee and their breakfast fruit as a finishing +touch. +</p> +<p> +The Motor Maids learned many interesting +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_278'></a>278</span> +things from the young man. The real thief, +who, it was believed, had flown away in one of +the flying machines at Chicago, had been caught +the very next day on the exhibition grounds and +had, as it turned out, no more knowledge of flying +than a wingless insect. +</p> +<p> +Hawkeseye, the Indian halfbreed, had been +caught, and was at present doing a term in the +penitentiary. +</p> +<p> +“How do you fly in the right direction at +night?” they asked him, and he showed them a +little compass lighted with electricity. +</p> +<p> +“I go due East by this,” he said. “Slightly to +the North until after the Rockies, and then +straight as an arrow to Chicago. It will be a +rough sail over the Rocky Mountains. All those +canyons and crevices and valleys are so many +suction holes to the aeroplanist. But the air over +the prairie country is as smooth as a lake in the +summer time.” +</p> +<p> +There was no lingering over the supper, good +as it tasted, and before twilight deepened into +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_279'></a>279</span> +misty gray, Peter Van Vechten had said good-by +to the Motor Maids and Miss Campbell. +</p> +<p> +He seated himself in his aeroplane. The +motor began whirring busily, and presently the +machine rolled on the ground for a brief instant +and began rising slowly and easily. He waved +his hand and smiled to them as he mounted the +air. Then away he flew and in three minutes +was a speck in the distance. +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell’s eyes filled with tears. +</p> +<p> +“I do hope and pray he’ll get there safely,” she +said. +</p> +<p> +“He is one of those people who always make +one feel lonesome after he goes away,” observed +Mary still watching the horizon. +</p> +<p> +The young aeroplanist was indeed one of those +rare persons the charm of whose presence still +lingers after he has departed, like the vibrations +after a chord of music. +</p> +<p> +But the adventure was over. He was flying +East and their path was due West, and they must +be getting on their way before night set in. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_280'></a>280</span><a name='chXXII' id='chXXII'></a>CHAPTER XXII.—A BIT OF OLD ITALY.</h2> +<p> +It was August 22, Miss Campbell’s birthday, +although she herself had quite forgotten it, this +being a celebration she was careful not to remember. +</p> +<p> +The girls had been planning for a long time to +give her a birthday party. It was to be a surprise +picnic wherever they happened to be between +Sacramento and San Francisco. It was +Evelyn who chose the spot for the party and who +guided them to a lovely vineyard planted on terraces +up the side of a mountain with a little +valley smiling at its feet. +</p> +<p> +“The owners of the vineyard are Italians, all +of them,” said Evelyn, “and you will certainly +feel that you are in Italy when you get there. +They are so simple and adorable. And there is +a kind of an inn where we can stay. They call it +the ‘Hosteria.’ Oh, you will love it, I know.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_281'></a>281</span> +</p> +<p> +The picnic was to begin in the morning. Miss +Helen, prepared for an all day trip, was properly +surprised when Billie turned the Comet into a +little mountain road running between grapevines +now heavy with fruit. +</p> +<p> +Men and women were gathering the grapes in +baskets, singing while they worked. +</p> +<p> +At the top of the mountain was the tiniest little +village imaginable, all stucco houses on a dusty +street with a church at one end. Next to the +church was the inn and standing at the door of +the inn was the landlord and owner of the vineyard, +Pasquale. +</p> +<p> +“Buon giorno, Signorina,” he cried. “I giva +you the gooda welcome. I have receive the letter +of the Signorina. All isa prepared.” +</p> +<p> +Across the entrance of the hosteria ran a legend +printed in red letters on a white background: +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>“MAN RETUNS TO HAPNES THIS DAY—AUGUS.</p> +<p>TWENTY-SEC. SIGNORA</p> +<p>ELEANORA CAMEL.”</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_282'></a>282</span></div> +<p> +Miss Campbell read the inscription over twice +before she could make out its meaning. +</p> +<p> +“Absurd children,” she cried delightedly, “you +are giving me a birthday party. I knew you +were suppressing something with all your giggling +this morning. And here I had quite forgotten +I was a year older to-day.” +</p> +<p> +“Not a year older, dearest cousin, a year +younger,” cried Billie. “It was Evelyn who knew +about this fascinating little place, and we thought +we would entertain you here instead of at one of +those tiresome hotels.” +</p> +<p> +Pasquale rubbed his hands together and smiled +broadly with his head on one side. +</p> +<p> +“La Signora, she isa surprisa,” he exclaimed, +as pleased as a child. +</p> +<p> +He led the way to the back of the house, +through a low-ceilinged room paved with red +tiles. At a small door at the end of the passage he +paused and placed his fingers on his lips with an +expression so arch and crafty that the girls +laughed out loud in spite of his motions for +silence. Then he flung open the door grandly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_283'></a>283</span> +and placed his hand on his heart, heaving a deep +and dramatic sigh. +</p> +<p> +It was not to be expected that our tourists who +had come through every variety of scenery, +grand, sublime and beautiful, should be very enthusiastic +now. But the Italian knew that he had +something very fine to show. Just as an old picture +dealer knows when he has a good picture +and a good audience. The girls fairly danced +on the grassy terrace overlooking the exquisite +little valley at the foot of the mountain. And +there, on the lawn, stood a table covered with a +white cloth. +</p> +<p> +“The ladies willa eat breakfast at what time?” +asked Pasquale. “The festa, she commenca at +two. You willa come—not so?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, yes, we will see all of it, Pasquale,” replied +Evelyn. +</p> +<p> +Pasquale lingered. +</p> +<p> +“The ladies willa pardon. They have no objec +to two others who also eta here?” +</p> +<p> +But the ladies were not in the humor to object +to anything. They were too much engaged in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_284'></a>284</span> +admiring the little valley and the olive grove +opposite which clung to the hillside like a soft +gray mist. +</p> +<p> +“It’s just like a little Italy,” cried Billie, enthusiastically. +“It looks like Italy. The people are +all Italians and so are the houses and the terraced +vineyards. Isn’t it sweet?” +</p> +<p> +“Wait until you see the festa,” said Evelyn, +“and Pasquale’s daughter, Lucia. She is out +now gathering grapes with the others, I suppose.” +Pasquale now appeared bearing a big +soup tureen, followed by a graceful young Italian +boy who carried a dish of grated cheese. There +were plates of ripe olives on the table and in the +centre a pyramid of fresh figs and grapes. How +charming it all was! Down in the vineyard below +came the sound of singing, which grew louder as +the young men and girls climbed the mountain to +the village. +</p> +<p> +They were very happy and jolly, and Miss +Campbell made a little speech. +</p> +<p> +“Sweet, lovely girls,” she said, “do you know +how very dear you are to me? We have been +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_285'></a>285</span> +through so much together, through so many, +dangers which we will forget, and pleasures +which we shall always remember; up hill and +down dale—across mountains—” +</p> +<p> +“And prairies,” suggested Nancy. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, across these interminable prairies, that I +feel, now that we are coming to the end of it all, +how lonesome I am going to be without you. I +hope you will all marry, my dears. There is no +one in the world so lonely as a spinster—” +</p> +<p> +Evelyn’s face flushed. The subject of marriage +was a painful one to her, because, although she +had written twice to Daniel, not one word had +she received from him since she left Salt Lake +City. And deep in her heart, she was wholly and +utterly miserable. No one but Billie noticed the +tears that glistened in her eyes, and under the +table, the two girls clasped hands for a moment. +</p> +<p> +“—a spinster past middle age,” went on Miss +Campbell, looking so charming and appealing +that the girls were obliged to rush from their +seats and embrace her. +</p> +<p> +And in the midst of this scene of affection, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_286'></a>286</span> +comes Pasquale, smiling affably, and bearing an +immense bouquet of roses. +</p> +<p> +“For La Signora Cam-el,” he said. “A gen-man +presents with compliments.” +</p> +<p> +“But who—what gentleman?” demanded Miss +Campbell. +</p> +<p> +“I cannot say, Signora. They are of Sacremen’—these +roses here. They came thisa morning +by express, in the diligenza from the valley.” +</p> +<p> +“Where is the gentleman?” asked Billie. +</p> +<p> +Pasquale shrugged his shoulders almost to his +ears and spread his hands out apologetically. +Then he disappeared into the inn and presently +returned with bouquets for each of the girls. +Evelyn’s was as large as Miss Campbell’s, of +roses, and the younger girls were smaller +bunches of heliotrope, which gave out a delicious +fragrance. +</p> +<p> +“Is he here at this inn?” demanded Nancy, +burning with curiosity. +</p> +<p> +“No, signorina, the gentleman, he coma after +the flowers.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_287'></a>287</span> +</p> +<p> +“Mystery of mysteries,” exclaimed Miss +Campbell. “Who can it be?” +</p> +<p> +“It’s just like Mr. Ignatius Donahue,” said +Elinor. +</p> +<p> +“It’s more like papa,” put in Billie. +</p> +<p> +Evelyn would have liked to add—“It’s +more like Daniel,” but she could not bring herself +to mention his name when he had treated her so +coldly. +</p> +<p> +“How did anyone know we were here?” asked +Miss Campbell. +</p> +<p> +“The hotel clerk knew,” replied Billie, “because +we asked him about the road.” +</p> +<p> +At last, after finishing off with fruit and +cheese and cups of black coffee, the delicious +birthday luncheon reached an end, like all good +things, and the ladies went forth to see the festa. +</p> +<p> +Down the street came some forty young men +and girls singing a wild Sicilian pastorale, each +verse of which ended in a weird turn. Many of +them were crowned with grape leaves, like Bacchanalian +dancers, and some of them carried baskets +filled with the fruit. It was the end of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_288'></a>288</span> +grapecutting season, and each year, Pasquale, +the great man of the village, gave a festa at this +time. +</p> +<p> +In front of the inn was a long narrow table +whereon stood jugs of wine, plates of cold meats +and ripe olives, dear to the heart of every true +Italian. The table fairly groaned under the +weight of food—cheeses and long loaves, salads, +figs, oranges and grapes. +</p> +<p> +A gentle old priest with a humorous, kindly +smile, came out of the church and welcomed the +motorists. +</p> +<p> +“You will enjoy the festa,” he said. “It is a +pretty sight not often seen out of Italy.” +</p> +<p> +The feasting and singing lasted until late in +the afternoon. Then the dancing began in the +yard of the inn. Pretty Lucia, Pasquale’s daughter, +and a young man with fierce black eyes, +danced a tarentella together and another man +and woman danced a Sicilian dance wilder even +than the tarentella. Finally everybody began +dancing and the girls joined in, leaving Miss +Campbell and the old priest seated in a pergola at +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_289'></a>289</span> +the side of the house, absorbed in an interesting +conversation. +</p> +<p> +As darkness descended torches were lit, but it +was difficult to distinguish faces and no one noticed +two men in dark slouch hats drawn well +over their faces who mingled with the crowd. +Evelyn Stone, standing alone on the outskirts of +the crowd, watched her four friends waltzing +among the dancers. +</p> +<p> +“How much happier Lucia is than I am,” she +was thinking. “How I wish I had been born just +a simple peasant girl. Money means so little in +comparison.” +</p> +<p> +But her reflections were rudely interrupted. A +black scarf was thrown over her head and she +was lifted off her feet and carried out of the +circle of light into the darkness. +</p> +<p> +Owing to the unusual festivities, supper for +the guests at the inn was very late that evening, +and not until well past eight o’clock did Pasquale +announce that the ladies would be served on the +terrace. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_290'></a>290</span> +</p> +<p> +“Where is Evelyn?” asked Miss Campbell anxiously +when they had gathered around the table. +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps she has gone off with Lucia,” suggested +Billie. +</p> +<p> +But Lucia was waiting on the table and had +not seen her. Pasquale sent a boy scurrying +around to search for her while the others ate +their supper. They were quite sure she had wandered +off with some of the villagers whom she +had known before. +</p> +<p> +Night deepened and the moon came up, flooding +the valley with its golden rays. It was very +chilly, and they put on their ulsters and sat in a +row on the terrace, waiting. From the inn yard +came the sound of music and the beat of the +dancers’ feet on the hard ground. +</p> +<p> +At last the waiting grew unbearable. Miss +Campbell went to confer with the old priest next +door and the girls hurried down the village street +to search for their friend from house to house. +Men were sent down the mountain road to the +valley below. Others hunted through the vineyard. +Somewhere in the village a clock struck +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_291'></a>291</span> +midnight. The music ceased. The dancers crept +off to bed, cold and tired. +</p> +<p> +The Motor Maids climbed upstairs to their +small bedrooms under the eaves. +</p> +<p> +Nothing could be done until morning, the +priest said. And while it seemed impossible to +sleep, they agreed they must take some rest. +</p> +<p> +Tired out with the long day, they did sleep +however, and the sun was high in the heavens +before they waked. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_292'></a>292</span><a name='chXXIII' id='chXXIII'></a>CHAPTER XXIII.—A CHANGE OF HEART.</h2> +<p> +Next morning, they dressed hurriedly, reproaching +themselves that they had slept so late. +</p> +<p> +“What’s to be done?” cried poor Miss Campbell, +half distracted as she rushed about her +room. “Shall we telegraph her father?” +</p> +<p> +“How do we know he hasn’t kidnapped her?” +suggested Mary. +</p> +<p> +“Suppose we telegraph Mr. Moore?” said +Elinor. +</p> +<p> +“But where is Mr. Moore? He has never +written a line in answer to our letters. That’s +why I am uneasy. That poor girl was growing +more unhappy every day.” +</p> +<p> +“Shall we notify the police of Sacramento, +then?” put in Billie. +</p> +<p> +“That would be a good idea, but we must see +Pasquale first. Send him up here at once, Billie,” +called Miss Campbell as the young girl departed, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_293'></a>293</span> +pinning on her hat as she ran down the narrow +steps outside. +</p> +<p> +A hundred conjectures flashed through their +minds as they hastened to get into their clothes. +Could Evelyn have done anything rash and foolish? +But Miss Campbell felt sure the girl was +much too thoughtful and unselfish to have involved +them in a trouble of that sort. No, it was +that Stone man, her father, who had spirited her +away. +</p> +<p> +Pasquale appeared at the door. His face was +an impenetrable mask, through which his small +eyes twinkled like the eyes of an animal. +</p> +<p> +“Pasquale,” cried Miss Campbell, “what are +we to do? Where has the young lady gone? +Have your men really brought no news whatever?” +</p> +<p> +“No news, Signora,” he replied, rubbing his +hands. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t stand there blinking at me,” she cried. +“Tell me what I must do. Is there no telegraph +station up here?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_294'></a>294</span> +</p> +<p> +“No, Signora, but breakfast, ita is served, Signora.” +</p> +<p> +“Breakfast! Don’t talk to me about breakfast +when I’m half distracted. Have some coffee +ready and send around the motor car. We will +start at once for Sacramento or some town where +we can telegraph.” +</p> +<p> +“The Signora will pleasea have breakfast,” +continued the imperturbable Italian. +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell was tying on her blue veil ready +to leave the instant they had swallowed their +coffee. +</p> +<p> +“Have the bags carried down,” she cried, “and +strapped on the car.” +</p> +<p> +“The Signora willa be pleased with breakfast. +It is Americana breakfast, made specialmente +for Signora and the young ladies—the chicken +broila—Signora.” +</p> +<p> +“The man will drive me mad,” cried Miss +Campbell rushing down stairs with veils flying, +her hand bag in one hand, her coat in the other, +followed by the girls who had been struggling to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_295'></a>295</span> +pack their suitcases and get away as soon as possible. +</p> +<p> +At the bottom of the steps, they met Lucia, +smiling and fresh in spite of her dissipations of +the day before. +</p> +<p> +“The ladies will please enter for breakfast,” +she said. +</p> +<p> +Back of them came Pasquale without any suitcase +at all. +</p> +<p> +“On the terrace, Signora. Ah, the terrace, it is +bella, bella, in the morning. Sacremen—you will +see her on a clear day. Ah, madama, I entreata +you to step forth on the terrace.” +</p> +<p> +Pasquale and Lucia stood in the most theatrical +attitudes imaginable, their hands outstretched, +exactly like two opera singers when they had +reached the closing notes of a grand duetto. +</p> +<p> +“Ah, Signora, thisa gooda breakfast,—chicken +broila—questa bella vista—” +</p> +<p> +“Good heavens, the man is mad. They are +both perfectly mad,” cried poor Miss Campbell +rushing to the terrace and almost into the arms +of—Oh, horror of horrors! Oh, unspeakable +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_296'></a>296</span> +disgrace! John James Stone, who actually held +her imprisoned in his iron embrace and looked +down into her face with an expression so tender +that Nancy and Mary were obliged to retire into +the hall for a moment where they fell on each +other’s necks and laughed immoderately. +</p> +<p> +“Release me, sir! How dare you?” cried the +excited little woman, looking around to see if +anyone else had been a witness of this disgraceful +encounter. +</p> +<p> +There was, indeed, quite an audience. Daniel +Moore, leaning on a cane, his other arm clasped +in Evelyn’s, stood close at hand; also the four +Motor Maids, Pasquale chuckling with joy and +Lucia smiling broadly. +</p> +<p> +“Evelyn, my dear, you have given us such a +fright. Where did you come from,” exclaimed +Miss Campbell, almost in hysterics. “And Daniel +Moore, too.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s a good ending to what might have been a +very tragic affair, Miss Campbell,” replied Daniel. +“Evelyn was kidnapped last night by Ebenezer +Stone but as luck would have it, Mr. Stone +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_297'></a>297</span> +and I were making the trip from Sacramento to +catch you here and we met them on the road last +night. They had an accident, in fact, and stopped +our car for assistance without knowing whom +we were. Unfortunately, I couldn’t fight that +scoundrel, Ebenezer,” he continued, clenching his +fist and growing very white. +</p> +<p> +“Have you been ill?” +</p> +<p> +“He has been very ill,” put in Evelyn, clasping +his arm and leaning on him. +</p> +<p> +“Too ill even to know that Evelyn was not +married,” went on Daniel. “That little wretch +of a mare when she dragged me around by my +leg, injured my hip. I owe my life to Miss Billie, +and I ought to be thankful that the injury was +no worse. The worry about Evelyn and the arrest +in Salt Lake City precipitated matters, I +suppose and I have been in the hospital ever +since, until the day before yesterday. It didn’t +seem to matter much with Evelyn married to that—to +that——” +</p> +<p> +“Never mind,” said Evelyn soothingly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_298'></a>298</span> +“Father and I never really did like him. Did we +father?” +</p> +<p> +This was rather straining a point but Mr. John +James Stone was quite equal to it. The truth is +the stony old Mormon had suffered a change of +heart. +</p> +<p> +“Ebenezer is a cold blooded scoundrel,” he +observed in a tone of conviction which brought +covert smiles even to the lips of his long suffering +daughter. +</p> +<p> +“But, please, tell me quickly how you and Mr. +Stone came to meet?” demanded Miss Campbell, +the answer of which question they were all burning +to know. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Stone cast upon the charming little spinster +a glance so melting that it was impossible +for the Motor Maids to keep from laughing. +</p> +<p> +“They have you to thank for that, Miss Campbell,” +replied the big man. “I am completely won +over, I assure you, madam. A charming woman +is the most powerful influence in the world.” +</p> +<p> +An expression of amazement passed over the +spinster’s face, followed almost immediately by +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_299'></a>299</span> +one of intense amusement and embarrassment. +There was a strained silence. Then Pasquale, +clearing his throat several times significantly, announced +breakfast. +</p> +<p> +In spite of the fatigue and nervous strain of +the past six hours, everybody was hungry and +Evelyn Stone was the most joyous member of +the breakfast party. The shadow which had +darkened her entire young life was dispelled. She +had never dreamed that hidden deep somewhere +behind that granite exterior her father had a real +flesh and blood heart. +</p> +<p> +It was Miss Campbell who had discovered it +and it was Miss Campbell who must now pay the +penalty of her discovery. +</p> +<p> +No one ever knew exactly what conversation +passed between her and the Mormon gentleman +on the terrace that morning after breakfast. But +they guessed that the little spinster had received +a declaration of love and an offer of marriage. +At any rate, half an hour later, she shut herself +into her room and refused to appear again until +dinner time. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_300'></a>300</span> +</p> +<p> +As for Mr. Stone, he took an automobile ride +with the Motor Maids and made himself most +agreeable. On the way home, he bought everything +he could find in the way of fruit and flowers +for the little lady who had touched his heart. +He was as frankly and openly in love as a boy, +and love which comes to those past fifty is of an +extremely poignant nature. +</p> +<p> +But Miss Campbell had no intention of wedding +even a reformed Mormon and settling in +Salt Lake City. +</p> +<p> +“Never again will I enter that hateful place +except in chains as a prisoner,” she had repeated +many times, and her old lover, whose youth had +been renewed like the eagle’s and whose character +had been strangely transformed, entreated in +vain. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_301'></a>301</span><a name='chXXIV' id='chXXIV'></a>CHAPTER XXIV.—SAN FRANCISCO AT LAST.</h2> +<p> +It was just at sunset, a time pre-arranged by +Mr. Stone, who now thought of everything, when +the two automobiles paused on the brow of a +hill near Berkeley. +</p> +<p> +Spread before them was the glorious panorama +of San Francisco Bay. San Francisco, at +one end of the peninsula, was shimmering gold +in the last rays of the sun as it sank in the ocean +at the very entrance of the Golden Gate. The +whole scene might have been painted with a +brush dipped in gold so glorified were the surrounding +hills and bay by the sun’s rays. +</p> +<p> +It was all very much like a dream, unreal and +strange as they hastened up and down the hilly +streets of San Francisco and finally came to a +stop at the St. Francis Hotel. +</p> +<p> +It was the end of their trip across the continent; +the end of the summer and the beginning +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_302'></a>302</span> +of happiness for their new friends. To-morrow +there would be a wedding at which four Motor +Maids would act as bridesmaids and Mr. John +James Stone would give his daughter to Daniel +Moore with a real fatherly blessing. +</p> +<p> +The bridegroom gave a dinner that night to +the bridal party. It was a grand affair, a real +dinner party. The girls wore their very best +dresses and carried bunches of violets sent by +that abject and thoughtful lover, Mr. Stone. +</p> +<p> +During the dinner which was given in one of +the pretty private dining rooms of the St. Francis, +John James Stone rose in his might and made +a speech, just as if they were the most distinguished +company in the world. +</p> +<p> +“Miss Campbell,” he said, and that lady stirred +uneasily under the fire of his ardent black eyes, +“and young ladies, I feel that I cannot let this +delightful evening slip by without taking the opportunity +to thank you for a gift which I count as +the most precious I have ever received in my +whole life.” +</p> +<p> +He spoke with the tone of an orator, his voice, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_303'></a>303</span> +vibrating and deep, rising and falling like the +sound of the waves on the seashore, and his +words were somewhat Biblical, after the manner +of the Mormon speechmaker. +</p> +<p> +“All my life I have been as one walking in the +dark,” he continued. “Even my daughter was a +shadow to me. Only one thing was real. Money! +And now I have lost a great deal of my money. +It has slipped from my fingers into the hands of +another man, who, thank God, has not forced +himself into my family and never will. But I +have received something in place of my fortune +which is now and always will be of infinitely more +value to me than money. The darkness is lifted +and I stand in the light. I feel as one who has +been groping in the night and have now turned +my face toward the rising sun. You have made +me the gift of sight. This gracious little lady,” he +continued, turning to Miss Campbell, “whose +spirit and courage first aroused my admiration +and then a deeper feeling,” he placed his hand +on his heart with the most unblushing candor. +It was difficult for the other members of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_304'></a>304</span> +party to hide their smiles. “This elegant little +lady although she will not consent to make me +the happiest of mortals has at least succeeded in +inspiring me with a new content. +</p> +<p> +“Will she therefore and the young Motor +Maids—” he paused and smiled at this expression +which he had caught from the girls—“do me +the honor to accept a slight token of my +gratitude?” +</p> +<p> +The Mormon produced a package which he +had been concealing under his chair. That the +souvenirs had been planned long beforehand was +evident, for the boxes bore the stamp of Salt +Lake City. +</p> +<p> +The souvenirs were jewels and very beautiful. +For each of the Motor Maids was a ring set with +a deep yellow topaz, the setting and stone representing +the “All-Seeing Eye,” the Mormon symbol +carved on the Temple and in many other +places in Salt Lake City. This was an especially +appropriate choice since it might also stand for +the Comet’s all-seeing eye which had guided them +safely across two thousand miles. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_305'></a>305</span> +</p> +<p> +Miss Campbell’s present was a beautiful topaz +brooch and represented nothing except the deep +regard of the giver. +</p> +<p> +They were obliged to accept these gifts, +strange as it seemed to them to be receiving +presents from one so recently a bitter enemy. +But then, like Jim Bowles, Mr. Stone was a reformed +character. Love had transformed his +whole being. +</p> +<p> +Only two more incidents remain to be told before +this history comes to an end. One of them +concerns Peter Van Vechten, who, the girls +learned at the hotel, never reached Chicago, although +he succeeded in flying past the Rocky +Mountains. But no else in the race reached the +goal and he proceeded farther than any of the +other aeroplanists. The young man was the +grandson and only heir of one of the richest men +in America. +</p> +<p> +“And we took him for a thief,” said Billie, +sadly. +</p> +<p> +“I never did,” said Mary. +</p> +<p> +The other occurrence will show that life is full +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_306'></a>306</span> +of coincidences and that if our memories are +good and our impulses kind, we can always help +someone. +</p> +<p> +The morning of the wedding Elinor was waiting +for her friends at a window at one end of the +hotel corridor. Someone else was waiting there +also, but the two had not even glanced at each +other so engrossed were they in their own +thoughts. A door opened and a voice called: +</p> +<p> +“Elinor.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes?” called two voices at once and two girls +turned and faced each other. +</p> +<p> +“I beg your pardon,” they both began at the +same moment and paused laughing. +</p> +<p> +“My name is Elinor,” began one. +</p> +<p> +“So is mine,” finished the other. +</p> +<p> +Then they laughed again, politely and pleasantly. +</p> +<p> +“Do you know. I think we look very much +alike,” began the strange girl. Her voice was +English. “I am older than you, many years, I +should imagine, but still we have the same profile.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_307'></a>307</span> +</p> +<p> +The two girls sat down on the window sill and +began to talk. +</p> +<p> +“Are you visiting in San Francisco?” began +Elinor Butler. +</p> +<p> +“No, not visiting, only—well, we have been +traveling—we have been to a great many +ranches through the West——” +</p> +<p> +Our Elinor gave the new Elinor a long, careful +scrutiny. +</p> +<p> +“Her name is Elinor. She looks like you——” +a voice said in her mind. +</p> +<p> +“Are you not looking for a friend?” she asked +presently. +</p> +<p> +“But, how did you guess?” exclaimed the other +girl, clasping her hands with great agitation. +</p> +<p> +“And his name is Algernon de Willoughby +Blackstone Winston?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, yes,” cried the English Elinor. “How did +you know?” +</p> +<p> +“I know because I reminded him of you,” answered +Elinor Butler, “and because my name is +Elinor.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_308'></a>308</span> +</p> +<p> +Then she gave the English girl the address of +Steptoe Lodge. +</p> +<p> +“It is in answer to my prayers—my meeting +you,” cried the older girl. “Only it has taken +such a long time. If only one has the patience +to wait; but it has been very hard. Once we +heard of his being in Canada, but when we went +to fetch him, his father and I, he had gone and +left no trace whatever. We were told that there +are a great many young Englishmen on ranches +in the Western States and we have been to—Oh, +hundreds of places. Lord Blackstone has had detectives +looking for him. But you see he changed +his name and we have had no success.” +</p> +<p> +“You will be certain to find him this time,” +said Elinor, “only when you go to fetch him, +don’t tell him beforehand. Take him by surprise.” +</p> +<p> +The two girls looked into each other’s eyes, +and smiled and pressed hands and—kissed. +</p> +<p> +“With all my heart I thank you a thousand +times,” said the English Elinor. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_309'></a>309</span> +</p> +<p> +“I hope you will be very, very happy,” said +the American Elinor. +</p> +<p> +Once more they kissed, as dear friends about +to be separated for a long time, and Elinor Butler +hurried to join her friends at the elevator. +On the way, she caught a glimpse through an +open door of a splendid looking old man leaning +on a cane. He was very tall with the slight stoop +of an old soldier, and as he glanced in her face, +she saw that his eyes were the same as those of +the cowboy’s who had sat out a dance with her +one night in the courtyard of Steptoe Lodge. +</p> +<p> +At last the story is done. The journey across +the continent has not been an unprofitable one. +Through the kindly efforts of Miss Helen Campbell +and the Motor Maids, lovers long separated +have been reunited; hearts of stone melted into +flesh and blood, and bad men transformed into +good. +</p> +<p> +Before they left San Francisco, our young +girls on a lark one day consulted a crystal gazer. +She was only a common fortune teller but sometimes +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_310'></a>310</span> +these wandering Gipsy souls make correct +guesses. +</p> +<p> +“In the crystal,” she said, “I see a great stretch +of water. There is a ship on it. The waves are +rough. I see foreign countries. You will take +a long journey across the ocean. I see a flash of +red like a shooting star——” +</p> +<p> +“The Comet,” laughed Billie. +</p> +<p> +Perhaps, like the Motor Maids, you will be +skeptical of the crystal gazer’s predictions concerning +their future. But she spoke the truth +as you will find for yourself if you read the next +volume of this series. In the new book the Motor +Maids will wander in their Comet through the +British Isles and there many interesting and delightful +adventures await them. +</p> +<p> +As the story ends, we find them gathered together +in Miss Campbell’s sitting room at the +Hotel St. Francis. On the next day they are to +take the train for home. Mr. Stone is with them, +and they are listening silently to a song Elinor +is singing at the piano. It is a Gipsy song, and +very appropriate. Our four girls after their +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_311'></a>311</span> +summer wanderings have turned into Gipsy +lasses, brown skinned clear-eyed daughters of +the Zingari. +</p> +<p> +As they listen to the thrum of the accompaniment, +the walls of the little parlor fade away +and once more they find themselves around the +camp fire under the stars on the plains. +</p> +<p> +Here is the song Elinor sang to her friends. +</p> +<p> + “‘The white moth to the closing vine,<br /> + The bee to the open clover,<br /> + And the Gipsy blood to the Gipsy blood<br /> + Ever the wide world over.<br /> + <br/> + “‘Ever the wide world over, lass,<br /> + Ever the trail held true,<br /> + Over the world and under the world<br /> + And back at the last to you.<br /> + <br/> + “‘Out of the dark of the gorgio camp,<br /> + Out of the grime and the gray,<br /> + (Morning waits at the end of the world),<br /> + Gipsy, come away.<br /> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_312'></a>312</span> + <br/> + “‘The wild hawk to the wind-swept sky,<br /> + The deer to the wholesome wold,<br /> + And the heart of a man to the heart of a maid,<br /> + As it was in the days of old.<br /> + <br/> + “‘The heart of a man to the heart of a maid—Light<br /> + of my tents, be fleet!<br /> + Morning waits at the end of the world,<br /> + And the world is all at our feet!’”<br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>THE END</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<p> +Motor Maids Series +</p> +<p> +Wholesome Stories of Adventure +</p> +<p> +By KATHERINE STOKES. +</p> +<p> +Cloth Bound. Illustrated. Price, 50c. per vol., postpaid +</p> +<p> +THE MOTOR MAIDS’ SCHOOL DAYS. +</p> +<div class='figleft' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i005' id='i005'></a> +<img src='images/illus-ad1.jpg' alt='' title=''/><br /> +</div> +<p> +Billie Campbell was just the type +of a straightforward, athletic girl +to be successful as a practical +Motor Maid. She took her car, as +she did her class-mates, to her +heart, and many a grand good time +did they have all together. The +road over which she ran her +red machine had many an unexpected +turning,—now it led her +into peculiar danger; now into contact +with strange travelers; and again into experiences +by fire and water. But, best of all, “The Comet” never +failed its brave girl owner. +</p> +<p> +THE MOTOR MAIDS BY PALM AND PINE. +</p> +<p> +Wherever the Motor Maids went there were lively times, +for these were companionable girls who looked upon the +world as a vastly interesting place full of unique adventures—and +so, of course, they found them. +</p> +<p> +THE MOTOR MAIDS ACROSS THE CONTINENT. +</p> +<p> +It is always interesting to travel, and it is wonderfully +entertaining to see old scenes through fresh eyes. It is +that privilege, therefore, that makes it worth while to join +the Motor Maids in their first ’cross-country run. +</p> +<p> +THE MOTOR MAIDS BY ROSE, SHAMROCK AND HEATHER. +</p> +<p> +South and West had the Motor Maids motored, nor +could their education by travel have been more wisely +begun. But now a speaking acquaintance with their own +country enriched their anticipation of an introduction to +the British Isles. How they made their polite American +bow and how they were received on the other side is a +tale of interest and inspiration. +</p> +<p> +Any volume sent postpaid upon receipt of price. +</p> +<p> +HURST & COMPANY—Publishers—NEW YORK +</p> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<p> +GIRL AVIATORS SERIES +</p> +<p> +Clean Aviation Stories +</p> +<p> +By MARGARET BURNHAM. +</p> +<p> +Cloth Bound. Illustrated. Price, 50c. per vol., postpaid +</p> +<p> +THE GIRL AVIATORS AND THE PHANTOM AIRSHIP. +</p> +<div class='figleft' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i006' id='i006'></a> +<img src='images/illus-ad2.jpg' alt='' title=''/><br /> +</div> +<p> +Roy Prescott was fortunate in +having a sister so clever and devoted +to him and his interests that +they could share work and play +with mutual pleasure and to mutual +advantage. This proved especially +true in relation to the manufacture +and manipulation of their aeroplane, +and Peggy won well deserved +fame for her skill and good +sense as an aviator. There were +many stumbling-blocks in their terrestial path, but they +soared above them all to ultimate success. +</p> +<p> +THE GIRL AVIATORS ON GOLDEN WINGS. +</p> +<p> +That there is a peculiar fascination about aviation that +wins and holds girl enthusiasts as well as boys is proved +by this tale. On golden wings the girl aviators rose for +many an exciting flight, and met strange and unexpected +experiences. +</p> +<p> +THE GIRL AVIATORS’ SKY CRUISE. +</p> +<p> +To most girls a coaching or yachting trip is an adventure. +How much more perilous an adventure a “sky +cruise” might be is suggested by the title and proved by +the story itself. +</p> +<p> +THE GIRL AVIATORS’ MOTOR BUTTERFLY. +</p> +<p> +The delicacy of flight suggested by the word “butterfly,” +the mechanical power implied by “motor,” the ability to +control assured in the title “aviator,” all combined with +the personality and enthusiasm of girls themselves, make +this story one for any girl or other reader “to go crazy +over.” +</p> +<p> +Any volume sent postpaid upon receipt of price. +</p> +<p> +HURST & COMPANY—Publishers—NEW YORK +</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Motor Maids Across the Continent, by +Katherine Stokes + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR MAIDS *** + +***** This file should be named 37433-h.htm or 37433-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/4/3/37433/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was +produced from scanned images of public domain material +from the Google Print project.) + + +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. 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