CHAPTER X
"THEY'RE OFF!"
"Isn't it too mean? I never thought that Cecilia would act so. Ithink Jack knows why."
Bess Robinson was talking to Cora. Her voice betrayed something otherthan disappointment. Bess now called Cecilia by her full name--theaffectionate "Clip" had been laid aside. Besides this she hesitatedwhen Jack's name was needed in her conversation. The fact was perfectlyevident. Jack's attention to Cecilia, their runaway ride, and theconsequent talk, had rather hurt Bess. Jack had always been a very goodfriend to her.
"But Clip simply can't come," said Cora. "Her machine is out of order,and, besides this, she is called away to look after some sick relative."
"Cora Kimball!" exclaimed Bess. "You're a perfect baby. Sickrelative! Why, every one sickens a relative when they want to go awayin a hurry. It might be interesting to know who else has a made-upsick relative who demands, say, Jack's immediate attention."
"Why, Bess! I'm surprised that you should speak so bitterly. You knowperfectly well that Jack's going to the races. You heard them make allthe arrangements--Jack, Ed and Walter. Besides--" Cora stopped. Shetossed back her pretty head as if too disgusted to speak. She waspacking the last of her touring things into the hampers of theWhirlwind. She would have everything ready for the early start nextmorning. Bess Robinson had run over for final instructions, when Coraannounced that Cecilia Thayer could not go with them on the motorgirls' tour. This information drove all other details from the mind ofBess. And now Cora was locking her boxes.
"Oh, I suppose we will get along very well without her," said Bessfinally. "In fact, it may be better that she does not come, for she isbound to be doing things that are risky."
"Well, we will miss her, I'm sure," said Cora, "for she is such goodcompany. But we will have to manage."
"Has Belle all your tools packed? Don't forget candles; they are sohandy when anything happens after dark. I always fetch them. They pokeunder little places so nicely."
"Oh, I fancy Belle has managed to take along the candelabra. At least,I think I can count on the glass candlesticks. Poor Belle! I wonderwill she ever leave off that sort of thing. She cares more or an'effect' than for a good square meal," answered Bess.
"Alt kinds make a world," replied Cora. "Suppose she were as sensibleas you or I? Why, as well take away the flowers, and plant kindlingwood."
Bess laughed. Cora turned up the path with her. "I met Ray," saidBess, "buying a new veil, of course. I would hate to be as pretty asRay, and have so much trouble to keep up the reputation. That's theworst of pretty girls. They really have to keep pretty."
"And Daisy? Was she buying a new novel to read en route? They mightboth do better to 'chip in' and buy a new kit of tools," said Cora.
At precisely eight forty-five o'clock the next morning the Whirlwinddrew up in front of the post-office. The start was to be made fromthat point, and Cora was first to arrive. With her were HazelHastings, and Gertrude Adams, a school friend of Cora's.
Two minutes later the Flyaway puffed into sight with the Robinson twinssmiling serenely from her two-part seat.
Scarcely had the occupants of the two car exchanged greetings thanDaisy Bennet and Maud Morris drove up in the Bennet runabout, calledthe Breeze. On account of the change of plan, Ray Stuart was to ridewith Cora, instead of with Clip, as was at first proposed. Ray met thegirls at the post-office. As predicted, she did look like a brand newbisque statue. She wore a soft silk coat, of light green pongee, thesame shade hood, over which "rested," one might say, a long whitechiffon veil. It reposed on the hood, where two secret pins held it,but otherwise the veil was mingled with Ray's expression and thesurrounding atmosphere. The girls sighed as they beheld her. She hadbeen waiting for some minutes in the post-office, and needless to saythere were others waiting, too--not altogether engrossed in reading thelatest mail.
Cora stepped out of the Whirlwind and opened the tonneau door for Ray.Hazel and she were to ride within the car, while Gertrude shared theseat with Cora. Cora wore her regular motor togs. The close-fittingpongee coat showed off well her perfect figure, and with the Frenchbonnet, that nestled so snugly to her black tresses there was nosemblance to the flaring, loose effect so common to motorists. Shelooked more like a Paris model than a girl equipped for a tour. ButCora had that way--she was always "classy," as the boys expressed it,or in perfect style, as the girls would admit.
Hazel usually affected strong shades--she was dark and could wear redsand browns to good advantage. It so happened that the motor girlsafforded a peculiar variety, no two wearing similar outfits. Timidlittle Maud Morris was in white, and Daisy was in linen. The Robinsongirls wore their regular uniform--Bess in Havana-brown and Belle intrue-blue. So it will be seen that such an array of beauty and clothescould not help but attract attention, to say nothing of the severalautomobiles that made up the procession in front of the post-office.
At the last moment Belle had to run into a store to make some triflingpurchases, while Daisy sent two extra postcards, and Ray neededsomething from the drug store.
Finally all was ready. It was just nine o'clock.
"Ready!" called Cora.
A blast on a bugle startled them. Then--
What was it?
It looked like a hay wagon, but it came along at the speed of a fineauto.
"The boys!" called the girls in one breath.
Sure enough, there were Jack, Walter, Ed and some others of theirchums, piled up on a veritable hay rack, and they wore all sorts offarmer clothes. The hay rack evidently set upon the body of areautomobile.
And Jack on the "monkey seat," blowing that bugle!
"Start!" called Cora.
"They're off!" shouted the chorus from the hay wagon, and then Cheltonfolks were treated to a sight the like of which they had never beforewitnessed.
It was the first official tour of the original motor girls.