ndering how he was going to get his charges to the
next town.

However, even while he was wondering, the difficulty was being solved
for him by some of the good-natured farmers who generously put their
wagons at the disposal of the survivors of the wreck.

When they reached the village fate chose at last to smile upon them--a
very little. They found a comfortable little cottage presided over by a
comfortable little farmer's wife who first gave them supper and then led
them to the best rooms in her house and tucked the girls in bed as if
she had been their own mother.

Mrs. Jenkins, the farmer's wife, was as pretty and comely as a shining
red apple--and just as neat. She said that her husband had gone to a
neighboring town to sell some of their stock and would not be back for a
week or two. She was so lonely that her guests were as welcome to her as
she and her hospitality were welcome to them.

Yet in spite of comfortable beds and snowy sheets, the girls slept
little. All night long they tossed and turned, and when occasionally,
worn out, they would drop into an uncomfortable doze, they would always
wake up with a start and a frightened cry.

Visions of crushed cars with flames shooting from the windows tormented
them all night until at last, when it seemed they could stand it no
longer, they opened their eyes upon the dawn.

"Oh, girls, it's morning!" cried Billie, jumping out of bed and
beginning to drag her clothes on hastily.

"What are you going to do?" asked Violet, opening one sleepy eye.

"Do?" cried Billie, turning upon her like a little whirlwind. "What do
you suppose I'm going to do? I'm going to find that trunk!"

CHAPTER III

RECOVERED TREASURE

To her great surprise Billie found that not only her father but the boys
were up and had for the past half hour been busily engaged in eating a
breakfast prepared for them by the rosy and good-natured farmer's wife.

They greeted the unexpected apparition of Billie with enthusiasm, and
their impromptu hostess turned cheerfully back to the frying pan to fry
another egg for the new arrival.

"I bet I know why you got up," said Ferd, his mouth full of biscuit and
jam. "Come on over, Billie, and after you've daintily pecked at some
food we're all going to look for your trunk."

"But I'm not hungry," protested Billie, as Teddy dragged a chair up to
the table for her. "Don't you think we'd better get started right away?"

"Not before you've had s