Part 15 (2/2)
”Well, thanks anyhow,” Ben said gloomily. ”I appreciate how you've tried to help, Penny. It's just no use. Maybe I'll pull out of here and go to another city where I'm not known.”
”Don't do that,” Penny pleaded. ”Sit tight for a few days, and something will break. I'm sure of it.”
Knowing that Ben was too proud to take money, she did not offer any. But before leaving, she gave him a generous supply of their picnic food, and invited him to ride along into the country.
”No, thanks,” he declined. ”I would only spoil the fun. I'm in no mood today for anything except grouching.”
The visit, brief as it was, tended to depress the girls. However, once they were speeding along the country road, their spirits began to revive.
By the time they had reached a little town just beyond the state line, they had forgotten Ben and his troubles.
”Let's stop somewhere near Blue Hole Lake,” Penny proposed. ”This locality is as pretty as we'll find anywhere. Besides, I haven't much gasoline.”
”Suits me,” agreed Louise, amiable as always.
Finding a grove within view of the tiny lake, they spread out their picnic lunch. Afterwards, they stretched flat on their backs beneath the trees and relaxed.
”It's getting late,” Penny finally remarked regretfully. ”Time we're starting home.”
”I want a drink of water first,” Louise declared. ”Pa.s.s me the thermos, will you please?”
”It's empty.” Penny uncorked the bottle and held it upside down. ”But we can stop at a farmhouse. I see one just up the road.”
Returning to the car, they drove a few hundred yards down the highway, pulling up near a large two-story frame house which bore a sign in the front yard: ”Tourist rooms.”
In response to their knock on the side door, a pleasant, tired-faced woman of mid-fifty came to admit them.
”I'm full up,” she said, a.s.suming that they wished to rent a room. ”My last suite was taken by the professor and his wife.”
Penny explained that all they wanted was a drink of water.
”Goodness, just help yourselves at the well!” the woman exclaimed. ”Wait, I'll fetch a clean gla.s.s.”
The deep well, which operated with a chain and a crank, was situated in a vine-covered summer house only a few yards away. The farm woman, who said her name was Mrs. Herman Leonard, showed them how to operate it. The water, coming from deep in the earth, was cool and sweet.
”It must keep you quite busy, running a tourist home,” Penny said to make conversation.
”Indeed, it does,” sighed the woman. ”Most of my roomers aren't so bad, but this last couple runs me ragged. They seem to expect hotel service.”
”The professor and his wife?”
”Yes, Professor and Mrs. Bettenridge.”
”Bettenridge,” Penny repeated alertly. ”I've heard that name before. Does the professor come from Silbus City?”
”He never said. But he's an inventor, and he brought his invention with him.”
”What sort of invention is it?”
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