"Something has happened, Richard," cried Mrs. Presby.
"Something will happen to my gout, too, if I have to remain out in this chill atmosphere," declared Mr. Presby irritably.
"Hurry, hurry!" wailed the distant voice of Tommy.
"Oh, what is it?" cried Mrs. Presby, picking up her skirts and running down the drive.
"They're killed! They're killed!" howled Tommy. "They've smashed into the gates. Everything's done. Finished!"
"Run, Richard! Quick! Get help! An accident has occurred," begged Olive's mother.
The woman was almost beside herself with terror. Tommy's face was ghastly.
"Here's Ruth," he said, almost brusquely, lifting the girl by main strength and staggering toward the house. He bore the burden only a few feet, however, then hastily deposited it on the ground. Ruth was senseless.
A neighbor had witnessed the accident and with rare forethought telephoned for a doctor. By this time a general alarm had been sounded. The old fire bell on Treasureholme had been rung by Mr. Presby as the quickest method of summoning assistance. Neighbors came on the run. They were appalled when they first looked upon the wreck of the old gates. The wreck at first sight appeared to be much worse than it really was. The automobile motors were still racing, the exhaust emitting frequent explosions that sounded like the discharge of a Gatling gun. It was almost as though Mr. A. Bubble were summoning assistance on his own responsibility.
No time was lost, however, in attending to the five girls. Ruth and Grace being nearest at hand, were quickly lifted by strong arms and borne to the house. The three girls still in the automobile were tenderly lifted out and also carried in. Each girl was placed in the room that had been set aside for her. The doctor was on hand almost by the time the girls had been placed on their beds. He made a hasty diagnosis of each case, announced that no bones had been broken and, assisted by Mrs. Presby, administered restoratives to the victims of the accident, who soon recovered consciousness.