ed. "It may cause trouble, but we will be as careful as we can."

"Well, boss," said the man, "you sure are good boys. My team--well, I
don't know what they might have done if I'd tried to pass you on the
outside."

He turned back to the couple on the hay. "Say, Danny, you slide off and
then help Nan down. Be keerful! Remember she's your sister, and if she
gets a fall you'll have to settle with me later."

Danny, a straw-hatted, barefooted lad with a freckled face and dangling
legs, managed to slide himself down against the bluff and also managed
to assist the girl in following him to a spot where they could uneasily
await further developments.

"Better not start your car until I git by," remarked the farmer, while
Phil, still holding the bridles, aided the loaded wagon to slip by the
red monster, now quiet enough on the dangerous side of the road. Once
their backs were towards the machine the team quieted down quickly
enough.

"Let me help you down, miss," said Phil, who never forgot his manners,
springing back towards the young couple climbing down to the roadway.

Danny, like many brothers, having scrambled down unaided, went to his
father's aid, though aid was now unnecessary. Phil soon helped Nan down,
the weight of her plump young body convincing him that she must be
several years older than Dan.

"I'm mightily obliged, sir," she lisped, with an upward glance at the
boy as he landed her squarely on her feet, not bare like her brother's
but clad in fairly dainty footwear. "I don't know what we'd 'a' done but
for you."

"Pshaw, that's nothing! I'm sure glad we were on hand, Miss--" He
hesitated. "Is there anything more we can do?"

Nothing, apparently; but before starting the car again, Paul called out:

"Say, Mister! How far is it to the nearest town on this road?"

"Ten mile, I reckon. We live three miles beyond."

As the car started Phil waved a hand from the auto, whereat a white
handkerchief fluttered back an answering signal.

Dave turned back to Way, saying:

"Blame if I don't believe you've made a regular mash on that girl--hey,
Paul?" Paul, now at the wheel, was too busy to reply.

"Wonder what they were doing so far from home with a load of hay?" said
Dave.

"It's past haying time now," was Worth's comment. "Must be taking it off
somewhere to sell. If so, that explains why the girl was dressed so
nicely."

"How about the man and boy?" asked Paul. "They looked like real
hayseeds."

"