“Ten o’clock!” repeated Lily in dismay. “Suppose we waste two more hours! We’ll never make it!”
“I have an idea,” continued Marjorie. “We won’t take any chances. Two of you girls take a taxi and give the driver the address; then we’ll play follow the leader close behind with our machine.”
The plan was immediately adopted, and at eleven o’clock they were back at the hotel where they started. Lily and Mrs. Remington were elected to ride in the taxi, which, to the girls’ surprise, drove off in the opposite direction from which they had just come. Marjorie turned about and trailed it for about half an hour; then, at precisely twenty-five minutes after eleven, they entered an impressive gateway and drove up the long, winding road which led to the Vaughn mansion. The girls were so awe-struck by its grandeur that they almost neglected to pay the taxi driver.
“I’ve never been in any place so wonderful!” gasped Daisy, as she mounted the steps.
“It looks like the movies,” added Ethel. “I hardly expect to find real people—”
“We had better not delay too long,” advised Florence, calling them back to the practical. “We have only half an hour before our time is up, and it may take them that long to answer the bell!”
“Especially if they have gone to bed,” remarked Alice.
“But surely they’d wait till midnight!” said Marjorie.
A moment later, in answer to their ring, the door was opened by a butler, and the girls entered the most magnificent house they had ever seen. They believed that at last they were safe from delay and disaster; they had won their goal! The grandfather’s clock in the hall struck the half hour as they passed into the drawing-room.