Part 11 (2/2)
”Just the sa to the old theory that there is safety in numbers Besides, probably your , Grace?”
”Goodness, you rehed hysterically ”I thought you were going to say, 'Sister Anne, Sister Anne, do you see abetter than a h the darkness and the strea windshi+eld
”Grace honey, do ht!” cried Grace excitedly ”Oh, Betty, where--wait--yes, I see it! It is a light! And there's another! Two lighted s! Betty, honey, we're saved!”
”It's a house!” cried Betty jubilantly, while the hand that held the steering wheel shook with relief ”You darling, wonderful house Gracie, dear, I think it showed on the horizon just in the nick of ti Oh, if they only don't get stuck in front of the door!”
”Don't be a goose, Gracie,” chided Betty, feeling in hilarious spirits now that the end of their trouble was in sight ”You ought to get down on your knees in thankfulness that there is a front door to get stuck in front of!”
”Oh, is that so?”at the prospect of relief ”Well, I'et down on my knees about it There isn't room in here and you can see it's toothe little car froloriously graveled driveway that led up to the hospitably lighted house
”Now, if whoever lives here will only let us in,” she sighed, as she stopped the car and glanced behind to be sure Mollie was following the left to ask for”
”Except soht I had eaten enough lunch to last me a week, but I see I'm muchly mistaken
What shall we do, Betty?” as the latter started to open the curtain and closed it quickly again as the rain beat in upon the that little distance to the porch”
”And the umbrellas are all wrapped up in the back of Mollie's car,”
lauess unless ant to sit here all night we'd better chance it I for one a to braveto eat”
”I'd say so!” groaned Grace, again reet out your side Betty and I'll get out mine and we'll make a quick dash for it”
[Illustration: GRACE AND BETTY MADE A QUICK DASH FOR SHELTER _The Outdoor Girls at Bluff Point_ _Page 83_]
So they lifted the curtains and slipped out, thankful for the gravel walk that, while it et and slippery, was still a delightful contrast to the ainst the blinding rain, and gained the bottom step of the porch at the same time
A moment more, and they had climbed to the shelter of the porch itself, out of breath but jubilant
”Thank goodness!” cried Grace
”And here come your mother and Mollie and Amy,” chuckled Betty as the trio followed their exauess none of them ever knew she could run so fast in her life before hello, folks
Beautiful weather, isn't it?” she inquired gayly, as the three scra, up on the porch ”You seeet soasped Mollie, shaking out her wet skirts and trying to regain soht
”If you could knohat I've been through for the last hour, just coaxing the car along an inch at a tihed Betty, as she turned to the front door and pushed the bell, ”I've been through a little bit of everything, ood square htful arorily, ”I shouldn't wonder if that oversight wouldn't be swiftly reray-haired lady stood in the lighted doorway
CHAPTER X
THE KNIGHT OF THE WAYSIDE