Part 21 (2/2)

Packard will warn them,” and so the three boys awaited the man's return.

”Who were they?” Jean inquired. Mr. Packard, removing his Stetson to wipe his brow, shook his head. ”I do not know. Some family from the East trying to cross the Rockies. They could have done it easily enough if they had not taken the wrong road. The woman in the party is so utterly exhausted that I invited them to come to our place to rest. I showed them the road from the foot of the hill back of them. It certainly isn't in good condition, but, being on the level, it at least will not be dangerous. The woman fainted when she heard how near death lurked ahead of them, but they'll be all right now. We'll inspect that old foothill corral some other day, Jean. These strangers have need of our friendly services.” Mr. Packard turned his horse's head toward the ranch as he spoke and they all galloped back at a moderate speed.

”That was sort of an adventure, wasn't it?” Gerald inquired hopefully.

Mr. Packard laughed heartily. ”I certainly think it could be so cla.s.sified,” he agreed. ”I shudder to think what it would have been, however, if that tire had not halted them. We could not have reached them in time.”

Although it was not quite noon, the girls were up and dressed when the equestrians returned and were greatly interested in all that had happened. Gerald waxed eloquent as he told Julie the details, and that little girl, who hungered for adventure quite as much as her brother, hoped that if anything exciting happened again, she might be in the thick of it.

Mr. Packard retired to the kitchen to advise Sing Long, the cook, that four other guests were to arrive for lunch. Although that Chinaman's reply was merely ”Ally lite” the American interpretation of his pleased smile would be, ”the more the merrier.” Guests were his joy that he might display the art at which he excelled.

An hour later a big, luxurious closed car limped into the ranch door-yard. Mr. Packard went out to greet the strangers in the same hospitable manner that he had greeted his friends. The girls on the wide porch saw a fine looking man with a Van d.y.k.e beard a.s.sisting a simply though richly gowned woman from the car, then the front door was flung open! There was a joyful cry from a girl who leaped out and fairly raced up the front steps with arms out-held. ”O Jane, Jane! How wonderful to find you here! We were looking for your cabin and that's how we came to lose our way.”

”Marion Starr, of all things! I thought that you were in Newport!”

CHAPTER XXVIII.

OLD FRIENDS

Jean, Dan and Gerald had gone at once to the corral with the four horses they had ridden and were still there (for Jean had much to show his guests) when the car arrived, and so the excitement was quite over when they at last sauntered around one corner of the porch.

There were four in the party of autoists, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Starr, Marion, and Bob, her young brother.

Jane at once took Merry to her room, while Julie accepted Meg's invitation to wander about the gardens and make the acquaintance of the flowers. Mr. Packard had just returned from showing Mr. and Mrs. Starr to the guest room when the boys appeared. Bob Starr had lingered to look over the car, which was the pride of his heart, and so it was that he first met Jean, Dan and Gerald. Jean proved himself an expert mechanic, as was also Mr. Packard, and they promised the lad that directly after lunch they would a.s.sist him in putting his car in the best of shape.

Meanwhile Jane and Merry were telling each other all that had happened since last they had met.

”I simply can't understand it in the least,” Jane declared for the tenth time. ”To think that you deliberately gave up the opportunity to spend a whole summer in Newport to undergo the hards.h.i.+ps of a cross-country motor trip.”

Merry dropped down in a deep easy chair and laughed happily. ”Oh, I've loved it! Every hour of the trip has been fascinating. Of course I'm mighty glad Mr. Packard saved our lives, but even that was exciting.”

”But wasn't your Aunt Belle terribly disappointed?”

”Why, no; not at all. There are steens of us in the Starr family. She just invited some other girl cousins. Aunt Belle is never so happy as when she is surrounded with gay young girls. Then, moreover, Esther Ballard couldn't go. Her artist father had planned a tramping trip through Switzerland as a surprise for her and Barbara Morris decided to accompany them; so you and I would have been quite alone at Newport. But do tell me who is the girl to whom you introduced me when I first arrived? She is beautiful, isn't she?”

Jane surely had changed in the past week, for her reply was sincere and even enthusiastic. ”Merry, that girl is more than beautiful. She is wonderful! I want you to know her better. She has saved me from myself.”

Then she laughingly arose, holding out both hands to a.s.sist her friend to her feet. ”If you are rested, dear, come out on the porch. I want you to meet the nicest, well, almost the nicest boy I have ever known.”

Merry glanced up roguishly. ”Are congratulations in order?”

Jane flushed prettily, though she protested: ”You know they are not, Marion Starr! Romance is as far from my thoughts today as it ever was, but next to Dan, I do like Jean best.”

”Well, I certainly am curious to meet this paragon of a youth.” Merry gave her friend's waist a little affectionate hug, then said: ”I have a pretty nice brother of my own. He ought to be ready by now to be presented to my best friend.” Together they went toward the front door.

”I know Bob must be nice,” Jane agreed, ”since he is your twin.”

The girls appeared on the porch just as the boys had completed an inspection of the machine and so Jane's ”paragon,” with a smudge of grease on one cheek and smeared hands, laughingly begged Merry to pardon his inability to remove his hat. Before Marion could reply, her brother led her aside and talked rapidly and in a low voice, then returning he said in his pleasing manner: ”Miss Abbott, you will pardon any seeming lack of courtesy on my part when I tell you there was something very important which I wished to say to my sister, and there is no time like the present, you know.”

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