er to a doctor would not make up for any injury caused by a
jolt," said practical Betty. "Besides, I do not think she can be
seriously hurt. Her hair is so very thick that she could stand a very
hard blow on the head. There are no other signs of injuries; but of
course there may be internal hurts. She did not fall far, those branches
were very close to the ground."
"What she can have been doing up the tree is a mystery," remarked Grace.
"Like the time when we found that five hundred dollar bill," added
Mollie.
"And the 'ghost' of Elm Island, and the missing papers in the saddle
bags," remarked Amy to Grace.
Mollie had brought her car to a stop, and alighted to help lift in the
unconscious girl. Between them Amy and Grace held her in the tonneau,
her head resting on Amy's shoulder, a damp handkerchief covering the cut
to keep any dirt from getting in it. Mollie again took her place at the
steering wheel, and when Betty had gotten in the girls started off with
their strange passenger.
"I couldn't imagine what it was, when I saw something white falling out
of the tree," spoke Mollie, driving along on high gear, but with the
motor well throttled down.
"Nor could I," added Betty. "And when you steered out so suddenly, I
thought surely we would crash into the stone fence, just beyond the
bushes."
"So did I, but I knew there was only one thing to do, and that was to
put on the brakes as hard as I could."
"And you did," said Grace. "I didn't know you could move so quickly,
Mollie."
"You can do many things when the emergency comes," replied Mollie, as
she turned out to avoid a rut in the road.
"This is better than a dozen lessons in the art of managing an auto,"
commented Betty. "Practical problems are what count--not theoretical
ones. Does she seem all right, Grace?" and she looked around at the
unconscious girl.
"Yes, and her breathing is better. I think she will soon come to."
"That's good. See, there's a house. We can take her in, and ask where
the nearest doctor is," and Betty pointed ahead.
Presently the auto stopped before it, and to a motherly-looking woman
who came out, Betty and the girls quickly explained what had happened.
"Of course! Bring the poor dear in!" the woman directed. "The men folks
are over in the far meadow salting the cows, or I'd send one of them for
Dr. Brown. He's most likely to be home too, now. He lives down the road
a piece--about a mile."
"I can go for him in th
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