ive slowly; it isn't in me, somehow!"

He handed them their goggles, and then put on his own, and changed his
soft hat, which had two or three times threatened to blow off, for a cap
that would stay on in any wind. And, as he faced them, Bessie had all
she could do to suppress a sharp cry of amazement, and she was more than
thankful for the goggles that partly concealed her start of surprise and
dismay. For the sight of Holmes, thus equipped, had recalled something
that seemed in a way, at least, to explain her feeling of distrust and
dislike.

Eleanor saw that Bessie was troubled, even though Holmes was ignorant of
the sensation he had caused, and, as soon as the car was moving at high
speed again, she leaned over close.

"What is it, Bessie! What startled you so?"

"I'll tell you later, Miss Eleanor," whispered Bessie. "I'm not sure
enough yet--really I'm not! But as soon as I am, I'll tell you all I
know."

Mr. Holmes was as good as his word. He brought them into the central
part of the town just at the time he had promised, and sprang out to
open the door of the tonneau for them.

"Must you really go now?" he said, dejectedly. "You'll be leaving me all
alone, you know. Can't you finish your shopping, and then let me run you
out to Arkville for luncheon?"

"You speak as if it were just across the street," laughed Eleanor.
"And you know, Bessie, it's really fifty miles or more away, and it's
actually over the state line. It's in your old state--the same one
Hedgeville is in. But it's in a different direction, and it's even
further from Hedgeville than we are here, I guess. Isn't it, Mr.
Holmes?"

"I'd have to know just where Hedgeville is to answer that, Miss Mercer.
And I've never been there nor even traveled through it, so far as I can
remember. I'll look it up on my road map, though, if you like--"

"Oh, no, please don't bother to do that. It's not of the slightest
importance."

"Then we shall have to put off Arkville to another day, you think, Miss
Mercer?"

"I'm afraid so, really. We've a good deal to do today, and there are
reasons that I won't bother you with for our having to be in town. Thank
you ever so much for the ride."

"Yes, thank you ever so much," echoed Bessie.

They were near Charlie Jamieson's office, and, as the car turned and
disappeared in the mass of traffic, Bessie clutched Eleanor's arm.

"Oh, do come quickly, Miss Eleanor, please! Look at this. Don't you
think we ought to