Grace, sweetly.

The girls were in the car.

"All aboard--we're off!" cried Mollie, and she pressed the self-starter
button.

CHAPTER XI

A TRACE OF THE GIRL

"When are you coming back for us?"

"Why don't you take us with you? You may need us to help put on a tire."

"They'll send for us in a day or so!"

Thus called Will, Frank and Allen, who had assembled at Mollie's house
to watch their girl friends start on the auto tour.

"If we need you we'll send for you," promised Mollie, as she let slip
the clutch pedal. "But I don't believe we shall."

"What--need us--or send for us?" asked Allen, with a laugh. "That is an
ambiguous statement."

"I'm not on the witness stand!" retorted Mollie to the young law
student.

"Now do be careful; won't you, girls?" pleaded Cousin Jane, a trifle
nervously, as the car gathered speed.

"Oh, we're always careful," said Mollie. "Don't fuss, Cousin Jane, or
you won't have a good time." Mollie was too kind to add that neither
would her friends have much pleasure, and perhaps Mrs. Mackson realized
this, for, though she would clutch nervously at the side of the seat
whenever the car jolted or lurched, she said nothing more in the way of
caution.

"Brin us some tandy!" called Dodo after the retreating auto.

"Brin 'ots of it!" added Paul.

"Your true disciples, Grace," remarked Amy.

"You can't make me angry," said Grace in cool tones, as she munched a
chocolate.

"What's this?" asked Amy, as she felt some long, round, hard object on
the floor of the tonneau, amid many others of various sizes and shapes.
"It feels like a--bomb."

"It's my bottle," said Grace, with an assumption of dignity. "Leave it
alone, please."

"Your bottle?" asked Betty, curiously, turning around.

"Yes. I filled it with cold chocolate--it's a vacuum bottle, you
know--and will keep its contents cold a long time. I thought we might be
thirsty."

"As if we wouldn't pass a drug store, or some place where we could get a
drink," objected Mollie.

"Oh, well, you'll want some sooner or later," predicted Grace. "Those
chicken sandwiches are very salty, and the olives----"

"They always make me want a drink," said Amy. "I'm real glad you brought
it, Grace. You and I love each other; don't we?"

"Cupboard love!" scoffed Mollie. "Never mind, Grace, we'll forgive you."

The boys waved their final farewells, the twins joining in, and some of
the relatives of the girls, who had gathered to