Thoughtlessly Mrs. Ewing rushed up to Miss Stuart. “Have Ruth and Barbara joined you?” she asked.
“Why, no,” replied the two girls in amazement. Ralph stared in surprise; but Miss Sallie spoke firmly. “Tell me, at once, what has happened.” In the midst of real danger Miss Stuart was a different woman, as Mr. Stuart well knew when he allowed her to chaperon the automobile girls.
Mrs. Ewing had nothing to tell. All she knew was that the girls had gone out for a long walk, and, at eight o’clock, had not come back.
“Come with me, Ralph,” Miss Sallie demanded. Grace and Mollie followed them.
“Don’t be frightened, Mollie,” Grace begged, trying to talk cheerfully, though she was trembling violently. “Rely upon Ruth and Bab to get safely out of a scrape.”
Just as they reached the end of the street that turned into the cliff walk, Miss Sallie espied a servant of the Cartwrights running in their direction. “Stop him!” she commanded Ralph.
“Sure, mum, I am to tell you,” the gardener’s boy said, “the young ladies was not killed.”
“Not killed!” the girls cried, in horror. Ralph took hold of Mollie’s hand.
“That is what I was to say, mum,” said the boy, evidently much excited. “They is not much hurt and will be home soon.”
“Take me to them, at once,” ordered Miss Sallie, asking no further questions. The gardener’s boy led the way.