Part 23 (1/2)
”I only want to go home to Crystal Bay, and to my mother,” said Freda, and she briefly explained the circ.u.mstances.
”Well, it's too bad, but I'm afraid you can't get back to Crystal Bay to-night,” declared the hackman. ”The last train has gone.”
”The last train gone!” gasped Freda. ”Oh, what am I to do?”
”Now don't you worry a mite,” replied d.i.c.k. ”I'll just take you home to my wife, and she'll look after you. Don't you worry,” and, after some persuasion he prevailed on Freda to go in his ramshackle rig to his home, where she was kindly received by his wife.
”I'll go back to the station to meet the express that sometimes stops at the Junction,” explained d.i.c.k, ”and, Miss, if there come any inquiries for you I'll tell where you are. But you'll have to stay with us till mornin', I reckon.”
Freda's mind was easier now, but she could not imagine what had been the object of the strange woman, nor why she had sent the telegram.
Meanwhile, back in the bungalow, there was much alarm when Freda was missed. And when her mother came home safely, and found her daughter gone, she almost collapsed.
”Where can she have gone?” she wailed.
Hasty inquiries were made, and one of the boatmen told of having seen Freda start out through the woods, and meet the station messenger boy.
After that it was easy to trace her.
Mr. Burke told of the 'phone message, and of having seen Freda board the train for the Junction.
And then a new difficulty arose. There was no train to the Junction that night; but Mrs. Lewis was in such a state that nothing short of a visit to the place would satisfy her. There was no telephone available then, the Junction station being closed.
Cora solved the trouble.
”We can go to Hartford in our boat,” she said, ”and from there it is only a short trip to the Junction. We could hire an auto.”
This was done. In the _Chelton_, the motor girls and the boys went to Hartford, making good time in getting there. A neighbor came over to the bungalow to stay with Mrs. Lewis, who grew more alarmed as the night deepened.
The trip by auto, which was taken only by Jack, Cora and the chauffeur, was marked by the mishap of a blown-out tire, but that was all. When the Junction was finally reached, there, true to his promise, was the hackman, and to Cora's excited inquiries he gave rea.s.suring answers.
Yes, Freda was all right, and safe at his house. He directed Jack and Cora there, and soon all were reunited. Then explanations were offered, Freda's fears about her mother were quieted, and the trip back to Hartford made, where the motor boat party was anxiously waiting.
”And now for the bungalow!” sighed Cora, as she took her place at the familiar wheel. A little later it was reached, and mother and daughter were together again telling their stories, and speculating much about Freda's strange message and the mysterious woman. But the puzzle could not be solved.
CHAPTER XVI
A BAD CASE OF NERVES
”Would the boys have anything in their camp, do you suppose?” asked Bess, with a long sigh.
”Anything for what?” asked Lottie, as she looked surrept.i.tiously into the mirror of her vanity box. Lottie was always worried about the effect of late hours.
”Is it something to eat?” asked Marita in her timid way. ”If you want that, Bess, I'll go over and help you carry it.”
”Gracious, I hope we don't need anything in the food line,” said Cora.
”I thought we stocked up with enough to last the rest of the week.”
”I want something for my nerves,” went on Bess. ”They're on the ragged edge, and I jump at every sound.”