"miss," now. It was unmistakable.

The auto faltered on top of the hill. Then it went down and on the level
seemed to be all right again. The girls were more hopeful, until the
next hill was reached. There the car nearly stalled. But the summit was
reached, and there appeared in view a long, easy, downward slope.

And then, with a sigh and a groan of protest--which manifestations had
been accumulating of late, the car suddenly ceased working, and came to
a stop. The power was gone.

"Oh dear!" cried Mollie, for it was getting late, and the road was a
lonely one. "What shall we do?"

"Get out and fix it, of course," answered practical Betty.

"Look--look where we are," whispered Grace, clutching the arm of Mollie.

"Where? Don't be so nervous. Where are we?"

"Near the rear entrance to Shadow Valley," spoke Grace, in an awe-struck
voice.

CHAPTER XIII

THE STORM

Silence followed an exclamation that came from the lips of each of the
girls--an involuntary cry from each one, brought out by the words of
Grace.

"Shadow Valley!" murmured Mollie.

"And the--the----" it was Betty who began this, it being her evident
intention to make a remark about the haunted house. Then her usual good
sense came to her rescue, and she refrained. There was pressure enough
now on the nerves of her chums, she reasoned.

"Well, what of it?" she asked in a voice meant to be cheerful, and Betty
was an adept at simulation under necessity.

"Don't--don't you understand?" faltered Grace, in a low voice--a tone
calculated to add to the tenseness of the situation, rather than to
relieve it.

"I understand that our car has balked for some reason or other," said
Betty in brisk, business-like tones, "and we have to fix it. If we
don't we are likely to be caught in a thunder storm. So get out, girls,
and let's hunt for trouble. Grace, if you have any chocolates left you
might offer them as a prize for the one who first discovers the
difficulty--and why the motor won't mote. Cousin Jane will be
the--stake-holder is the proper term, I believe."

"The idea!" cried Mollie. "That's only When there is betting. We don't
do anything like that."

"I meant to say prize-holder then!" admitted Betty, with a laugh.

"Well, there's no use discussing it--I haven't a chocolate left," sighed
Grace. "But oh, do you realize our position?"

"I do indeed, and that's why I say we must make this car go," went on
Betty. "Come," and she got out, f