"I called for both of them," Roy answered, grinning, "but it seems they'd overslept themselves, and they said they'd be along later."
"Well, if it's very much later," said Grace grimly, "they might as well go back to bed again. That train isn't going to wait."
"Oh, they'll be here all right," Roy assured her confidently. "They're not going to be left behind when there's any adventure like this afoot."
"Here they come now," cried Betty, running to the edge of the porch and waving frantically. "Amy's with them, too. Must have picked her up on the way."
"We'll save time if we go on down to meet them," Roy suggested, taking Grace by the arm. "Come along, girls, we really haven't any time to waste."
Betty and Mollie needed no such invitation. They were down the steps and flying along the street before Grace had risen from her chair.
"Oh, we were so afraid you'd be late," gasped Betty, as Allen caught her on the wing, as it were, and drew her to his side. "And if you weren't there on time, you might be tried for desertion, mightn't you?" she added, looking so adorable in her concern that Allen failed to reassure her right away.
"Well, I don't know that we have to be there just on the minute," he answered, smiling down at her. "But I may be really tried for desertion some day. I can't stay away from you very long, Betty."
She flushed and turned her eyes away.
"I wouldn't get you into any trouble for the world," she said demurely.