“Why shouldn’t we?” asked Marjorie. “What do you mean, Flos?”
“Nothing special—only I have a presentment that things aren’t going so smoothly as you have planned.”
“Oh, nonsense!” laughed Alice, lightly. “Don’t be pessimistic. Besides we have twelve extra days, not counting the three we expect to spend at Mae’s, in case we are delayed by storms and flat tires.”
“I dare say we’ll need them,” concluded Florence, determined to have the last word.
The boys too showed the same spirit of doubt. One and all they announced that they did not believe the scouts could make the trip on scheduled time. Perhaps this was because they hated to admit their ability to get along without masculine assistance, and perhaps it was because they did not want the girls to go. It was Jack who finally came forth with a suggestion.
“Why not show your good sense, Sis,” he began, addressing Marjorie, although he meant his remarks for all the scouts, “and give the thing up! Really, it’s wild; you’ll tire yourselves all out, and won’t win your reward in the end—or anything else for that matter. It was lots more fun to have you running a tea-room, and hunting spooks. Why not do that again, and buy your own cars with the proceeds?”
“But we’d never have the good fortune to find another haunted house,” returned Marjorie. “And think how dull it would be without the spooks!”
“Good fortune?” repeated Lily. “Dull without them! Now, Marj, you know it kept us in a constant torment. No, thanks; I for one prefer the calm of a motor trip.”
“Wait till you’ve had your motor trip,” said Jack, significantly. “Then maybe you can talk more about the calm of it. From what I hear, it’s anything but calm.”
“But think of the reward!” Marjorie reminded him.