Part 4 (2/2)
”But whom shall we have for a chaperone?” cried Amy impatiently ”I'm almost as bad as Mollie--I can hardly wait till to-ht o with us”
”Mind!” echoed Betty, while the others looked at her in surprise ”Why of course we'd love to have her! You know that But I never io, she is so interested in Red Cross work and her clubs--”
”That's just it,” said Grace, sitting up quickly ”She's entirely worn out ork and worry about Will, and I thought a little vacation with us girls would help her out wonderfully I'o--I haven't asked her yet”
”Well, let's,” cried Betty i to her feet ”She simply can't refuse if we all ask her at once”
”Now you're saying soily, as she flung her ared her down the steps ”Action is e need--action, and plenty of it”
The girls fairly ran the short distance from Mollie's horeeted theo on: ”There's probably so in the air--the Outdoor Girls always look like that when they have some new adventure in tow” For Deepdale was very proud and fond of its Outdoor Girls
Mrs Ford was just coo out when the quartette burst in upon her She did look very tired and worn, as Grace had said, but the sirls er
”Mother,” said Grace, taking one of her ently but fir very i?” queried Mrs Ford, sirls over her shoulder ”Because, if it will, I'm very much afraid I can't wait
I'm a little late now”
”That,” said Grace decidedly, as her rouped themselves about her, ”is exactly e have come to talk about We think you need a little vacation”
”Vacation!” cried the lady, half rising from her chair ”Why, my dear!
how can I take a vacation when my hands are so full of work now that I auhed helplessly and regarded the eager young faces with airls,” she co What do you intend to do, kidnapthat for a last resort,” returned Betty, and Mrs
Ford laughed outright at the confession
”We want,” explained Grace, speaking fast for fear of being interrupted, ”to have you go with us to Bluff Point We need a chaperone, you know”
”I've no doubt of it,” retorted her lance at the clock: ”But I'et so better, but you see how rushed I am--”
”But you're terribly tired, Mother, you know you are,” said Grace with unusual gentleness, adding diploood will you be to the Red Cross or to anyone else, I'd like to know, if you let yourself get sick?”
”But I'm not sick,” protested heras the wild solitude of Bluff Point rose before her eyes suggesting utter peace and quiet, a chance to rest tired nerves and gather strength for the last great drive:
”You're right, I a to her face ”I'd love it, girls, but there's irls about five minutes of the hardest work they had ever done in their lives But they did what they had set out to do At the end of that time Mrs Ford consented to start with them whenever they were ready
”Day after to-
”I don't knohy not,” said Mrs Ford, then sprang to her feet with a cry of disot to telephone the Red Cross