THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS IN THE BERKSHIRES
Or
The Ghost of Lost Man's Trail
by
LAURA DENT CRANE
Author of The Automobile Girls at Newport, The AutomobileGirls Along the Hudson, Etc., Etc.
Illustrated
The Splash Descended on Unsuspecting Bab. _Frontispiece._]
PhiladelphiaHenry Altemus Company
Copyright, 1910, by Howard E. Altemus
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE I. The Reunion 7 II. New Light on Old Papers 20 III. Happiness, and Another Scheme 28 IV. In the Heart of the Berkshires 45 V. A Day in the Woods 58 VI. "The Great White Also" 66 VII. Mollie Follows the Trail 76 VIII. End of the Search 90 IX. Spirit of the Forest 95 X. A Knock at the Door 107 XI. The Coon Hunt 120 XII. The Wounded Bird 128 XIII. The Wigwam 135 XIV. Give Way to Miss Sallie! 144 XV. Society in Lenox 152 XVI. At the Ambassador's 166 XVII. A Visit to Eunice 181 XVIII. Plans for the Society Circus 190 XIX. The Old Gray Goose 198 XX. Barbara and Beauty 206 XXI. Eunice and Mr. Winthrop Latham 215 XXII. The Automobile Wins 230 XXIII. The Recognition 240 XXIV. What to Do with Eunice 251
The Automobile Girls in theBerkshires
CHAPTER I
THE REUNION
"Mollie Thurston, we are lost!" cried Barbara dramatically.
The two sisters were in the depth of a New Jersey woods one afternoon inearly September.
"Well, what if we are!" laughed Mollie, leaning over to add a cluster ofwild asters to her great bunch of golden rod. "We have two hours ahead ofus. Surely such clever woodsmen as we are can find our way out of woodswhich are but a few miles from home. Suppose we should explore a realforest some day. Wouldn't it be too heavenly! Come on, lazy Barbara! Weshall reach a clearing in a few moments."
"You lack sympathy, Miss Mollie Thurston; that's your trouble."
Barbara was laughing, yet she anxiously scanned the marshy ground as shepicked her way along.
"I wouldn't mind being lost in these woods a bit more than you do, if Iwere not so horribly afraid of snakes. Oh, my! this place looks full of'em."
"They are not poisonous, Bab, or I might be more sympathetic," saidMollie reassuringly. "The snakes in these woods are harmless. How can agirl as brave as you are be such a goose about a poor, wriggly little'sarpint,' that couldn't harm you if it tried."
"O-o-o!" shivered Bab. "One's own pet fear has nothing to do with senseor nonsense. Kindly remember your own feelings toward the timid mouse!Just the same, I should like to play 'Maid Marian' for a while and dwellin the heart of a woodland glen. If ever I have a chance to go on acamping trip, I shall get rid of my fear of snakes, somehow."
"Bab," said Mollie, after a moment's pause, "hasn't it been dreadfullydull since Ruth and her father went away? Do you think they will evercome back? I can hardly believe it has been only three weeks since theyleft Kingsbridge, and only six weeks since we came back from Newport.Anyhow I am glad Grace Carter is home again from her visit to herbrother."
"Cheer up, Mollie, do!" encouraged Bab. "Ruth has promised to pay us avisit before she goes home to Chicago, and she is a girl of her word, asyou and I well know. I am expecting a letter from her every day."
"Well," Mollie ejaculated in heart-felt tones, "I know I am nearly deadto see her. Grace and I were talking of it only yesterday."
"Mollie, I don't want to be a croaker," began Bab, after a littlehesitation, "but have you noticed that mother seems worried aboutsomething? When I was talking yesterday about how crazy I was to go toVassar some day, mother looked as though she wanted to cry. I stoppedthere and then. She has seemed so gay and cheerful until recently. Iwonder whether she is worried about money."
Mollie nodded her head and frowned. "Now you speak of it, Bab, I believeI have noticed that she seems depressed at times. I think she is tiredout and needs a complete change. She had a long letter from Cousin Bettyin St. Paul yesterday, asking her to make a visit. I think mother shouldaccept. You and I are certainly big enough to look after ourselves untilschool commences. Let's beg her to go."
"All right, Mollie, we will," said her older sister, "but if the familyfunds are even lower than usual, where is the money to come from for suchan expensive trip? Just the same, I shall question mother, and find outwhat's the matter."
Bab was walking on bravely, trying to forget her horror of snakes.
"I am sure," she thought, "that I can feel my feet trembling inside myboots; I am so afraid of stepping on one of the wretched little pests."
It had rained the day before, and the ground under the thick tangle oftrees and underbrush being unusually marshy, the girls had to pick theirway carefully. Mollie walked ahead while they were talking. Barbarajumping from the twisted root of one tree to another half a yard away,felt something writhe and wriggle under her foot. Without stopping tolook down, she shrieked--"A snake! a snake!"--and ran blindly forward.Before Mollie had time to look around, Barbara caught her foot under aroot and tumbled headlong into the wet mud.
"Bab," cried Mollie, "you certainly have gone and done it this time! Howwet and muddy you are!"
She picked up a stick and raked in the leaves near her sister.
"See, here's what you have made such a fuss about, a tiny garter snake,that couldn't hurt a thing. You've crushed the thing with your heel."
Mollie turned suddenly. "Barbara, what is the matter with you?" sheasked, as she caught a glimpse of her sister's face. "Why don't you getup? Can I help you?" She leaned over her sister.
Poor Bab's face was white as a sheet, and she was trembling.
"Yes, do help me if you can," she answered. "I can't get up by myself.I'm afraid I have turned my ankle. Here, take my hand. Sitting here inthis mud I feel as if I had fallen into a nest of snakes."
Mollie gave Bab both her hands. Setting her teeth, Bab tried to rise,but, with a groan, sat down again. The second time Mollie pulled with allher might. Barbara, summoning her courage, rose slowly to her feet.Without speaking she leaned against the trunk of the nearest tree.
"Wait here, dear," urged Mollie, more worried than she would show. "Iwill try and find you a stick. Then if you lean on me and use the stickin the other hand, perhaps we can get along all right."
They were several miles from home and in another hour the dusk would beupon them. So the two girls struggled bravely on through the thick woods,though it was difficult to walk abreast in the narrow path. Barbarainsisted she was better with each step, but Mollie knew otherwise. Withevery foot of ground they covered Bab limped more and more painfully. Nowand then when her injured foot pressed too heavily on the rough ground,she caught her breath and swallowed a groan. Mollie realized they wouldnot get home before midnight at the rate they were now moving.
"Rest here, Bab," she insisted, when they came to an opening in the woodswhere the shade was less dense. "I think I see a place over there thatmust lead into a road. I will run on ahead and find some one to come backto help you."
Bab was glad to sit down. Her foot was swelling and growing more painfulevery moment; her pulses were throbbing. She was almost crying, but shewould never mention surrender; she was not sorry, however, when Molliesuggested that she should rest.
Mo
llie sped through the woods as fast as she could run. As soon as herback was turned, Bab closed her eyes. "How glad I am to rest," shethought gratefully.
In the half hour that Barbara Thurston waited alone her mind wandered tomany of her own hopes and fears. First, she couldn't help worrying overher mother. Then, she thought of her own ambition. More than anything inthe world she longed to go to Vassar College. In two years more she wouldbe ready to enter, but where was the money to come from? Barbara realizedthat her mother would never be able to pay her expenses from their smallincome; nevertheless, she meant to go. The Kingsbridge High Schooloffered a scholarship at Vassar to the girl who passed the best finalexaminations during the four years of its course. Barbara had won thehighest honors in her freshman and sophomore years, but she had two morewinters of hard work ahead of her.
"I wonder," she thought at last, "if I can persuade Ruth to go to collegewith me?" Then she must have fallen into a little doze.
Readers of the preceding volume, "The Automobile Girls at Newport," willremember how the famous little club, known as "The Automobile Girls" cameto be organized, and they are familiar with the exciting and humorousincidents of that journey in Ruth Stuart's motor car. There were manyadventures along the way, including mysterious encounters with agentlemanly young rascal, known to the police as "The Boy Raffles." Thesame "Raffles" afterwards turned up at Newport, where the girls forseveral weeks led a life of thrilling interest. "The Automobile Girls" itwas who caught "Raffles" red-handed, and who saved Bab's snobbish cousin,Gladys Le Baron, from falling in love with him.
Six weeks before, on their return from the trip to Newport, "TheAutomobile Girls" had disbanded. Mr. Stuart had given a dinner in theirhonor, and at the close of the meal, he formally presented each of thegirls with a miniature model of Ruth's motor car, forming pins of redenamel about the size of a dime.
"You must wear them forever," Ruth insisted, almost in tears. "Who knowswhat luck they may bring to us? Remember this isn't a real breaking up of'The Automobile Girls'; it is only an '_auf wiedersehen_.'"
The morning after Mr. Stuart's dinner, Grace left Kingsbridge to visither brother. Later, Mr. Stuart and his sister, Miss Stuart, bore Ruthaway to spend several weeks with some relatives in northern New York.
Ruth confided to Bab her grief at leaving them.
"I perfectly hate to go," she protested. "Just think, Bab, how soon Ishall have to go back to Chicago, and leave you here in New Jersey. Otherpeople are well enough in their places, but they are not my Barbara,Mollie and Grace!"
It was after this confidence, that Bab made Ruth solemnly promise to paythem a visit before she returned home.
Barbara opened her eyes suddenly. Had she been asleep and dreamed ofRuth? She could almost hear her voice and laugh. Some one was comingalong the path. She could hear the dead leaves crunch under flying feet.
"Barbara, my Barbara!" Was it Mollie's voice calling her?
"Here I am," cried Bab faintly.
Through the trees running straight toward her, her eyes shining, hercheeks aglow, was Ruth Stuart. Barbara tried to leap up.
"Sit down, you poor dear, do," Ruth commanded. "What have you done toyour silly little self? Never mind; here is your friend and alwaysdevoted slave come to your rescue."
"Where did you come from?" inquired Bab, weakly.
"Out of the everywhere into the here. Father and Mollie will be along ina few seconds and explain to you. I simply couldn't wait for them.Another dear friend of yours is up the road desiring to offer youassistance. You may recall 'Mr. A. Bubble.'"
Ruth took out the flask of beef tea which she always carried on a motortrip, and made Barbara drink a few swallows. "Now," she declared, "I willtry to tell you how I happen to be here. Three days ago I told father Isimply couldn't bear to be away from Kingsbridge twenty-four hourslonger. So he and I decided that as soon as manners would permit weshould put the automobile in commission and fly to you as fast as wecould. And here we are! Besides, just think how quickly the holiday timeis passing. I have another scheme--but here come Mollie and father!"
Mr. Stuart and Mollie were approaching quickly.
"Let me help you, Barbara," said Mr. Stuart, putting his strong armaround the injured girl and nearly lifting her from the ground. "Can youmanage to walk? Ruth, you help from the other side. It is not far to theroad, and once we get you there, the auto will soon take you home to thatlittle mother of yours."
"I declare I would just like to kiss 'Mr. A. Bubble,' if I knew anappropriate place," declared Barbara, when she was at last safely stowedaway in the automobile. Her lame foot was propped up on soft cushionswhile close beside her sat her beloved Ruth holding her hand. Mollie wassitting in front with Mr. Stuart.
"Tell me," Barbara continued, "no one has properly explained it to me howyou happened to be at the right place just at the right moment? And howdid Mollie find you to tell you I was concealed in the woods with asprained ankle? It's too much for me. Please explain?"
"Not so fast, Miss Thurston, if you please," pleaded Mr. Stuart. "Ruthand I would like to be regarded as angels dropped from the sky, but thetruth must be told! She and I were speeding along this very road, alittle faster than is perfectly proper, as we were hoping to make our waybefore dusk to the home of a charming lady, Mrs. Thurston, who lives withher two attractive daughters, in Laurel Cottage, Kingsbridge. What did wesee? A small, excited girl ahead of us, who seemed to be trying to runfaster than our auto could travel. Nevertheless, we caught up with her.Who do you think she was? Miss Mollie Thurston! We were all so surprisedthat it must have taken us quite a minute to explain matters to eachother."
"You can imagine," added Mistress Mollie from the front seat, "how jollyglad I was!"
For some time Mrs. Thurston had been anxiously awaiting her daughters'return. She was standing at the gate of her home, when a familiar chug,chug, chug, sounded up the road. "I must be dreaming," she thought. "I amso worried at the girls being out late that I imagine I hear Ruth'sautomobile bringing them home to me. How lonely it has been for us allsince Ruth and her father went away!"
"Chug, chug, chug," the noise sounded louder than ever. A splash of redappeared at the turn of the road, a siren whistle blew, and a well-known,crimson motor car rapidly approached her gate. Mrs. Thurston rubbed hereyes. It was the Stuart's automobile and no other. Sitting enthroned init was that gentleman and his daughter. And, could it be possible?Barbara and Mollie, as well!
Mrs. Thurston's gentle face glowed with pleasure. Switfly as a girl shethrew open her gate and was waiting on the sidewalk when the car stoppedin front of her with a flourish.
"I am so delighted to see you," she said, extending her hand to Mr.Stuart and kissing Ruth on both cheeks. "Where did you find my daughters?But what's the matter with you, Bab?" she asked, as she noticed herchild's pale cheeks.
"Nothing, now, mother," said Bab, hopping up, but sitting down again justas promptly. "I have sprained my ankle a little, not very much. I wouldlike to get into the house to take off my shoe. It pinches until I feellike the mean sister trying to squeeze her foot into Cinderella'sslipper."
"Come on in with me, every one of you," she pleaded. "Dear Mr. Stuart,you are not going to take Ruth up to the hotel with you for even onenight. Remember, you promised she was to visit us, as soon as youreturned."
"Do let me stay, father," coaxed Ruth, dancing after them. "I have notrunk to worry about at present. Aunt Sallie is coming back, day afterto-morrow, and she is to bring my trunk with her. Father and I traveledall the way in the automobile."
Mrs. Thurston followed Mr. Stuart out as he was saying good-bye. He hadagreed to leave Ruth with them. "Mr. Stuart, you can go to your hotel, ifyou wish to engage your room, but you must come back and have tea withus. We have hot rolls, honey, and fresh milk for supper. There is no usein your denying that is your favorite evening meal."
"I don't want to deny it, Mrs. Thurston," was Mr. Stuart's answer, as hestepped into his car. "I will come back with pleasure. On my
way to thehotel I shall call at the doctor's and ask him to come around and lookafter Bab's foot."