“We’ve had enough excitement to-day to last a month,” said Gladys, as they hastened tack to the house the second time to get the sweater and shoes.  “I’m all tired out.”

“So am I,” said Nyoda.

“We have just time enough to make that four o’clock car, and none to spare,” said Gladys, as they rode toward town in the street-car.  As if everything were conspiring against them to-day, a heavy truck, loaded with boxes, got caught in the car-track right in front of them and blocked traffic for ten minutes.  Gladys and Nyoda looked tragically at each other at this delay.  Nyoda held up her watch significantly.  It was ten minutes to four.  Just then Gladys spied a man she knew in an automobile, slowly passing the car.  She called to him through the open window.  “Will you take us in if we get off the car?” she asked.  “We’re trying to make the four o’clock Limited.”

“Certainly,” agreed the obliging friend.  The transfer of seats was soon made.  “How much time have you?” asked the friend as he shoved in the spark.

“Ten minutes,” replied Gladys.

“We’ll make it,” said the friend, dodging between the vehicles that were standing around the disabled truck, helping to pull it from the car-tracks.  Getting into a clear road, he opened the throttle and they proceeded like the wind for about six blocks.  Then, for no apparent reason, the car slowed down, and with a whining whir of machinery came to a dead stop.  “I’m afraid I can’t make good my promise to catch that car,” said the friend in a vexed tone, after vainly trying to start the car for several minutes.  “I’ll have to be towed to a garage,” Nyoda and Gladys jumped out, hailed a passing street-car and reached the station just five minutes too late.  The Limited had already pulled out.

“Five girls with red ties?” repeated the crossing policeman when they made inquiries to find out if the other girls had gone and left them.  “They all got on the Limited.”  There was no doubt about their having gone, then.

“You know, you said if any were late they’d get left,” said Gladys.  “Whoever was here for the car was to go and not wait.  Won’t they laugh, though, at you being the late one?”

“There won’t be another Limited for two hours,” said Nyoda impatiently, “and the local takes twice as long to get there.  I’ll telephone Mrs. Bates that we missed this car but will come out on the next Limited.”

“Missed the car?” said Mrs. Bates, when they had her on the wire.  “That’s too bad.  But you won’t have to wait for the other Limited.  Our driver is in town to-day with the automobile and he can bring you out.  He’s in Morrison’s now ordering some supplies, and the car is at the corner of ——­th Avenue and L——­ Street.  Just get into the car and it’ll be all right.  John always calls me up before he starts for home and I’ll tell him about you.  It’s a blue car, rather bright, with a cane streamer.”