ar ahead that it took some
time to return. The race was too much for them. They were obliged to
admit that, in its interest, they had forgotten the girls.

"If Miss Robbins had been along, I fancy Walter would not have become
so engrossed in the race," said Belle maliciously.

"Well, Miss Robbins was not along," replied Walter, with equal meaning.

"And what's more, Miss Robbins will not be along," spoke Cora. "I have
heard of all sorts of things being permissible in the business world,
but this, from a young lady, seems to be----"

"The utmost," admitted Jack. "But, sis, you must make allowances. We
would dump Miss Robbins in the mountains, and likely crawl home by
train, while the hotel reputation will continue to reputate."

"Suppose we quit buzzing and get at the car," suggested Ed. "Seems,
though, as if Cora had about fixed it up."

"I'm not so sure," said Cora eagerly. "I am afraid that there's
something wrong other than the 'busted' tire. I was just about to look
when you gentlemen returned. But will you please finish pumping first?"

Finally it was hard enough, and then Cora jumped into the car, while
Jack cranked up. A noise that might have come from a distant sawmill
rewarded the effort.

"A nut or a pin loose," suggested Walter, who now did what Jack called
the "collar-button crawl" under the big car.

But that was only the beginning, and the end was that night came on and
made faces at a very desolate party of young people, stalled miles from
nowhere, with nothing but remorse of conscience to keep off the damp,
night air.

Jack went around literally kicking himself, demanding to know whether
they hadn't done the same thing before, and dumped those poor girls in
a graveyard at midnight. When would boys learn that girls can't be
trusted out of sight, and so, while the boys are supposed to be the
girls' brothers, these same brothers must forego sport of the racing
brand?

Jack really felt the situation keenly. There was no way out of it, the
girls could not get to a town even in the able-bodied cars, for Cora
would no more leave her _Whirlwind_ there in the darkness than she
would have left Bess or Belle. Then, when it was proposed that one of
the boys stay to guard the machine, and the others of the party go
along to some place, the objection of "no Miss Robbins" robbed the
distracted young men of their last argument.

"We will stay together," announced Cora. "At any rate, that will