Part 12 (1/2)

As both touring-cars were large, it had been decided that Mr and Mrs

Basswood, as well as Dunston Porter, should accoage had been packed and either shi+pped forward by express or strapped on the touring-cars, it did not take long on Monday et ready to start It was a clear and fairly cool day, and a slight shower Sunday night had laid the dust

”All aboard that's going!” cried Dave, gaily, when the Wadsworth car had been run around to the front of the mansion

He had hardly uttered the words when there came the sound of an automobile horn from the road, and a few seconds later the Basswood car caood-bye to us here, but we'll be at Mirror Lake before you get there,” said Mrs Wadsworth, as she kissed her daughter and the other girls

”Now look out for accidents!” cautioned Dave's father

”We'll be careful,” answered Dunston Porter, with a smile And then he added to Caspar Potts: ”Professor, don't forget to take good care of the place while we are away”

”It shall be well taken care of, rest assured of that, sir,” was the old gentle,” he went on, his kindly face bea

Dave was at the wheel, with his uncle beside hihtly in the tonneau behind With -car left the grounds, followed by the Basswoodnorth fro,” cautioned Laura ”We don't want any punctures or blow-outs”

Soon Cru along the river road where some time before Dave and his chuan to clihway leading to Poughkeepsie, where they were to cross the Hudson River

”If only this lovely weather holds out I'm sure we'll have a splendid trip,” said Jessie

”I suppose, Belle, you'd rather be on horseback than in an auto,”

re,” returned the western girl, ”I love it too dearly But this is very nice,” she added, quickly ”Very nice indeed!”

By noon they reached the city on the Hudson River, and there stopped for lunch Then they passed over the high bridge spanning the stream and struck out northward once ave Dave more of a chance to talk to those behind hi found theht Dunston Porter had already telegraphed ahead for hotel accommodations, so there was no difficulty on that score The older folks were glad enough to rest during the evening, but the young people went out for a walk up the hill leading to the Capitol building

In thethe tourists were rather alarmed to see that the sky had clouded over, and there were some indications of rain

”Well, if it rains we can put on our raincoats and put up the tops,”

said Dave So far they had been traveling with the tops folded down

Noon found them well up in the heart of New York State They stopped only for a short while at lunch tiround as possible before the storht break

”If possible ant to make Rayville to-day,” announced Mr Basswood, when the two cars had coot so there, and I want to ood hotel there, where we can stop for the night,” for they had nboard at the crossroads, but this had fallen down, so the tourists did not knohich of the forks of the road to take

Finally a hway on the left

”That other road is the regular one,” he explained, ”but it is pretty well torn up, and you'llthis one But be careful of the hill, it's just a little bit dangerous”

”We'll be careful,” answered Dave, as now running the car once more