see them off, shook
handkerchiefs or hands.

"Under way at last!" exclaimed Betty, as the car gathered speed. "What
did you say our stopping place would be for to-night, Mollie?"

"Freedenburg. There's a nice home-like hotel there, and we can get
adjoining rooms. I wrote on and engaged them last week."

"That will be nice. Oh, isn't it glorious!"

They were on the main street of Deepdale now, having to pass through the
town to get to the road that led to Freedenburg, which was about
seventy-five miles away. They planned to make the town by night.

The main street had been sprinkled to lay the dust, and there were
little puddles of water here and there. It was impossible to avoid all
of them, and Mollie went into a big one at a crossing. The big-tired
wheel threw some muddy spray and it went far enough to land on the
highly-polished shoes of a youth who had paused to let the car pass.

"I beg your pardon!" called out Mollie, for she was going very slowly.

"Well, of all the careless----" began the youth in angry tones.

"Oh, it's Percy Falconer!" gasped Grace. "See Betty."

"I don't want to see!" she answered sharply.

Percy heard his name, and his manner changed as he recognized the girls.

"I beg your pardon!" he cried, as though the accident had been his
fault. "It doesn't matter in the least. I was going to get another
shine, anyhow. I wish----"

But his further words were lost as the car moved on.

"That was nice of him," said Mollie. "I did spoil his polish, but when
he saw Betty he was as nice as pie, though he looked as if he'd like to
eat me up a moment before. Betty, you are to be congratulated."

"Don't speak to me of him. I--I----"

"Count ten, slowly," spoke Amy in such mirth-provoking tones that they
all laughed. Percy gazed blankly after the retreating car, and then made
his way to a boot-blacking stand.

The girls were soon outside the town, bowling along a pleasant country
road. The day was perfect, and, as Grace said, they could not have had a
better one for their start had it been "made to order." They had plenty
of lunch with them, and planned to stop in some convenient spot at noon
and eat.

"Oh, I forgot those cheese-crackers!" suddenly cried Betty, when they
had gone several miles. "I had them on the hall table, and I'm sure I
forgot to put them in."

"Look and see," suggested Mollie.

"No, they're not here," went on Betty, regretfully, after a search.
"We're all so fond of t