The Outdoor Girls in a Motor Car | Page 4

us--up here," said Betty. "Unless you are afraid of your
tires."
"No, it isn't that, but I'm afraid I may run over him!"
However, the dog leaped away from the road, darted into an open
gateway, and from behind the safe vantage of the fence barked at the
passing auto.
"I don't mind you there," said Mollie, with a sigh of relief. "Oh, but
isn't this lovely!" and she inhaled deeply of the flower-scented air.
There had been a shower the night before, and the roads were in
excellent condition. Mollie had had the car about two weeks, and had
taken several lessons in driving. As the chauffeur had said, she had
proved an apt pupil, and now, being fully qualified, as her license
stated, to run it alone, she had, on this first occasion, invited her friends
for a run.
For several miles the girls rode along, enjoying to the utmost the swift,
silent and easy motion, and drinking in the sweet air. They admired the
views, too, for though they had been out with Mollie when she was
taking her lessons, they had been so much occupied with watching her
attempts to steer, and listening to the man's instructions, that they had
not fully appreciated the beauty of the country through which they
passed. And the country about Deepdale was beautiful.
"Are you going out Shadow Valley way?" asked Betty, as Mollie
successfully made a turn into another highway, off the main one.
"No, not this time, though we must go there some day. I thought we'd
motor to Farmington, and go home by way of Skillman."
"That's a nice way," said Grace. "Here, Mollie, open your mouth," and,
as her chum did so, Grace inserted a chocolate, for Mollie had not yet
enough confidence to take her hands from the steering wheel, except to
shift gears, with the right.
They were going along a well-shaded road now, the big maples on

either side meeting in an arch of green overhead. Some of the branches
were so low that care had to be taken in passing under them, as Mollie
had the top of the car up for protection.
As they approached one immense and ancient tree they saw a flutter of
white amid the branches near the ground.
"What's that?" cried Betty.
"Look out!" exclaimed Grace.
The white object--large and fluttering--toppled from the tree, almost in
front of the car, and with a little scream of fear Mollie gave the steering
wheel such a sudden twist that the auto swerved and nearly upset.
Across the road it shot on two wheels, and crashed into the bushes and
briars that lined the highway.
Instinctively Mollie jammed on the brake, and threw out the clutch, the
next instant shutting off the power, but so suddenly did she stop in the
excess of her zeal that Grace and Amy were thrown from their seats,
and Betty had to put out her hands to avoid hitting the wind shield.
CHAPTER II
A STRANGE GIRL
Mollie was the first to recover herself. Her position at the steering
wheel had given her an advantage, in that she had something to hold to,
and so was not tossed about as were her chums when the auto came to
such a sudden stop.
"Oh, dear!" Mollie exclaimed, ruefully. "Are any of you hurt?"
She gazed back at Grace and Amy, having assured herself by a look at
Betty beside her that the latter bore at least no visible injuries.
"I bumped my elbow--on the funny bone," said Grace.

"This is far from being funny," went on Mollie, half hysterical now.
"Stop it!" commanded Betty, getting control of her nerves, and then
taking the situation in hand, as she so often did. "No one is hurt, and the
car doesn't appear to be damaged, unless the stopping of the motor
indicates that."
"No, I shut it off," said Mollie. "Amy, how about you?"
"Oh, I'm all right. But what in the world happened?"
In concert they all looked back toward the big tree, which, to avoid
hitting something that fell from it, Mollie had steered away from so
suddenly, and with such unexpected results.
"Why--why, it's a--girl!" gasped Betty, as she saw a huddled figure
lying on the thick grass at the foot of the maple. "It's a girl, Mollie!"
"Oh, my, I hope we didn't hit her!" gasped Mollie. "I'm all in a tremble.
Betty--I'm--I'm going to----"
"Don't you dare say faint!" commanded Betty. "Come, we must see
what is the matter. Poor thing!"
"Oh, if--if we struck her!" gasped Mollie.
"I don't see how we could have," declared Amy. "You steered out too
quickly."
"Yes, she did steer out quickly, all right," asserted Grace, rubbing her
tingling elbow. "Why, Amy, your forehead is all bruised!"
"Yes,