“It was a good thing for Bernice, too. She was about all in,” said Janet.
When they reached the Hardy home, Janet’s mother insisted that Helen and Mrs. Thorne come in and have a hot lunch before going to their own home.
While the girls took off their coats and Mr. Hardy put the car into the garage, Mrs. Hardy bustled out into the kitchen where she had left a kettle of water simmering on the stove.
Lunch was ready in short order, tea, peanut butter sandwiches, cookies and a large bowl of fruit.
Janet and Helen had ravenous appetites and the sandwiches disappeared as though by magic.
“How cold is it, Dad?” asked Janet.
“Twenty-two below.”
“The wind was awful,” said Helen, between bites at a sandwich.
“I know. It was pretty fierce going across country in the hayrack. The boys must have used their heads for someone banked the bus with snow.”
“That was Jim Barron’s idea. He and Ed Rickey kept us moving and talking most of the time, but we forgot Miss Bruder. She was in a draft and almost froze to death without saying a word to anyone.”