Part 11 (1/2)

”There's a garage just around the corner from the hotel,” answered Cora.

”We can have the man look the machines over, too, and see that there is plenty of gasoline and oil. Then we won't have to worry.”

The three cars had drawn up in front of the Mansion House at Fairport, following a pleasant run after the sheep episode. Jack and Ed, of course, were not present, and of them more presently. They were having, as Jack might express it, ”their own troubles.”

”Oh, but I'm warm and dusty!” exclaimed Eline as she ”flopped” from the car to the sidewalk. Flopped is the only word that properly expresses it.

”Then you're not much used to motoring,” remarked Cora with a smile, as she disengaged herself from the steering wheel. ”It is tiring, at first, but one soon becomes used to it. How did you like it, Cousin Mary?”

”It was delightful, my dear, purely delightful; but I will own that I shall be glad to walk again.” She alighted from the car of the twins. The two sisters got down, and Belle went around to look at one of the rear tires. She had a suspicion, amounting to a conviction, that it had gone flat. It had.

”I'll let the garage man attend to it,” she said. ”I'm too anxious now to get some nice warm water, soap and a large towel.”

”Me for a large, juicy towel!” exclaimed Walter, coming up with Norton.

”Will you have yours boiled or stewed?”

”Silly! I don't call that a joke!”

”You don't need to; it comes without calling.”

”That's worse,” declared Bess, trying to get some of the road dust off her face with a very small handkerchief.

”Well, we're here, anyhow!” put in Norton, ”I don't think much of the hotel, though.”

”It will do very nicely,” answered Cora somewhat coldly. She was not quite sure whether she was going to like Norton or not. He did not seem to improve upon acquaintance, and she was a little sorry that Jack had asked him on the trip. Still, she reflected, one can easily be mistaken about boys. Perhaps his flippant manner might be due to nervousness, or a diffidence in not knowing how to say the right thing at the right time.

”We're here--because we're here!” exclaimed Walter. ”That's more than can be said for Jack and Ed.”

”Are they in sight?” asked Cora, looking down the long straight road--the main street of Fairport--by which they had entered the town.

”Not yet,” answered Bess. ”Oh, do let's get into the hotel!” she exclaimed. ”A crowd is collecting, and I do so want a drink of cold water.”

”Hot tea for me,” spoke Belle. ”Hot tea with a slice of lemon in it.”

”Since Belle went to that Russian tea-fest last winter she always takes lemon in her tea,” explained her sister. ”Ugh! I can't bear it!” Bess was nothing if not certain in her likes and dislikes.

”It's really the only way to drink tea, my dear,” said Belle, with an affected society drawl. ”It's so--so mussy with cream and sugar in it,”

and she spread out her hands in aesthetic horror--or something to simulate that.

”I think I shall be satisfied with just plain tea,” voiced Cora, as she took another look down the road for her brother. ”Come on, girls--and boys!” she added.

A little throng was beginning to gather in front of the hotel, somewhat blocking the sidewalk, for the sight of the cars drawn up in front of the hostel and perhaps the sight of the four--well, it might as well be said--pretty motor girls, had attracted attention.

”Shoo--shoo--chickens!” exclaimed Mrs. Fordam with a laugh as she brought up back of the girls. ”Let's get in and freshen up for supper.”

”Dinner!” cried Walter. ”It's not allowed to say supper on this tour.

Dinner; isn't it, Cora?”

”As you like,” she a.s.sented a bit wearily, for now, after the excitement of the day, the work and worry, much of which had necessarily fallen to her, Cora was beginning to feel the reaction. The fire, too, and the strange woman, all had added to it. But she knew they could have a good rest that evening.