On seeing her father, Ruth's first question was, "What happened to A. Bubble?"
Mr. Stuart did not know. He promised to find out, which he did an hour or so later. Mr. A. Bubble, he told her, would be sent to a shop for repairs the next day, as he intended going back to Chicago that night and would attend to it. The radiator had been badly bent, the forward axle had buckled, guards were smashed, the hood was damaged, in short, Mr. Bubble presented a most disreputable appearance.
Mr. Stuart told Ruth she was in a certain degree responsible for the accident, still she had no thought that the gates would be closed.
"I'll know enough after this to keep my car under control. I won't try to knock over any more houses and things," Ruth retorted.
By the afternoon of their second day at Treasureholme the "Automobile Girls" had practically gotten over the effects of their accident and were cosily established in Olive's room consuming hot chocolate and cakes while Olive, at their urgent request, again recounted the story of the buried treasure. Now that they were face to face with the great mystery, they were alive with curiosity. They were burning to see with their own eyes the place that held so much of mystery and perhaps a fortune that was probably being trodden over by human feet every hour of the day.
CHAPTER VIII
EXPLORING THE SECRET PASSAGE
"I CERTAINLY do adore this room!" exclaimed Mollie Thurston, with glowing eyes.