The Meadow Brook Girls Across Country Part 36

"No right? Please explain yourself, Mr. Baker."

"I'll tell you all about it. We took those melons from the farmer's field without leave. We didn't mean to play a mean trick on you, but we did. We didn't think the farmer would accuse you girls of stealing the melons. We're awfully sorry he made such a fuss about it and that you had to pay for them. Will you please let us return to you the money that you paid him. It was our treat, you know."

"Hm-m-m! This is a serious matter," replied the guardian slowly. The girls sat with lowered heads so that the boys might not discover the laughter in their eyes. "I cannot accept the money for the melons. We had better consider the incident closed. It is very manly of you, however, to come and tell us about it. But what induced you to do so?"

"I gueth hith conthcience troubled him," suggested Tommy wisely.

"Yes, I think so. But there was something else," admitted the boy. "It wasn't wholly conscience. We didn't realize how very wrong it was until--"

"Until the Oracle told you," nodded Tommy.

"What!" exclaimed George. The eyes of the Tramp Club were fixed on Tommy. "What do you mean by that?"

Harriet got up and with crossed hands before her, chin lowered, eyelids half veiling her eyes, moved demurely toward the captain.

"Cross my palm with silver and the past and future shall be revealed to you," she mumbled.

George Baker gazed at her, with suspicious, puzzled eyes. All at once he sprang up.

"I know you now! I knew I had seen you before, but I couldn't place you.

You were the Star of the East!"

"Yes," admitted Harriet.

"And thhe told your fortune," chuckled Tommy.

Margery and Hazel giggled. Crazy Jane exclaimed derisively:

"Oh, boys, boys! That's the time you got your desserts! We paid you back with interest!"

"It was a mean trick," flared George. "We never would have thought it of you. It was the meanest trick I ever heard of. I'm sorry I made a fool of myself by coming here and apologizing to you."

"Mr. Baker, don't lose your temper," begged Miss Elting, scarcely able to control her voice for laughter. "We have evened our score so let's shake hands and be friends."

"No, thank you. I'm sorry to refuse, but you have made fools of us,"

retorted George angrily.

"Oh, no. That ith not pothible," piped Tommy.

"Come on, fellows. We will get out of here before they make us angry,"

urged Captain Baker, s.n.a.t.c.hing up his hat and starting away.

"Please wait," begged Miss Elting.

George shook his head.

"What about our compact?" called Harriet.

"We're going on and win the race. We'll show you that you aren't such athletes as you think. At least you shan't make fools of us at that.

Good night."

Captain Baker and his friends strode angrily from the camp. They did not so much as look back. Perhaps the boys were really not so angry as they pretended to be.

"It's too bad. I didn't think they would take it that way," cried Harriet. "I surely thought they would be able to take a joke. Well, what's done can't be undone. There's nothing more to be done except to go on and try to win the race."

Jane had disappeared. Where she had gone the girls did not know. It was some time before she returned and when she did she was excited. Her hair was awry and her face flushed.

"Jane, where have you been?" demanded the guardian.

"I've been scouting. Girls, those miserable boys are planning to play another trick on you. They're going to start to-night and go on without stopping until they get home. What shall we do?"

The girls gazed solemnly into each other's eyes.

"That seems to settle it," spoke up Margery finally. "Well, let them have the race. Who cares?"

"We all care," answered Harriet, springing to her feet. "We simply must win that race now. Everybody will laugh at us if we don't, and I just couldn't stand it to see those boys grinning triumphantly at us afterwards. I don't care so much about the others."

"What would you suggest, Harriet?" inquired Miss Elting.

"Suggest? Why, there is only one thing to suggest. Checkmate them at their own game. We'll start for Meadow-Brook this very night and we'll keep going until we get there. Are you with me, girls?"

"Yes!" shouted the girls.

CHAPTER XXIV-CONCLUSION

"Not quite so fast, girls," warned Miss Elting.

They turned toward her questioningly. Their eyes were sparkling, their faces flushed.

"What would you suggest, Miss Elting?" asked Harriet.

"Remember, that, if we take the route suggested by the Gipsy, we shall have to travel some of the roughest country in the state. Are you equal to the hike?"

"Yes!"

"We shall have to walk all night and a good part of the day to-morrow, and even then the boys may win the contest. Are you willing to try it?"

"Yes!"

"Then we will make our plans and get started. According to my calculations, it will be a twenty mile hike to Meadow-Brook by the way we propose to go. The boys will have a good ten miles further to travel if they go by way of the road. But having better going they will naturally travel much faster than we. Listen! We must travel light, with nothing in our packs except just sufficient food to carry us through.

Jane, you will have to spend the night at the nearest farm house and come back for the tent and supplies in the morning. I hardly believe any one will disturb them over night. You must go at once or the people of the house will have retired. Go quietly."

Ten minutes later Jane was on her way to the farm house in her car, undetected by the members of the Tramp Club.