“Well, I am sorry for you,” the man concluded; “and I guess I can find a safe place for your car under my shed. Only, if the place burns down I’ll lose my insurance—but I guess I’ll take a chance. You look pretty tired!”
They put the car away where he indicated, and crept wearily up the stairs to their rooms. The little clock that Mrs. Remington kept in her suit-case informed them that it was one o’clock in the morning—the beginning of a new day, the thirtieth of July. Yet they went to bed with a sense of victory in their hearts; they still possessed one car, and enough money to get them to their destination. Moreover, two days remained to complete their trip to the coast!
FOLLOW THE LEADER
CHAPTER XIII
FOLLOW THE LEADER
When the Girl Scouts went to sleep that night, they had every intention of making the usual start at eight o’clock in the morning. Yet Mrs. Remington did not feel justified in asking to be called; they were all tired-out, and needed what sleep they could get. Moreover, she did not anticipate any real delay.
The surprise was therefore very great when Marjorie awakened to hear the town clock striking twelve. One glance at Lily told her that her companion had scarcely stirred during the night; a shout into the adjoining room assured her that the other girls were still in bed.
An overpowering sense of calamity hovered over her until she was able to recall the events of the previous night, and remembered that they had been robbed of all their ready cash. Just as she was about to arouse Lily, Mrs. Remington softly entered the room. Instantly Marjorie discerned that something further was wrong:
“What is it, Mrs. Remington?” she asked without any ceremony.
“My travellers’ checks are gone,” replied her visitor, with a slight tremor in her voice. “I did carry them in my satchel, but yesterday I remember that I transferred them to my purse. And of course I handed that over to the bandits!”