ust when dusk was ready to envelop the land they descried
in the distance a good-sized town, and beyond it some miles the
eastern spur of the South Mountains.

"There, children, is where we will be camping if all goes well
to-morrow," said Aunt Betty.

"Sounds mighty good to me," said Gerald. "Here, Ephy, take hold of
this steering wheel awhile. I'm going to stretch myself and gaze out
over the country a bit."

Ephraim, delighted at the confidence reposed in him by the boy,
clambered into the front seat, while Gerald took one of the small
seats in the rear compartment, facing Jim.

Sometime later Ephraim guided the car into the main street of the
village, and, at Aunt Betty's suggestion stopped before what seemed
to be a hotel of the better class. Upon investigation accommodations
were found to be so tempting, the party decided to spend the night.
Gerald registered for the crowd, while Ephraim, with a stable boy
belonging at the hotel, took the Ajax around to the rear where
shelter might be had from the elements.

Supper was served at seven-thirty in a large and commodious
dining-room, and the campers sustained their reputations for ravenous
eaters so well that the proprietor secretly wrung his hands in
despair. Had these city folks come to eat him out of house and home?
he wondered.

He was glad when the meal was over, and the visitors had departed
down the street in search of amusement before turning in.

This amusement was found at the town hall, where a cheap theatrical
company was offering the time-worn favorite, "Lady Audley's Secret."
Even Aunt Betty enjoyed the old play which she had not seen for
years, though she declared that the scene at the well gave her a fit
of the "creeps."

The company was a very mediocre one--in fact, an organization which
made its living off of small town audiences, where the standard set
is not so high, and a little less for the money does not seem to
matter.

To bed at eleven and up at six was the story of the night, as
recorded by the master of ceremonies, James Barlow, who was the first
to awaken in the morning, and who aroused Ephraim and told him to
wake the others.

The proprietor of the hotel, evidently fearing a repetition of the
night before, was careful to put on the table only such food as he
felt his guests should have, and when a second portion was asked for
his solitary waiter was instructed to say that the concern was out of
that particular dish.

While