Part 16 (1/2)
”We go for walk,” said Dodo ”Tus to eat sa, the opening of which disclosed a rather jumbled collection of bread and butter, and cookie cruun to shoot bad bears,” went on Paul, shouldering a wooden article, that, by a wide stretch of the io bang-bang!” explained the little chap, ”bad bears run 'way off Turn on, Dodo, we go wif 'ely characterized his sister and her chuain on the verge of tears ”Oh, you bad children! What shall I do? Mamma will be dreadfully worried, and if we take theirls?”
”We go back for tandy--lots of tandy,” spoke the inexorable Dodo ”We 'ikes tandy; don't us, Paul?”
”Yes,” said Paul, siive them some candy,” said Grace, in a low voice, but, low as it was, the twins heard Their eyes brightened at once, and they caerly forward
”Oh, dear, I suppose it is the only thing to do,” affiret soht hoo,” promised Dodo, who usually led her small brother ”We 'ikes tandy,” she reiterated
”Me tan shoot bears to-morrow,” said Paul, philosophically ”Where is tandy?” With him evidently the prospect of present enjoyreat hunter
”Here you are!” cried Grace, as she took out soood children Do you think it safe for theo back alone, Mollie?”
”That's so, I never considered that I wonder if we'll have to go with the, and we're behind tiht What shall I do?”
”We take 'em back if oo dive us some tandy!” mocked Will, ith his chums, had been an interested observer of the little scene
”Smarty!” exclaimed his sister ”But I'll take you at your word just the same Here, Frank--Allen--you see that he performs his part of the contract,” and she held the candy box out to the other tho laughingly accepted the bribe
Then with the hands of the trusting, and now contented, twins in theirs, Will and Frank bade the girls good-speed and led away the two s them after a farewell to Betty
”At last we are off!” irls!”
”Why, the idea!” cried Betty ”It was just a little pleasant episode, and we'll reh”
”But it ested Mollie, anxiously
”Not much,” went on the Little Captain ”It wasn't your fault, anyhow We can just walk a little faster to make up for it--that is, if, Grace thinks she can stand it”
”Oh, you won't find irl whose footwear had been the subject of comment ”I'm not as comfortable as you, perhaps,”
she adet ive ourselves up to the enjoyments of the way--and day Oh, isn't it just lovely!”
Indeed, athe little delay caused by the twins--could not have been provided The day was one of those balmy ones in June, when it is neither too hot nor too blohen the breeze seems fairly laden with the sweet scent of flowers, and the lazy hules with the call of birds
The way led out along a pleasant country road, which, for soreat ht be most acceptable later in the day, since there was the promise of considerable heat at noon
As yet it was early, a pro beenthe road
”For,” Betty had said in reviewing the procedure to be followed, ”we don't want to tire ourselves out on the first stage of our trip We ought to begin gradually That is the way all athletes train”
”Oh, then we are going to be athletes?” asked A athletes, at least,” responded the leader ”Now, girls, if any of you feel like resting at any time, don't hesitate to say so We want this to be an enjoyular club”