ge.

Betty tooted gleefully to Mollie, and Mollie tooted gleefully back
again. Then they jumped from the machines and met in the middle of the
road for a consultation.

"He will be coming in sight any minute now," Betty explained hurriedly,
"so we must decide on some definite plan of action."

"That's easy," said Mollie. "One of us will get down underneath the
machine and pretend to be tinkering--"

"Goodness, that lets me out," said Grace in dismay. "I wouldn't get down
in the dirt for fifty idiotic wagon drivers."

"Well, nobody's asking you to," cried Mollie impatiently. "I fully
intend to put on my overalls and do it myself."

"Better hurry up," cried Amy, who had been glancing uneasily down the
road. "He may come along any minute now and we don't want him to catch
us here."

So amid much hilarity and giggling Mollie got into the begrimed overalls
and proceeded to wriggle her small self beneath the car.

"I hope he hurries," she cried in a muffled voice. "It isn't exactly
what you might call comfortable down here. Betty, get off my foot," as
Grace wickedly stepped on her toes.

"Just hear her," cried Betty plaintively. "Everything just naturally
gets blamed on me."

"Well, if you didn't, who did?" queried Mollie fiercely. "Tell me her
name--"

"Betty, Betty, don't give me away," pleaded Grace, at which the girls
laughed while a satisfied chuckle came from under the car.

"I knew I'd find the guilty one," Mollie was beginning when Betty cut
her short with a warning cry.

"He's coming," she said, adding, as she vainly tried to straighten the
corners of her mischievous mouth: "And please remember, girls, this is a
very solemn occasion!"

CHAPTER XIV

BLUFF POINT AT LAST

Very anxious the Outdoor Girls looked as the grouchy old farmer came
toward them. Mollie was making all sorts of noises under the car,
apparently tinkering with its mechanism, while the girls kept up a
running fire of questions.

"What is the matter, Mollie?"

"Can't you find the trouble?"

"Better let me get under and take a look."

"If we don't get started pretty soon, we'll not get to Bluff Point
before dark."

These and other remarks like them met the suspicious ears of the driver
as he jerked his team to a standstill.

"Hey, what's the matter with you?" he hailed them. "Have you got to
stand right in the middle of the road? Can't you move over some?"

At this Mollie wriggled out from under the car and stood