The Blue Grass Seminary Girls on the Water Part 3

"He came to see you as well as me," said Shirley.

"Oh no he didn't. If I had been the only girl here, d.i.c.k would not have been on hand to-day. Besides, if it wasn't for you I'm sure he wouldn't even think of taking the trip to San Francisco."

"But he wants to see something of the Panama Ca.n.a.l."

"My goodness! you didn't use to be so dense," exclaimed Mabel.

"Dense?" repeated Shirley. "What do you mean, Mabel?"

"That's right, keep it up," exclaimed Mabel. "I won't say anything more.

Are you going into town to-morrow?"

"Yes, I thought we would go in as soon as d.i.c.k had gone."

"That suits me. We'll have to get a lot of things."

"I should say so. Why, I haven't a single decent thing to wear."

"We'll put in a good supply, so we won't have to buy anything while we are away. My! but won't it be a nice trip?"

"Won't it though. I can hardly wait for the time to come."

"Nor I. But let's get some sleep or we won't want to get up in the morning."

Both closed their eyes and tried to sleep. But they had too much on their minds to go to sleep immediately, and it was long minutes before drowsiness overcame them and they lost themselves, only to dream that they were sailing across the ocean.

The following morning they accompanied d.i.c.k to Wright's station, where he took a train for Lexington. There he would have to change for Louisville.

"Let us know as soon as possible?" called Shirley, as he climbed aboard.

"I will," replied d.i.c.k. "I'll write immediately I have learned one thing or the other."

The train moved away.

Shirley and Mabel returned to the house, where Mr. Willing was waiting for them with the automobile.

"Ashton and I have decided to do a little shopping on our own hook," he explained. "We want to spruce up a bit. Daughter, do you suppose there will be any nice-looking, middle-aged ladies aboard the boat? If so, why Ashton and I-"

"Dad!" interrupted Shirley.

"Well, all right. Of course if you object," said Mr. Willing.

All the rest of the day the girls put in shopping. Dresses and frocks for all occasions they bought, besides a couple of outing costumes.

"I don't know how long it takes to get to San Francisco from New York,"

said Shirley, "so we had best be prepared."

But when the day was over they found they had not completed their shopping, and would have to return again on the morrow.

Mr. Willing, during the day, transacted his business and found out the date of sailing from New York. Taking it for granted that d.i.c.k would accompany them, he purchased a ticket and made accommodations for him as well as the others.

"How long shall we be gone, Dad?" asked Shirley, as the automobile sped homeward.

"Well, let's see. This is the fourth of June. We shall leave New York on the fifteenth. I should say we would be back by the middle of August."

"And will we come back the same way?"

"No; we'll come back by rail. One way by boat will be enough. You'll have seen plenty of water by the time you reach San Francisco."

"I hope d.i.c.k decides to go with us," said Shirley.

"And so do I," declared Mabel.

"Oh, he'll go, all right," remarked Mr. Willing.

And the latter was right. Three days later Shirley stood before her father with an open letter in her hand.

"It's from d.i.c.k," she explained. "He says he is going with us."

Mr. Willing chuckled.

"I see Harperson is still a friend of mine," he muttered to himself.

CHAPTER III.-OFF FOR NEW YORK.

It was the morning of the twelfth of June that the party of five went early to Paris to catch the eight o'clock train for Cincinnati. d.i.c.k had arrived the night before, and in spite of the fact that they would have to be up very early in the morning, all sat up talking, for the young people were too excited to go to sleep.

All through the long hours of the night the girls tossed about, scarcely closing their eyes. They were up with the break of day, which was soon after four o'clock.

At last the time for departure came, and they jumped gaily into the large automobile which was to take them to town.

"What time shall we leave Cincinnati, sir?" d.i.c.k asked of Mr. Willing, as the train pulled out from the station.

"Twelve o'clock," was the reply. "We'll get there a little after eleven, which will give us time to get across town to the Pennsylvania station.

I have made reservations on the New York train."

Nevertheless it lacked only twenty minutes of the noon hour when the train pulled into Cincinnati.

"Hurry girls," ordered Mr. Willing. "We have no time to lose. We can just about make it."

They dashed through the station and out the Third street entrance, where Mr. Willing immediately engaged two taxicabs.

"Pennsylvania Station!" he ordered, and they were off at a good gait.

Through the narrow streets congested with traffic they were forced to go more slowly, and Mr. Willing looked at his watch impatiently from time to time.