The Outdoor Girls on Pine Island | Page 2

for an auto ride. We agreed with him--that's all."
"Fine--but where's Betty?" and Grace adjusted her tiny toque with care
before the huge mirror.
"Oh, she's coming, just as soon as she lets her mother know where she's
off to. We wanted Amy to go along too--stopped in there on the way
down--but Mrs. Stonington isn't feeling well and Amy thought she
ought to stay with her."
"I'm sorry for that. But would there have been room for all of us in
Frank's car, anyway?"
"Oh, yes, it's a big seven-passenger affair. Mr. Nelson says it is a
wonder. Just think! I can only squeeze five into mine," and Mollie drew
a long sigh at Fate.
"How ungrateful, Mollie--most girls would be glad of the chance to
ride around in a neat little machine like yours. Why, I'd even be
thankful for a tiny runabout."
"There it is now," Mollie said as a motor horn tooted insistently on the
drive below. "Don't let's keep them waiting."
"Hello, girls, we'd have been here sooner if Betty hadn't delayed us." It
was Frank Haley who spoke, a handsome young fellow, whose merry
grey eyes showed that he deserved his name--the first part of it, at least.
"Come, 'fess up, Betty," he added, turning to the bright-eyed,
rosy-cheeked girl beside him.
"I'm afraid I did keep them waiting, girls--about two minutes," Betty
Nelson admitted, then added in defense: "But I couldn't go looking the
way I was, you know."

"I don't see why not. I didn't see anything wrong."
"That doesn't prove a single thing, Frank," Grace retorted as he opened
the door for the girls. "Boys never do."
"Don't they though?" Frank objected. "Do you mean to say I don't
know that that little whatever-you-may-call-it in your hat is quite
considerable----"
"Class?" finished Will, who had been busy tucking in the robe about
Mollie's feet. "Personally I think we're a pretty fine crowd, take us all
together."
"Well, did you ever hear such--Frank, don't you think we'd better get
started before he says anything worse?" and Betty turned appealingly to
Frank.
"Just as you say," he answered obligingly, and at his words the great
car glided noiselessly down the drive and out into the street.
"Where to?" called Will from the tonneau. "How about a little spin in
the country, Frank?"
"Ask the girls," was the reply. "What they say goes."
"Oh, yes, let's," said Mollie eagerly. "It is just getting so green and
beautiful now. Summer is the only time in the year anyway."
"The winter didn't seem to bother you girls much last year," Frank
broke in. "If I could go to Florida every winter, the cold and wintry
blasts would have no more terrors for me."
"Oh, well, it was wonderful--in more ways than one," this last so low
that only Will heard it, as Grace squeezed his hand under cover of the
robe. You see, Will was her brother, and they were very fond of each
other, as well they might be.
"Whom did you wave to then, Betty?" Mollie asked, as the car swung
off into the country road. "I didn't see them till we were almost past."

"Alice Jallow and her friend, Kitty Rossmore. They're always
together," Betty answered, then added: "By the way, Mollie, it seems to
me you were just saying you had something good to tell."
"My aunt has a bungalow out on Pine Island. It's a lovely place, the
bungalow, I mean, not the island, although if all they say is true, I
shouldn't wonder if that's all right too."
"But, Mollie, what has that to do with us?" Grace interrupted. "Is she
going to ask you to make her a visit?"
"No. It's lots better than that. You see Uncle James wants to take her to
Europe this summer and so----"
"Oh, Mollie!" Betty interrupted, her eyes sparkling. "You don't
mean----"
"Yes I do--exactly," and Mollie settled back with a contented sigh.
"I'm afraid I am very stupid to-day," Grace remarked.
"More than usual?" asked Will, the irrepressible, with a twinkle in his
eye.
"Why don't you see, Grace?" Betty's face was radiant. "Can't you see
Mollie means that we are to occupy that vacated bungalow this
summer?"
"But please, girls, don't get your minds made up to it yet, for nothing is
really settled, you know. Perhaps I should have waited till I was sure
before I spoke of it." Mollie seemed to be doubtful.
"Oh, it's certain to turn out all right," said Betty, with conviction.
"Everything has that we have ever planned before, and there is no
reason why this should be an exception."
"And even if it doesn't, just think what fun we will have thinking about
it," added Grace, philosophically, at which they all laughed.

"Anyway you are a