Part 9 (1/2)

”A thread mill?” asked Walter.

”No, a treadmill--a mill that was treaded. They used to make b.u.t.ter in olden times by having a sheep or a dog travel around on that sort of wheel, which was geared to a churn.”

”See page one hundred and eight Encyclopedia Fosteria,” put in Jack, with a good natured slap on Ed's broad shoulders. ”When you don't see what you want--ask Ed,” he finished.

Feeling that they had actually solved the mystery of the circular platform, the boys spent some time in examining the strange machine.

Meanwhile the girls were peering in the broken windows of the old house, for Bess insisted that Nellie and Rose might have fallen ill after their long tramp from the strawberry patch, and that they might actually be lying within the tottering ma.s.s of mortar, beams and stones. But, of course, the fears of Bess were soon proved unfounded, and, at the urgent order of Cora, the party started again on the road to Squaton to get that ”much delayed” crate of berries for Mrs. Perry Robinson.

”Keep a lookout along the road for the girls,” Cora directed, as they started off. ”We might spy them resting under a tree.”

”You will never spy them,” insisted Jack. ”I am going to find Rose--my Rose, and Walter has his heart set on Nellie--_the_ Nellie. So you girls may go to sleep, if you wish, for all the good your looking will do.”

Only a joke--but many a jest begets a truth!

So the motor girls thought, in their long search for the unfortunate runaways.

CHAPTER VIII

A STARTLING DISCOVERY

All was confusion at the strawberry patch. The two orphan girls, Rose and Nellie Catron, had disappeared the night before, it was said, and not until shortly before the arrival of our friends in the automobiles, was another loss discovered--that of a pair of very valuable diamond earrings, the property of Miss Hanna Schenk, otherwise known among the pickers as ”Mrs. Blazes.”

So it was that the Chelton young folks, as Jack said, ”struck a hornet's nest,” for Mrs. Ramsy, somehow, seemed to be of the opinion that Cora could tell, if she would, something about the runaways.

”What could give you that idea, Mrs. Ramsy?” demanded Cora indignantly. ”I only saw your nieces while I was here the other day, and I am sure I would have advised them to stay where they were, had they ever mentioned to me their intentions of leaving.”

”That's all very well, young lady,” growled the woman, ”but I noticed how them girls edged up to you, and your friends, and I warn you, if I find that you have helped them off I'll have the law on _you_.”

At this the young men came up to the shed where the unpleasant conversation was in progress. Jack, of course, was indignant, and, not only did he oblige Cora to leave the place at once, but, while doing so, he expressed his opinion directly to Mrs. Ramsy as to his personal measure of her character.

The whole affair was rather awkward, and the Robinson girls were obliged to leave the patch once more without their crate of berries.

Just outside the wire fence, and when the girls were about to step into the cars, they were hailed by Andy--the small boy whom Cora had so favored by buying the damaged crate of berries.

”Wait a minute, miss,” he called. ”I've got something fer you,” and, so saying, he stepped up to the _Whirlwind_ and, very cautiously, handed Cora a slip of paper. She took it and read these scrawled lines:

”Miss: We are going away, but we think we will see you again some day. You will find your crate of berries under the tree where Andy will show you. They belonged to us and we paid for them.

Rose Catron and Nellie Catron.”

Cora looked down at Andy for a further explanation.

”They had to go away, miss,” he said; ”they couldn't stand it another minute. I will show you where the berries are.”

”But how did the girls get the berries? They had no money,” argued Cora.

”No, but their Aunt Delia took from them a ring that belonged to their own mother, and they took the crate to get even,” declared Andy, his voice and manner showing his high regard for the ”getting even” part.

Cora told the girls and boys about the matter, and they decided to go after the berries. Consequently Cora insisted that Andy ride in her car to the old willow tree, somewhat down the road, and as each tenth of a mile was marked in red on the speedometer dial the little fellow's face threatened more and more to catch fire from the auburn curls that fell in joyous affright about his temples.