It was while they were sitting talking, that they became aware of clattering of hoofs. A moment later the door flew open and Shirley staggered into the room. Both girls were on their feet in an instant.
“Shirley!” they cried, and rushed forward.
It was then that Shirley had fainted.
CHAPTER IV.—A RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
“How long are we likely to be delayed, conductor?”
The speaker was Shirley, and the date was one week from the day on which the girl, by her daring ride, had saved scores in the Illinois town and in the valley from perishing in the flood.
Shirley and her friend Mabel had left their chum’s home the day before. In the morning they caught a train out of St. Louis, and now, in the afternoon, they had learned that their train would be held indefinitely in Indianapolis because of a serious wreck ahead.
“There is no telling, miss,” was the conductor’s answer to Shirley’s question. “The wreck is a bad one, and it is impossible to say just when the track will be cleared. If we wait for that, it is likely to be hours. We may, however, be routed over some other line. I shall know within a quarter of an hour.”
“Thank you,” replied Shirley, and the two girls continued to pace up and down alongside their car.
Half an hour later the conductor approached them.