The Motor Maids Across the Continent

bserved Miss Campbell, somewhat sleepily, as she

Helen," teased Billie. "Are you beginning

ening her blue eyes wide in an innocent protest of such an accusa

ese endless cornfields are like a sea without shi

e farm houses

buildings," answer

not helped to dispel their vision of West Haven seated on its bluff looking out across the bay. Its hilly streets and comfortable old houses mellowing each year into a softer, deeper gray came back to them now with a pang. Nancy yearned infinitely to be sitting at that m

t calling to her across the spaces. As for Miss Helen Campbell she could not efface from her mind a dainty little vignette of herself seated at her own breakfast table; on her head was her favorite lace breakfast cap trimmed with knots o

r them. Was it the flatness and monotony of highly cultivated farm lands which they ought to admire and

e cried suddenly, breaking the long si

he matter with me, child," inte

our most intimate relative. We are all of us in the dumps and have been for

the others in

there is not one of us who would not be glad to turn back again to the next railroad station

aration was gre

bad as that, dear," sai

ost," ad

us. Think of the splendid great

pted Elinor in a

ommand, "not like this, but marvelous great stretches of country fille

wboys," sug

orests and-and the Rocky Mountai

aused fo

ng of them," obse

prospect please y

e car and now turned to l

citing, wonderful to have the Comet take

bell's lips drooped and

it would appear to me in all its true

shed with hunger. Not a decent meal had they eaten for two days. It was hunger g

e utensils made of aluminum, all a rather costly present from their old friend, Mr. Ignatius Donahue

raham cracker, Miss Campbell?" Mar

s as she had ever been in her life. "Don't offer me such rubbish, a

ie, "and start in ten minutes by stoppi

e got the alcohol stove with two burners and

f I could get something tasteful to eat, I might be able to support existence across the plains and

Mary. "Mr. Donahue's box had bacon in

s would be acceptable,"

. Giving a rope which dangled from the horizontal pole a jerk the gate swung back on

her, when suddenly, snap, it broke and they both tumbled backward in a laughing heap. They were still giggling and brushing the dust from their clothes when a strange looking vehicle came into the avenue and stopped beside them. It seemed to be composed chiefly of a seat, two rubber tired wheels and a shaft with no place pa

dies?" he asked, holding the p

lie. "We are sorry, but you see we aren't used to gat

n smiled goo

aid. "If one of you could hold Pocoho

a beautiful mare was this thoroughbred with her quivering nostril

up to the house?"

l. "We wondered if we could

ses or

r hue. "Only food. Fresh eggs and cream and fresh butter, and perhaps

as she recounted her de

smiled most

ieve," he replied, "for use at t

. We are taking a motor trip across the continent, but since

voice was slig

our girls burst out laughing. The

mpbell, smiling sweetly on the

ul, I know from experience. If you had only visited private houses, I am sure you would have been well fed. Bu

neigh, she made for the open field at one side of the road. Her driver, taken by surprise, was thrown backward. It was an easy fall on soft turf, and no harm would ha

llie leaped to the ground, and as the mare came tearing up, the young girl jumped at her bridle, caught it with one hand, was dragged a few feet, then seized it with the other, and held on with all her mig

eath. But Billie had a cool head and a brave heart, and such excellent qualities make a wonderful combination. The other gi

ent, and when his foot was disentangled from that d

he men supporting him on either side, while two o

ered. "This brave young

id "my motor car." Her friends often noticed this. But she had been brought up by

let us take you home," said Miss Camp

rs. Everything about it was exceedingly neat, although there was a certain emptiness in the prospect, perhaps because there were no flower beds in the yard and also no curtains at any of the windows which stared down at them l

to my home. It will be a great pleasure and honor, I am sure. My name is Daniel Moore. I am a lon

in great pain, Mr. Moore,

twisted. I shall be walking on it in an hour. You just now confe

stepped nimbly down from the car and fol

ave declined an invitation for a good square me