nd
chipmunks and birds there were plenty, but it seemed strange to her that
in so thickly settled a part of the country so much land should be left
covered with woods. But it was good for their purpose, since she was
sure that Holmes would have complained that his car was stolen, and he
would not, of course, have told people the reason Bessie's seemingly mad
action. Nor would their word be likely to be taken against his. So the
thing for them to do was to escape observation. And until just before
the woods began to clear, they seemed likely to do so. But then there
was a shock for Bessie, for, right in front, she suddenly heard Jake
Hoover's voice.

CHAPTER XII

FRIENDS IN NEED

Bessie clutched Dolly's arm and drew her back just in time, for Dolly,
growing enthusiastic at the sight of the road, had been about to spring
forward with a cry of joy.

"That's Jake Hoover, the boy who used to bully me and tried to frighten
us when we were all in camp. Do you remember, Dolly? We mustn't let him
see us! He's in with Mr. Holmes and Farmer Weeks, and I'm really more
afraid of him than I am of Mr. Holmes. He hates me, anyhow, and he'd do
anything he could to hurt me, I believe."

They crouched down behind some bushes then, and worked their way forward
cautiously, making as little noise as possible, until they could see
the road and so have a chance to find out what Jake was doing in that
neighborhood. At first Bessie, who was in the van, did not see Jake,
and, looking hastily up and down, she found that there were no houses in
sight and that they had struck a lonely and solitary part of the road.
Then she heard Jake's voice again, and, answering him, Mr. Holmes's.

"It's like looking for a needle in a haystack," growled Holmes. "If old
Weeks had got to Jericho on time, we'd have saved all this trouble."

"He was doing his best, mister," said Jake. "But he had to take the
train. He can't ride a bicycle, like me, and a horse and buggy would
have taken him a long time. The old man done his best. 'Tweren't his
fault he was late."

"Well, no use crying over spilt milk," said Holmes. "You'd better walk
down this road until you come to the trolley line. Watch that. I think
they'll try to get aboard the car there and get to the railroad that
way. That would get them back to Deer Crossing, you see. Once they're
out of this state, we can't touch Bessie, and the little baggage knows
it. She's too clever for her own good. If