“Oh, Mrs. Barnaby!” cried Elsie.
“Oh, Aunt Hannah!” exclaimed Kate.
“Stop them!” palpitated the girl with the blue eyes and golden hair.
“Drive away those horrid fellows who are trying to whip the one in the bicycle suit!” urged the other girl.
“What’s all the row about, anyhow?” asked the woman.
Then, hurriedly and brokenly, the two girls told her what had happened. Her kindly face grew stern and her eyes flashed as she listened.
“The rascals!” she exploded. “They oughter be hoss-whipped! I’d like to do it, too! Hey! you git out!”
She flourished her hands and swung the basket about, but the fighting lads did not heed her command.
Then Aunt Hannah hastened forward boldly and resolutely struck Rolf Harlow over the head with the basket.
Smash—spatter!