"That Jones?" asked Bess, as innocently as if she had not seen the girl race and heard about the man claiming her prize.
"Why, yes, of course," replied Cora. "And he says she is deaf and dumb. Who's calling? Didn't you hear some one?"
"Yes, there's Mabel Blake hurrying after us," said Belle. "She looks excited."
The girl who was running along the path did indeed "look excited."
The motor girls waited.
"Oh, I thought I would never catch up to you!" Mabel panted. "You do walk at such a pace!"
"Why, how are you, Mabel?" asked Cora graciously. "I heard you had gone back to Chelton."
"We did intend to—but we haven't," she faltered. "Jeannette has been ill."
"Ill!" exclaimed more than one voice.
"Yes, that's what I want to see you about. I don't know what to do," and Mabel's pretty brown eyes filled to the lashes.
"Can we help you?" Cora asked.