s?"

"Not of men," said Mollie scathingly. "That shows a guilty conscience,
Betty. I'm surprised at you."

"O-oh! Squelched!" said Betty meekly. "May I ask," she added very humbly,
"just what you did mean?"

"I simply meant," explained Mollie patiently, "that we were after two
men--"

"Oh!" cried Amy, turning upon her in horror. "And you just told Betty you
didn't mean that!"

"I didn't," cried the badgered Mollie in desperation, then turned away in
disgust. "There's no use trying to tell you anything," she said.

"Go ahead, Mollie dear," urged Betty.

"I meant," Mollie continued slightly, but only slightly, mollified, "that
we were hunting two men--Mrs. Sanderson's Willie and the motorcyclist who
ran her down. And we haven't any more real chance of finding them than--"

"A celluloid dog has chasing an asbestos cat in--" began Grace.

"That will do," cried Betty primly, though her eyes danced. "After this,
you will kindly answer when you are spoken to, Miss Ford, and at no other
time."

"Oh, is that so?" mocked Grace. "Well, I'll just tell you, Miss Nelson,
that although I am extremely fond of you--mistaken as that may be--I will
take no dictation from you or any one else."

"I'll give you more than dictation, if you don't stop maundering,"
threatened Mollie. "A girl has about as much chance of saying anything
sensible--"

"Did you ever try?" queried Grace innocently, and Betty and Amy had to
form a human barrier between the two enemies.

"Goodness, please don't kill her, Mollie," begged the Little Captain, her
eyes twinkling. "Not till after breakfast, anyway. I want to give you a
chance to think it over."

"Yes, they're punishing murderers terribly," added Amy. "I heard Major
Adams say--"

"All right," Mollie agreed, "I'll let her off until after breakfast, but
for one reason and one only--"

"And that?" they queried breathlessly.

"I'll be stronger then!" she said.

CHAPTER XI

POLITE KIDNAPPERS

But it seems that breakfast "hath charms to sooth the savage breast," for
after Mollie had attacked and conquered the appetizing fruit and cereal,
ham and eggs, she seemed to forget all about her dire threat and smiled
amiably at her intended victim across the table.

"How long will it take you to get ready, Grace?" she inquired. "Can you do
it while Betty and I go around to the garage and back out the car?"

"Let Amy help you with the car this time," Betty objected before Grace
could re