Somehow, the idea of having Bess as a rival to Ida suggested fun to Jack.

“Now we have it,” went on Cora’s brother, as Bess alighted from the Whirlwind and entered the Get There.  “Are we all ready?”

“Where’s Walter going?” asked Cora, for he had given up his seat to Jack, who moved to make room for Bess.  Mary, Cora and Belle were in the touring car.

“I guess I’d better get into the big machine,”, decided Walter.  “Three such pretty girls in it all alone are an unequal division of beauty and talent—­the last for myself, of course.”

He moved toward the Whirlwind.  Ida frowned.  She had rather hoped to have matters so arranged that Walter would be with her.  Cora saw the frown and laughed merrily as Walter slipped into the seat beside her.

“I suppose you think you are going to do the mascoting for this car,” she said.

“At your service, mademoiselle,” replied Walter, trying to bow, a politeness rather difficult of accomplishment in a small seat.  “Do anything you like, but don’t run me into the ditch.  My watch is deadly afraid of ditches.”

Then Cora introduced Mary, the little model blushing refreshingly.

Walter made a mental note of Mary’s eyes, and the soft tints, like the bloom of a peach, in her cheeks.  The two other girls were not slow to observe his interest.  It was odd, thought Cora, how boys go in for the romantic sort—­and models!

“All ready?” called Jack again.

Ida shook her head.  She looked critically at the clutch lever, from her seat at the wheel, which Sid had relinquished to her.  The lever was not properly adjusted, and she called her companion’s attention to it.

Sid shifted it, and then Walter called from his seat beside Cora.

“All ready here!”

“It’s about time,” murmured Jack, jokingly.

The cars, which had been cranked, were “chug-chugging” away, and vibrating with the speed of the unleashed motors.  Three clutch pedals were released, and the three cars moved forward.  There was a grinding of gears, as Ida threw in a higher speed.  Her hand and ear were not quite true, but to the surprise of the others her car darted ahead.  It was speedier than had been thought.

It was a beautifully clear road, and the machines were now fairly flying along it.  Bess clung desperately to the wooden rim of the steering wheel of Jack’s car.

“Keep her straight,” he cautioned.  “Don’t work so hard at it.  An auto is like a horse—­a light, firm touch is what it needs.”

“Um!” murmured Bess.  She was afraid to open her mouth lest she should lose her breath in the wind.

“Look out for that wagon!” Walter suddenly called to Cora.

A clumsy vehicle was some distance in advance, and seemed to be standing still, so slow was the movement.  Ida was nearer to it than the others, and as she passed it she swung safely to one side, giving several disconcerting blasts on the horn as she did so.  She was proving herself a good driver.