“Well, we will not be able to leave here for a week or ten days. I have some business affairs that must be put in order before I can get away. Besides, you two girls will want clothes and things, and you can’t get those in a minute.”
“We’ll go to town this afternoon and get some things,” declared Mabel.
“All right,” laughed Mr. Willing, “but just the same it will take you at least a week to get yourselves ready. Then I shall have to make arrangements for our passage, find out when we leave New York and attend to other details. It will take time.”
“But we shall go as soon as possible, Dad?” asked Shirley.
“Yes,” was the reply. “You may make sure of that. We shall go as soon as possible. Hello—who’s that?”
The others gazed in the direction of his pointing finger. Through the pike gate, at that moment, came a solitary horseman.
“I wonder who he is?” exclaimed Shirley.
CHAPTER II.—AN ADDITION TO THE PARTY.
The horseman came closer.
Suddenly Shirley gave an exclamation of delight. She had recognized the visitor even at this distance, which was too great for the others to perceive his identity. Mabel looked at her chum in astonishment.