to cry, they turned down the garden
again.

"We've got to get home to-night somehow!" said Ingred through her set
teeth.

"Shall we go to the police station?" quavered Verity.

"And give ourselves up like lost children? No, it's too undignified!
Wait a moment, I've got an idea!" said Beatrice. "We passed the post
office just now, and I noticed it had a 'Public Telephone.' I'll ring up
Mother and tell her where we are, and ask her to come over for us."

"But you can't telephone for nothing, and we haven't so much as a
solitary penny amongst us!"

"I know. I thought I'd explain that to the people at the post office,
and ask them to let me have the call, and Mother will pay when she
comes. I could give them my watch as a security."

"It's worth trying!"

So, with just a little grain of hope, they retraced their steps to the
post office, which was also a stationer's and newsagent's. Nobody was in
the shop, but when the girls thumped on the counter a rosy-cheeked young
person appeared from the back regions.

"Want to telephone without paying? It's against the post office rules,"
she snapped, as Beatrice briefly explained the circumstances.

"My mother will pay when she comes, and if you'd take my watch----"

"I can't go against post office rules! All calls must be paid for
beforehand. That's our instructions."

"But just for once----"

"What's the matter, Doris?" asked a voice, and a kindly-looking little
man emerged from the back parlor, wiping his mouth hastily, and took his
place behind the counter. Beatrice turned to him with eagerness, and
again stated the urgency of their peculiar situation.

"Well, of course we've our instructions from the post office, and we've
got to account for the calls, but in this particular case we might let
you have one, and pay afterwards," he replied. "Oh, never mind the
watch; it's all right!"

Beatrice lost no time in ringing up Number 167 Grovebury, and to her
immense delight, when she got the connection, she heard her mother's
voice at the instrument. A short explanation was all that was necessary.

"Stay where you are at the Waverley post office, and I will get a taxi
and fetch you myself immediately," returned Mrs. Jackson. "It's the
greatest relief to know what has become of you. I was going to ring up
the police station, and describe you as 'missing!'"

The girls had to wait nearly three-quarters of an hour before the taxi
made its appearance, and the welcome for