“Shall—shall we get out and walk?” asked Tess. “Maybe it can’t carry so many now.”
“Hear the kid!” scoffed Sammy. “’Tain’t nothing but an old mess of iron-work. It can’t get sick.”
There certainly was something, however, seriously the matter with the Corner House girls’ automobile. Just as they came abreast of the drive that led up to the big hay barn the engine coughed two or three times, and then stopped dead.
“All out!” ejaculated Neale, in disgust. “This looks like the end of our day’s journey.”
“And not a house in sight,” murmured Mrs. Heard.
CHAPTER XXII—SAMMY INVESTIGATES
It was a lovely afternoon, and there were still two or three hours before sunset. The intention had been merely to stop at the abandoned Higgins farm to satisfy Agnes’ desire to make another search of the premises for the lost motor car.
“I believe you wanted to look down the well to see if it was there,” Neale remarked, grumpily. “Well! you’ve time enough to do it.”
“Oh, Neale! don’t be nasty,” said his girl chum. “I’m sorry if the old car is going to make you trouble——”
“Us trouble, I should say,” Ruth said, rather sharply. “Do you realize that we are an unconscionable long way from civilization?”