Part 17 (2/2)
”Let's give a call,” suggested Walter, at the same moment squeezing two or three loud ”honk-honks” on his horn.
”Hark!”
”Honk! Honk! Honk--honk--honk!”
”That's Cora's signal,” shouted Jack. ”Hurry on ahead, Walter. They are some place in this cemetery.”
But it was not so easy to hurry over the gruesome driveway, for it was narrow and uncertain, and the heavy rains had washed out so many holes, that the boys felt an uncanny fear that a sudden turn might precipitate them into some strange grave.
”Where are you!” yelled Jack at the top of his voice. ”Turn on your lights!” pleaded Walter, without waiting for a possible answer. ”We can't tell where you are!”
As quickly as it could have been possible to do so, the strong searchlight of a car (surely it was Cora's) gleamed over the shafts of stone, and marble, that now seemed like so many pyramids, erected to confuse the way of the alarmed young men.
”We can't cut over the headstones,” almost growled Ed. ”What on earth do folks want those things sticking up for?”
The absurdity of the remark was lost on the others.
”If the girls are around they must have been blown in here,” declared Jack, making a sudden turn, and jamming the foot-brake to keep the machine on its wheels, while he released the clutch.
”Here! Here!” came the unmistakable voice of Cora.
”Which way?” Jack called back.
”Look out for the lake! Turn in from the vault!” came the voice again, and none too soon, for without the drivers having any idea of being near a body of water, both runabouts a moment later, were actually on the very brink of a dangerous-looking lake.
”Gos.h.!.+” exclaimed Walter. ”We nearly got ours that time. I'm going to get out and walk.”
”Great idea,” agreed Ed, and at the same time Jack also left his car.
More shouting and more answers soon put the searchers on the right track, and, although they were obliged to run over graves, and otherwise forget the sacredness of their surroundings, the trio soon brought up back of the vault, where the lamps of the _Whirlwind_ and of the _Flyaway_ told the first part of the strange story.
”Oh, boys!” gasped Belle and Bess in one breath.
”Jack!” exclaimed Cora.
”Thank fortune!” came the fervent words from Mrs. Robinson.
Jack had Cora in his arms before he could say a word, Walter and Ed divided themselves among the frightened group as best they could.
Belle really fell into some one's arms, and Bess had difficulty in clinging to her trembling, little mother.
”Another moment in this dreadful place, and I should have died!”
wailed Mrs. Robinson.
”And to think that it was all my fault, that you came out just to let me--see the--ocean,” cried the visitor, Miss Steel of Chicago. ”I shouldn't have consented----”
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