Part 15 (1/2)

”Fate introduces us one minute, then snatches you away in the next, before I've had time for more than a ith you”

”Why, I rehed Betty as she settled herselfparticular you want to say to ht better of it, and looked up at her soberly

”I've already told you more than I ever expected to tell any one,” he said, and she stretched out an eager, sympathetic little hand to him

”I know, and I have felt very proud of that confidence,” she said earnestly

”Then you will let s are with lad!” she said, and there was no doubting her sincerity

He had no lance when Grace came up and put an end to the conversation

A farewells, the two cars slid backwards along the drive and out on to the road Then with a purring of engines, the little racer leaped ahead with Mollie in close pursuit They were off once ht and the brightthe roads and though they were still rather sticky and slippery, the girls had no difficulty in keeping up a good rate of speed

”This is so like,” cried Grace, as she stretched both arms above her head and breathed deep of the balmy air ”I could be co”

Betty had no need to ask what that one thing was, and at ht turned involuntarily to Allen Was he safe or had he too--she shuddered at the thought

”Wasn't it strange?” she said, seeking to change the conversation and the trend of her own thoughts at the same time, ”that Joe Barnes proved to be Mrs Barnes' son?” It was not at all what she had intended to say, and out of the corner of her eye she saw Grace turn and look at her curiously

”No, I can't see that it's so very strange,” Grace said dryly ”At least I have seen stranger things”

”Well, you knohat I mean,” retorted Betty, still absently ”He is awfully nice, isn't he?”

”That's what he seemed to think of you,” returned Grace slyly

”Of course he did! Why shouldn't he?” challenged Betty, coayly ”I like hed Grace, turning for consolation to her inevitable box of chocolates ”No matter hoful you are, we have to love you just the same Look out, Betty,” as the car took a curve on three wheels ”Goodness! you're getting to be a more expert skidder than Mollie”

”Thanks,” returned Betty, executing a bohose grace was so wheel ”Willst hand irl!”

For a long ti the swift rance of flowers and ofto them from the depths of the woodland

Before they knew it, they had reached the outskirts of Bensington, then Bensington itself, and were speeding through the queer little toithout a thought of stopping when a warning signal froht them to an abrupt stop Betty jumped out and ran back

”We'll need some provisions,” Mollie called to her ”Unless you and Grace think we can reach the next town by noon”

”That's e planned to do,” Betty answered ”Grace and I thought it would save time not to stop here--and we haven't any tiht,” Mrs Ford decided ”Perhaps it will be just as well, for we shall have to put on all speed in order to reach Bluff Point before night”

So Betty raced back to her ain, fairly eating up theheat of the sun they made even better time until a little past twelve o'clock they entered the little village of Hill Crest