“He’s not very bright, Dolly.  He’s cunning, like some animals, and that makes him seem cleverer than he is.  But I think that he really just acts by instinct most of the time, and that that’s one reason he’s so mean.”

“Well, have you thought of any way of getting back to the farm except by the trolley?”

“No—­o.  The only thing I did think of was that you might go ahead.  They wouldn’t bother you, I guess.  They’d be afraid to, you see, because you’ve got a lot of friends and relatives who’d make an awful fuss if they tried to bother you.  Then I could stay here, and you could tell Miss Eleanor, and she’d get Charlie Jamieson, or someone to come after me here in an automobile—­”

“I think that’s too risky, Bessie.  They’d guess that I knew where you were, and if they’re ready to take such big chances to get hold of you, they might carry me off and keep me somewhere for a few days—­long enough to keep me from taking word to Miss Eleanor and bringing help to you.  And you see you wouldn’t know why they didn’t come, and, oh, no, I think we’d better not try anything like that!”

“It would be risky, Dolly, and I know it as well as you do.  But I don’t see what else we’re going to do.  I hate to see you mixed up with my troubles—­it isn’t fair.  I think I’d better just let them catch me, and take a chance of getting away afterward—­”

“Bessie King, do you think I’d let you anything like that?  Whose fault is it that you’re in this trouble?  Mine, isn’t it?  Well, we’re going to stick together!  I’m certainly not going to let you get into more trouble just for the sake of saving me from sharing it.  And I’ve got an idea, anyhow.  Jake Hoover looks to me as if one could fool him pretty easily.  He doesn’t know what I look like, does he?”

“I don’t suppose he does, Dolly.  I don’t see how he could.  But what’s that got to do with it?”

“Just you wait and see!  If you had any plan, Bessie, I wouldn’t want to suggest anything, because I think you’re a lot cleverer than I am.  But I have fooled boys before now, just for fun, and I think maybe I can do it this time, when I’ve really got a good reason for doing it.  These woods along the road here aren’t very thick so let’s walk along, and follow the road, until we come in sight of the trolley.  Then we’ll see what it’s like where the trolley comes along, and maybe we’ll he able to fool Mr. Jake Hoover, the horrid thing!  I think he must be a dreadful coward to persecute a girl the way he does you.  You never did anything to him, did you?”

“No, but he never liked me from the time he was a little boy.  He was always trying to get me into trouble with Maw Hoover.  I don’t know why he hates me so, but he certainly does.”

“Well, he doesn’t hate you half as much as I hate him, I promise you that, Bessie!  And I’ve usually managed to get even with the people I hate, if it wasn’t too much trouble.  I’m hungry now, and thirsty, and it’s his fault—­partly.  I’m going to get even with him for that.”