Part 6 (1/2)
”You are all--lovely,” she declared, ”and I always like blue eyes!”
Mrs. Salvey added her felicitations to those of her little daughter.
”This has indeed been a most enjoyable visit,” she said, ”and I hope you will all try to keep your strange promise. I believe where one is so serious as is Wren something good is sure to result. If we could find that table--”
”Perhaps you will,” said Cora pleasantly. ”We are about to start on a long trip. We will make numbers of stops, and I a.s.sure you we will never forget to look for the table. I am sure it will give us a very pleasant duty to keep our eyes open.”
”Indeed, it will,” declared Cecilia warmly. ”I only hope I shall be the lucky one--for I feel a sort of premonition that some one in this party really will be the means of bringing little Wren the good news.
I have a mental picture of the table. I shall know it instantly.”
”It would be very easy to recognize it,” said Mrs. Salvey, opening the door as her visitors filed out. ”The inlaid anchors are most conspicuous on the leaves.”
Outside Cecilia renewed her antics. ”Stick a hatpin in me--somebody do!” she exclaimed. ”But not yours, Ray. I never could stand for that college, even in a stick.”
Ray smiled and hurried into her car. The fair chauffeurs cranked up quickly, for it was almost dusk, and there was considerable road to cover between the place and Chelton.
”We must make speed now,” called Bess. ”I have a dinner date, be it known.”
”I'm in a hurry, too,” shouted Maud. ”I have an engagement to be tried on--my new auto cloak. I have to have that on time.”
The machines were speeding along merrily. It was pleasant after the rain, and the twilight lent enchantment to the delights of motoring.
”Why do you suppose Hazel was so anxious about Paul?” Bess asked Belle.
”She could talk of nothing else, even when we were at the cottage.”
”Well,” replied the prudent Belle, ”Hazel knows. There must be some danger or she would not talk of it. Perhaps Paul has had some warning.”
CHAPTER VI
THE HOLD-UP
Das.h.i.+ng over the country roads, the motor girls sent their machines ahead at fast speed, unwilling to stop to light up, and anxious to make the town before the twilight faded into nightfall.
Suddenly Cora, who was in the lead, grabbed the emergency brake and quickly shut off the power.
”What's that?” she asked. ”Something straight ahead. Don't you see it, Hazel?”
Hazel stood up and peered into the gathering darkness.
”Yes; it looks like an auto. Perhaps some one got disabled, and had to leave the machine,” she replied.
”Perhaps,” returned Cora, going along carefully.
”It is an auto,” declared Hazel presently, as they were almost upon the object in the roadway.
”The auto stage!” exclaimed Cora. ”Don't be frightened, Hazel,” she hurried to say. ”Paul is not in it. He must have gone on with the mail.”
Hazel sank down in the cus.h.i.+ons and covered her eyes. Somehow she could not bear to look at the deserted auto stage.