ting utter peace and quiet, a chance to rest tired nerves and
gather strength for the last great drive:

"You're right, I am tired, terribly tired," and the lines of weariness
returning to her face. "I'd love it, girls, but there's my work!"

It took the girls about five minutes of the hardest work they had ever
done in their lives. But they did what they had set out to do. At the
end of that time Mrs. Ford consented to start with them whenever they
were ready.

"Day after to-morrow?" asked Mollie, her eyes shining.

"I don't know why not," said Mrs. Ford, then sprang to her feet with a
cry of dismay. "Girls, I completely forgot to telephone the Red Cross.
What will they think of me?"

CHAPTER V

A PROBLEM SOLVED

"I wish," said Mollie, sitting back to view approvingly the shining
black hood of her car, "that we had another machine. I'm afraid by the
time we've packed our bags and things into the tonneau we'll find it
rather crowded. And for such a long trip we ought to have plenty of
room."

"That's what I was thinking," agreed Amy, rubbing a bit of nickel to a
gleaming polish, for the girls had gathered at Mollie's to help her put
the car in shape for the anticipated trip to Bluff Point. And they had
gone to their work with a will, rubbing and polishing the big machine as
they would have groomed a well-loved horse. "We will have our trunks
sent, of course, but we shall have to take our nighties and combs and
brushes and such things. We might put 'em on the roof," she added
hopefully.

"Yes, and we might wear 'em," said Grace scornfully. "That is a
brilliant idea."

"Well, I have one worth two of that," said Betty, trying not to look
mysterious.

"Betty, are you going to spring anything on us?" cried Mollie, while the
other two paused with dust cloths uplifted.

"Not if you don't want me to," returned the Little Captain demurely.

"Betty, dear, I love you so," crooned Mollie, running around the car and
putting a rather oily hand about Betty's waist. "You wouldn't want such
an ardent admirer to drop dead at your feet, would you, now?"

"It would have the charm of novelty," chuckled Betty, only to add
quickly as Mollie made a threatening gesture: "No, please don't kill me
yet. Come over here on the steps and I'll tell you all about it."

"Yes, yes, go on," they cried, obediently ranging themselves on the
steps of the back porch and fixing eager eyes upon her.

"Shoot!" Mollie commanded ineleg