Without the slightest warning a big tire overheated, had ripped clear off the front wheel, the inner tube exploded, and the car had almost gone into a ditch when Cora stopped it.
Bess had seen the trouble, and was able to halt her car far enough away to avoid a collision.
"Isn't that dreadful!" cried Cora, her face as white as the tie at her throat. "It ripped off just from speed!"
"Can't it be fixed?" asked Hazel, who now was out beside Cora.
"Oh, of course! but how and when? I have another shoe, but to get it on, and the boys, as usual, out of sight!"
She had pulled off her gloves and was looking at the split tire. It was marvelous that it should have come off so clean—simply peeled.
"And it's five o'clock," said Belle, with her usual unfortunate way of saying something to make things worse.
"But it isn't midnight," almost snapped Cora.
"Let's try to call the boys," suggested Belle. "Aren't they dreadful to get so far away?"
"Very rude," and Cora showed some sarcasm. "But the thing to do right now is not to wait for anybody, but to get to work. Bess, can you help me slip in a tube and put on a shoe?"