shioned Southern Inn on the Virginia side of the Potomac R

with Harriet and Mr. Meyers, Mrs. Wilson, and two W

as decided that she keep to the rea

though the roads were not good, no me

y temper. For Harriet had grown tired of his devotion, after several

ars sped away from the

egan to play Prince

his money to carry him through everything. He would hardly listen to Barbar

at Charlie Meyers would drive his car faster than ever,

g too fast, Mr. Meyers. It is dark, and I am afraid we shall h

request to lessen the speed of his car. Then he woul

speed. Neither Ruth nor her companions knew the pitfalls along the road. Hugh did not keep his automobile in Washington, and, though he had a

long the road. In order to keep within a reasonable distance of the

a little slower in front, please? I can't fin

ck on the winds and the lea

wasted their breath. Charlie Meyers either did not hear them or pretended not to do so.

t in her chum's car. "Please don't get out of sight of Ruth's car, Mr. Meyers,"

could see Mr. A. Bubble's lamps; more often Ruth's car w

, "Won't you ask Mr. Mey

He will not pay the l

s showing his anger against her by making them all uncomfortable. But Harriet was in a wicked humor herself, and she would not try to

d imperceptibly, th

of the town of Alexandria, which is just south-west of Washington. The town was only dimly ligh

gh she had long since lost her sweet temper,

h Harriet to have anything to do with him. Yet, just because the fellow is enormously rich and gives automobile parties, here we have been spending the evening as his guests

after all her experiences as chauffeur. Yet this wild ride at night through

atch up with the front car. Poor Mr. A. Bubble who had traveled so far with his carload of happy girls was shaking from side t

regulations in this pa

ddenly

this instant everyone in

on a bicycle darted out of a d

h whispered. But R

e the music." Ruth put on her st

ty-split, as though there were no folks on earth but you. You just come along to the station w

to you," Hugh proteste

fumed the policeman. "But you will git a chance to tell your story to the chief of police. You'

st take me along, and let the rest of the party go on back to Washin

, ain't it? She's the one that is under

en since her auto

the thousands of miles she had traveled, Ruth had never before been stopped for breaking the speed laws. She had always promised Mr. Stuart to be careful. And one cannot have followed the fortunes of Ruth Stua

that Ruth found it

e assented. "Perhaps he will let y

culous suggestion. Her friends were not very likely to leave

e would not give up. "You can hold me in jail

ed. "He is only doing his duty. I am so sorry, Mollie da

rotested. "I suppose we can pay the

knew that he had only a

ached the station house it

r the winter chill had fallen with the close of the December day. The fire had died out in the

e or whatever man we ought to see about

make up a fire for you," he answered. "I have got to go out and wake up

rty old room half the night while you go around l

en the law. We have had about as much trouble with automobilists in this here town as we are willing to stand for. And I might as well tell you, right now

young people, as they sank down into f

sked, as Charlie Meyers' car got safely out of Al

strained their eyes in the darkness. Bu

rlie?" Harriet now suggested. "I am afraid you have

with her for, if they can't show her the way to town?

may not have known the road during the early part of our trip, but neither one of the boys is very apt t

ough Bab was by no means satisfied,

eached Washington. "I know Harriet expects to make a Welsh rarebit for you at her home, but I

see the familiar lights of her old friend, A. Bubble waiti

ing-room where the preparations for making the rarebit were now going on. She lingered forlornly in the hall. Every now and then she would peer anxiously out i

ne and it has to be eaten on the instant. I will make another for Ruth'

to be a nuisance, but I am dreadfully worried about the other girls. I kno

ully rude to her all afternoon. "Mr. Meyers," she pleaded, "won't you take me back in your car to l

ould not be worth while for you and Mr. Meyers to go back now

am so frightened. Don't you think you could t

ss Thurston? I am not going to let my rarebit get cold. There is nothing

what had happened to Ruth, Mollie and Grace. Bab once thought of starting out alone and

ndfather's clock in th

passed since the two

tle town was only eight

. As she silently pressed her handkerchief against her trembling lips she smelt a delicate perfume. Something fres

pledge to him, he had the same right to ask a favor of her. But what could Barbara do? Her beloved

im with the rose-bud crushed between its damp folds, "won't you help me to f

his feet, his

o ask me to help you look for your friends as a favor to you. I am ashamed of myself

uneasy without being willing t

ers," declared Peter Dillon witho

iting automobile. Both stopped only to tak

came nearer accomplishing it than anything else in the world. When Peter refused Bab's proffered ros