“Our Brownie Scout troop leader,” explained Connie.
The circus man lifted both girls down from the golden coach. Their limbs were so cramped they barely could stand on their feet at first.
“How long have you youngsters been in this car?” he asked in a more friendly voice.
“We don’t know,” Veve answered between sobs. “Ever since the circus train left Shady Hollow.”
“That was late yesterday afternoon. It’s practically morning now. How did you get in this car anyhow?”
Veve and Connie told him of their excursion into Shady Hollow to buy groceries to take back to the Brownie Scout camp, and of their desire to sit in the golden coach “just for a minute.”
“We didn’t mean to be carried away,” Connie explained earnestly. “Someone just slammed the door and we couldn’t get out.”
“What will become of us?” inquired Veve anxiously.
“You’ll have to stay with the circus until your parents send for you.”
“But we don’t want to go home,” Connie said quickly. “We want to return to Shady Hollow Camp.”