“Jennie is really the only vicious one in the family now,” observed Mr. Duffy, apologetically, pointing to an immense alligator which had stretched its length on a log. Jennie opened her jaws with a humorous grin as if her vicious reputation was an amusing subject to her.
They were still laughing at her when one of the children of the lodge-keeper ran up quite breathlessly.
“Miss Campbell is wanted on the telephone,” she said.
“Me?” cried Billie. “What in the world? There must be some mistake. Who could want to speak to me over the telephone?”
“Best way to find out is to run and see,” replied Mr. Duffy. “If it’s long distance, and it probably is, they may be paying for time, remember.”
Billie hurried after the child and the other Motor Maids followed, being as curious as she to learn who could be telephoning her in this remote region.
“Oh, my dear, I’m afraid the person couldn’t wait, whoever it was,” exclaimed Miss Campbell, meeting her young cousin at the door of the bungalow. “I thought it was for me at first, and I tried to take the message. There was some confusion about it. You know I’m no good over the telephone.”
Billie seized the receiver.
“Hello!” she cried. “This is Billie Campbell.”
An immense distance off, a still, small, and yet strangely familiar voice seemed to be speaking to her out of space: