The two vehicles passed the officer on the way back, and Hester called out: “Hello, Mr. Babcock—did you catch the speeders?”
“No, I didn’t! I don’t see how they got away so quick!”
Then as the surrey followed the automobile in through the side gate of Green Hill, Frances said: “What was that you asked the officer?”
When she heard of the search for the speeders who had an exploded tire, she suddenly gasped. Then she bent double and laughed: “Girls! I’ll wager you this car that we were the speeders with the shot tire! That spot is just about where the tire burst on our way to Four Corners.”
The more they pondered it the more convinced were they that Frances was right. But Mrs. James said: “No use confessing at this late hour. We were really speeding out of necessity.”
The hive was firmly placed in a desirable spot under the trees and then the new bee-farmers walked slowly back to the house. The Tompkinses were persuaded to remain to Sunday dinner, and then the topic of recompense was argued again.
“S’pose we leave the subject for a week day,” said Mrs. Tompkins. “I feel sinful enough after doin’ all this hivin’, to do a little Bible readin’ now to pay for my back-slidin’.”
The rest of that Sabbath day was kept as it is commanded in Exodus. But it was the zeal of keeping the Commandment that made Janet forget to inquire why Susy had not tasted the milk left for her that morning.
It was Rachel who found the milk sour and curdled and never touched by the calf. Then she poured it out and tried fresh milk to tempt Susy, but the calf backed away when Rachel thrust the liquid at her nose.
That afternoon, when it was time to milk Sue, Mrs. Tompkins offered to teach a few of the scouts how to do it properly. So Janet, Natalie and Norma tried the milking that time but they found it hard on the fingers. They soon tired and gave place to another of the group. Finally, Mrs. James finished the task to the great relief of the cow.