Chapter VII
SANCTUARY AT HOME
It was nearly an hour later when the tractor breasted the last grade and rolled down to the paved road where a dozen cars, all of them warmly heated and well lighted, were strung along the road. Anxious fathers and mothers were on hand, including Janet’s mother and Mrs. Thorne and they welcomed their thoroughly chilled daughters to their bosoms.
Janet’s father shepherded them into their own sedan where despite the sub-zero cold the heater had kept the car comfortable. Then they started the final lap of their eventful trip from Youde’s home.
Helen and Janet sank back on the cushions of the capacious rear seat, thoroughly worn out by their trying experience.
Janet’s father, one of the most prominent attorneys in Clarion, slipped in behind the wheel, slamming the car door and shutting out the biting blast of air.
There were other cars ahead of them and they made no attempt at high speed as they rolled back into the city.
“How did you ever find us, Dad?” asked Janet.
“You can thank the bus driver for that. Somehow he got through to a farmhouse. He was almost frozen, but he managed to tell them the story and they phoned word in to us.”
“Who thought of the tractor and hayrack?” asked Helen, warm once more.
“It was Hugh Grogan, Bernice’s father. He sells the caterpillars. Good thing he did or we’d never have gotten through.”