I took them. Habit, I
suppose."

However, hope and optimism did not consent to be kept long in the
background on such a day as this when the sun shone its brightest and
the birds sang their hardest and the very wind seemed to be whispering
of happier times to come.

"Well," sighed Amy at last, for she and Mrs. Ford were riding in
Mollie's car, while Grace was with Betty in the racer, "it's plain to be
seen that nature at least doesn't know that anything horrible or cruel
is happening 'over there.' I don't think I ever saw a more wonderful
day."

"Maybe it is a good omen," said Mollie, quick to seize her opportunity.
"I feel it in my bones that it won't be long before we will hear good
news of Will--and you know my prophetic bones never lie."

"I don't know anything of the sort," protested Amy, although the remark
brought a reluctant smile to her lips. "I've known those same prophetic
bones to slip up before this."

"Which reminds me," Mollie cried, apropos of nothing in particular,
"that if we don't put on more speed we'll not reach our destination
before dark. I wonder why Betty doesn't hurry," for Betty and Grace in
the speedy little racer were taking the lead.

She signaled the latter with three long and three short toots of the
horn. A moment later the racer slowed down and Betty turned around to
see what was wanted.

"You're too slow," cried Mollie. "If you don't go a little faster, we'll
have to run over you."

"Oh-ho, look who's talking!" gibed the Little Captain, adding wickedly:
"We were afraid to speed up for fear of leaving you too far behind."

"Now I know we'll have to run over you," cried Mollie fiercely. "Toot,
toot--out of my way!"

But Betty evidently had no intention of getting out of anybody's way,
for with a challenging blast of her horn she put the little car at high
and it sprang forward gleefully.

Behind her, Mollie's car, like a big cat after a mouse, gave exultant
chase, fairly eating up the road. And yet Betty maintained the distance
between them--even drew away a little.

"Goodness," cried Mollie suddenly, her eyes sparkling, "I may be
mistaken, but I think she wants a race!"

CHAPTER VII

THE RACE

Then began some fun that was novel and exciting even to the Outdoor
Girls, who thought they had tried just about every sport there was.

Mollie bent her straight little back over the steering wheel, gave her
more power and the big car fairly flew ahead, lessening perc