But the farmer was anxious to get out of trouble.
“I’ll just lead the hoss back myself,” he said. “No charge at all, miss.” Evidently afraid of trouble, the farmer made a hurried start homeward, and was soon lost to view, while Barbara rode back to her friends with help.
In ten minutes two motor cars were making their way into New Haven. The passengers had changed places. Ruth sat contentedly with her hands folded in her lap, by the side of a masculine chauffeur, who had introduced himself as Hugh Post, and turned out to be the roommate, at college, of Mrs. Cartwright’s brother, Donald. Barbara, wrapped in steamer rugs, sat beside the boy with the dark hair and blue eyes, whom Miss Sallie had recognized as Ralph Ewing, son of the friends with whom they expected to board at Newport.
It was arranged that Barbara and Ruth were to sleep together the first night at New Haven. The truth was, they wanted to talk things over, and there were no connecting doors between the three rooms. The hotel was an old one, and the rooms were big and dreary. They were connected by a narrow private hall, opening into the main hall by a single door, just opposite Ruth’s and Barbara’s room. The automobile girls were in a distant wing of the hotel, but the accommodations were the best that could be found.
Miss Sallie bade their rescuers a prompt farewell on arrival at the hotel. “We shall be delighted to see you again in the morning,” she said, “but we are too used up for anything more to-night.”
Barbara was promptly put to bed. She was not even allowed to go down to supper with the other girls, but lay snuggled in heavy covers, eating from a tray by her bed. Once or twice she thought she heard light footfalls outside in the main hall, but she had noticed a window that opened on a fire escape, and supposed that one of the hotel guests had walked down the corridor to look out of this window.
In a short time Ruth came back and reported that the automobile girls, including Miss Sallie, were ready for bed.
“I am not a bit sleepy. Are you?” Ruth asked Barbara. “I will just jump in here with you, so we can talk better. We’ve certainly had enough adventures for one day!”
“Oh, no!” replied Barbara; “I feel quite wide awake.” Five minutes later both girls were fast asleep.