Hoofbeats on the Turnpike

AND

re silhouetted against the leaping flames of the fire. A woman in

e a witch!" Penny exclaimed a

thing!" Louise announced dramatical

argue with her chum. Softl

ouble, toil

and cauldr

this wild trip," Louise broke in. "And now

ny cautioned. "Don't be silly, Lou. It's only

time of

in a storm. Come along, Louise. I'll venture that

o an ancient farmhouse set back from the road. Dismounting, the girls tied their horses to a

lace all right

ycamore. Built of small bricks, it had latticed windows, and a gabled front. An iron we

f the blazing fire. An old woman in a long black dress bent over the smoke-blacken

nd the crackled voice was

" Penny said, moving into t

hatchet-faced woman peered intently,

se's, adding that they were

of course,

g that they were certain she would send them a

nd of Silas is a friend of mine. You're welcome t

eat since noon," she said suggestively. "My, whatever you're cooking looks go

don't want none o' that! This here is soap and I'm h

deep respect. "Why, I though

ut not my soap. This here is homemade soap and I wouldn't trade a cake of i

y mixture bubbling in the kettle, Penny asked M

ned as soap makin'. Why, when I was young every girl knew how to make soap and was proud of it. But nowdays! All the girls think about is gadd

he glowing logs b

s to get your fire good and hot.

ase?" Louise asked

t most folks throw away. Not me though. I make soap of it. Even

bubbling fats. With surprising dexterity for one of her age, Mrs. Lear in

tructed. "Then you let it cool off and slice it t

aking soap," Penny said, a bi

up and git!" the old lady chuckled. "Them tw

off the soap mixture. She would not allo

hed. "Just put your horses in the barn and toss 'em some corn and hay. While you'r

nd Penny led their horses to it, opening the creaking old barn door somewha

Louise whispere

Penny chuckled. "Mrs. Lear

o empty stalls, the girls unsaddled and tied the horses up for the night. Mrs.

ny remarked. "Wonder how

s fed Bones and White Foot, and f

d as they left the barn. "My stomach

d over the camp fire. However, Mrs. Lear was putt

n't take me long to git a meal knocked u

ts us," Louis

better," Penny muttered

she could light a kerosene lamp. By its ruddy glow they saw a kitchen, very mea

s to cook," Mrs. Lear said, showing the girls a w

pan of potatoes, fried salt pork and hominy. From a pantry shelf she brought wild grape jelly and a loaf of homemade bre

much," she

Penny declared, drawing a

" Louise added, her eyes

take keen delight in watching them eat. Whenever their appe

d why you came," Mrs. Lear urged after the

lmost before they realized it, had spoken of the Headless Horseman. Mrs. Lear listened attentively, her watery blue eyes danci

ct Mr. Burmaster's rewa

es, we'd be doing the Burmasters a good tur

y as if the Burmasters were her best friends

uise said eagerly. "You must have

r nodded

w who the person

n to carry the dishes to the sink. The firm tilt of her thin chin wa

attempt to reopen the conversation. Failing, th

shooing them away. "You both look tired enough to drop. J

em, they stumbled up the stairs. The spare bedroom was a huge, rather cold chamber, furnished wi

The latter, moving to the latticed window, stood for a moment g

nse about this tr

e a muffled: "No

you notice how Mrs. Lear acted just a

the track. She asked us plenty of ques

plenty. I'm con

eaded, yawning. "Can't you do y

very center of the feather bed, mi

d inquired if the girls had plenty of covers. Assured that the

o excited to be drowsy. She lay staring up at the ceiling, reflecting upon the day'

I know it!" Penny thought. "If only I c

rs. Lear's bedroom door softly creak. In the hallway boards began to tremble. Penny stiffe

thought. "But what can she be

ed steadily as the old lady descended the stairs. A little

the old-fashioned party-line tele

ed clearly up the stairway thro

se gals got here, just as you said they would! Fir

dded: "Don't you worry none, Silas. Just c

e conversation, the old lady