ing a glance from her son,
who was trying to carry three handbags at once, she added hastily: "But
of course I love it and would miss it awfully. Joe, be careful, dear,
you nearly dropped that bag in the dirt."

"I always thought I'd make good in the juggling profession," replied Joe
ruefully, as he skillfully recovered the bag in question, "but I guess I
was mistaken. Where do these go, Miss Billette--anywhere?" he asked,
turning to Mollie.

"Yes, just throw them in," replied Mollie, carelessly, absorbed in
testing out her engine. "Only leave room for Mrs. Ford, that's all."

Then, as Amy stopped to speak to Grace, Joe escorted Betty to her little
racer and helped her into the driver's seat, though little help Betty
needed or asked of anyone.

"It's rather a rough deal, isn't it?" he asked suddenly.

"What?" inquired Betty, surprised.

"Fate introduces us one minute, then snatches you away in the next,
before I've had time for more than a word with you."

"Why, I remember several words we've had together," laughed Betty as she
settled herself more comfortably in her seat. "Is there anything
particular you want to say to me?"

Joe started to speak, evidently thought better of it, and looked up at
her soberly.

"I've already told you more than I ever expected to tell any one," he
said, and she stretched out an eager, sympathetic little hand to him.

"I know, and I have felt very proud of that confidence," she said
earnestly.

"Then you will let me write to you and tell you how things are with me?"

"Oh, I should be so glad!" she said, and there was no doubting her
sincerity.

He had no more than time to flash her a grateful glance when Grace came
up and put an end to the conversation.

Amid expressions of friendship on both sides and laughing farewells, the
two cars slid backwards along the drive and out on to the road. Then
with a purring of engines, the little racer leaped ahead with Mollie in
close pursuit. They were off once more.

It was as Betty had said. The long clear night and the bright morning
sunshine had done much toward drying the roads and though they were
still rather sticky and slippery, the girls had no difficulty in keeping
up a good rate of speed.

"This is something like," cried Grace, as she stretched both arms above
her head and breathed deep of the balmy air. "I could be completely
happy if it weren't for one thing."

Betty had no need to ask what that one thing was, and at m