The Motor Girls on Waters Blue | Page 9

nearly as Bess ever came to snapping, for she was so well "padded," both in mariners and by nature, that she was too much like a mental sofa cushion to hurt even the feelings of any one.
Cora came down presently, announcing:
"She is better now. She took a little of the bouillon, but she is very weak. Mother insists on her staying in bed. She really seems a very decent sort of a person--the girl, I mean," added Cora quickly, with a little laugh. "She was so afraid of giving trouble."
"Did she tell anything of herself?" asked Bess.
"She tried to, but mother would not hear of it until she is stronger. I really think the poor thing was starving. She can't make much of a living selling lace, though some of it is very beautiful," and Cora picked up from the library door the length that had dropped from the girl's hand.
"Wasn't it strange--that she should come in and seem so worked-up over the mention of Sea Horse Island?" spoke Belle.
"It was," admitted Cora. "We shall have to find out about it later--she was on the verge of telling us, when she fainted. But, girls, if I am to go get Jack, it's time I started. Are you coming?"
"Suppose we go in our car," suggested Bess.
"You may want all the room you have to spare in yours, Cora, to bring back some of his luggage. And perhaps some of the boys besides Walter may come on from Exmouth with Jack. In that case--"'
"Exactly!" laughed Cora. "And if they do you want to be in a position to offer them your hospitality. Oh, Bess! And I thought you would be true to Jack; especially when he is so ill!"
"Cora Kimball! I'll--" but Bess, her face flaming scarlet, found no words to express her, at least pretended, indignation. "Come on, Belle," she cried. "We won't let a boy or young man ride in our car, not even if they beg us!"
"Oh, I didn't mean anything!" said Cora, contritely. But Bess simulated indignation.
The throb of motors soon told that the three girls were on their way. Cora in her powerful car, and the twins in their new one, both heading for the railroad station, though the train was not due yet for nearly half an hour, and the run would not take more than ten minutes.
"I wonder if Walter will stay on for a few days?" asked Belle of Bess, who was steering.
"I should think so--yes. He'll probably want to see how Jack stands the trip. Poor Jack!"
"Isn't it too bad?"
"Yes, and that reminds me. I wonder if he couldn't--"
"Look out, for that dog!" fairly screamed Bess, as one rushed barking from a house yard. It was only instinctive screaming on the part of Bess, for it was she herself who "looked-out," to the extent of steering to one side, and so sharply that Belle gasped. And, even at that, the dog was struck a glancing blow by the wheel and with barks changed to yelps of pain, ran, retreating into the yard whence he had come, limping on three feet.
"Serves him right--for trying to bite a hole in our tires," murmured Bess, with a show of indignation.
A slatternly woman, who had come to the door of the tumble-down house at the sound of the dog's yelps, poured out a volume of vituperation at the girls, most of it, fortunately, being lost in the chugging of the motor.
Three or four other curs came out from various hiding places to commiserate with their fellow, and the girls left behind them a weird canine chorus.
"Curious, isn't it?" observed Belle, "that the poorer the people seem, the more dogs they keep."
"What were we talking of?"
"Perhaps misery loves company," quoted Bess.
"Jack?" suggested her sister.
"No, Walter," corrected the other, and they laughed.
"What's the joke?" asked Cora, who had slowed up her car to await the on-coming of her chums. "Did you try to see how near you could miss a dog?"
"Something like that, yes," answered Bess, as she related the occurrence.
There was a period of rather tedious waiting at the station, before a whistle was heard, announcing the approach of some train.
"There it is!" cried Cora, as she jumped from her car to go to the platform.
It was only a freight engine, and the girls were disappointed. But, a few minutes later, the express sounded its blast, and, amid a whirl of dust, and a nerve-racking screech of brakes, drew into the depot.
"There's Jack!" cried Bess, grasping Cora's shoulder, and directing her gaze to a certain Pullman platform.
"And Walter's right behind him!" added Belle. "Why, he isn't carrying Jack!"
"You goose! Jack isn't as ill as all that!" laughed Cora, a bit hysterically. "Oh, Jack!" she called, waving her handkerchief.
"And there's Harry Ward!" murmured Belle.
"I didn't know he was coming,