The Motor Maids Across the Continent

faces as he came toward them, and it was evident that Barney McGee unless he wanted to be run over would have to

emselves standing helplessly in the r

and digging his spurs into his

shoot!" they screa

report of a pistol and the sound of

und the car at a standstill, Peter Van Vechten lyi

d him," cried

I punctured, and not the thief

He is injured," exclaimed Mary. "L

Campbell, and immediately they all

ggested Barney, "and if you've got a bit of r

m?" they

your car? Automobile thieves in this country

n's fifty dollars persisted in floating before them, and it occurred to them furthermore that he might be on

d Miss Campbell in a resigned tone

the cowboy assured her. "Caught

Barney following on his horse, and presently they had him

ife as a prisoner," observed Miss Campbell, as she a

was not so forgiving of Peter's sins as the ot

an any other thief," she said. "This is the second time he h

ened his eyes and regarded them all steadily with w

g amiably. "You shouldn't have doubled on your tracks. Some

smiled so delightfully, that immediately his captors fel

ke me for, a th

five helpless and unprotected ladies in the night and take their au

se and fell back helplessly, fin

recognition cam

aimed. "So it was your automobile. I had no time t

arney, "I think we'll be taking you along to the next village where w

Peter in a rather weak voice, "but I give you my word o

is the re

s or minutes. It seemed only minutes, only an instant, really when I was able to crawl out of my blankets and start up this red motor car. My one ide

cowboy. "The only thing you've got to pro

the subject. Miss Campbell was m

ut I do think you should be punished for having caused so muc

; "no, I'll not give my word to

e haven't heard how you escaped from Chicago with the police at your very heels? We might have thought there was some mistake even then, if Cousin Helen's pocket book hadn't disappeared along with

into the faces of his accusers.

ared to be talking to himself. "Nothing but disas

He's the kind the East produces and sends out West to be finish

laughe

intervals vehicles and motor cars followe

e next town. Shall we turn the thief over to some of them or take him

ll looked u

have to go to court and give testimony and all t

o was now hard at work repairing the Comet. "We

rust herself to return his glance just then, but after that, every time she caught the coo

e's side. Elinor was still undecided. She was trying to be perfectly just, but it did seem

wells of pity and she was afraid to speak le

good deal of rattling and rumbling, but the girls were not satisfied and they worked as hard over it as two young mechanics. The company lunc

bell, with Nancy and Elinor, withdrew under a distant t

ss?" asked Barney of Billie. He had

had replied, and leaping on his small, sw

ainst the time y

f noon. Mary looked about her fearfully. Then, with sudden resolution, she took a little silver penknife f

some day they will find out that they were mistaken, too. Once I was accused like that, and I know how you must f

n seized her han

ttle brick,"

you," she answered. "

e off down the road, and Mary