we did manage to reach Bensington. But the probability is that
we would be forced to stop a little further on, and I must say I don't
exactly enjoy the prospect of spending the night alone on this deserted
road."

Grace shivered, but answered with a nervous little laugh: "I don't know
but what we would be safe enough at that. If we can't get through,
probably nobody else could."

"Just the same," said Betty decidedly, "I think I would rather cling to
the old theory that there is safety in numbers. Besides, probably your
mother would rather decide that for us. Are they still coming, Grace?"

"Goodness, you remind me of Bluebeard's wife," Grace laughed
hysterically. "I thought you were going to say, 'Sister Anne, Sister
Anne, do you see a man'?"

"Well, I see something better than a man," cried Betty suddenly,
straining her eyes through the darkness and the streaming windshield.
"Grace honey, do my eyes deceive me, or is that a light?"

"A light!" cried Grace excitedly. "Oh, Betty, where--wait--yes, I see
it! It is a light! And there's another! Two lighted windows! Betty,
honey, we're saved!"

"It's a house!" cried Betty jubilantly, while the hand that held the
steering wheel shook with relief. "You darling, wonderful house. Gracie,
dear, I think it showed on the horizon just in the nick of time. Look
behind once more."

"Yes, they're still coming. Oh, if they only don't get stuck in front of
the door!"

"Don't be a goose, Gracie," chided Betty, feeling in hilarious spirits
now that the end of their trouble was in sight. "You ought to get down
on your knees in thankfulness that there is a front door to get stuck in
front of!"

"Oh, is that so?" mocked Grace, her own spirits reviving at the prospect
of relief. "Well, I'm thankful enough, but I certainly don't intend to
get down on my knees about it. There isn't room in here and you can see
it's too muddy outside!"

Two minutes later Betty swung the little car from the, by this time,
almost impassable road on to a gloriously graveled driveway that led up
to the hospitably lighted house.

"Now, if whoever lives here will only let us in," she sighed, as she
stopped the car and glanced behind to be sure Mollie was following them,
"we'll have nothing left to ask for."

"Except something to eat," amended Grace hungrily. "I thought I had
eaten enough lunch to last me a week, but I see I'm muchly mistaken.
What shall we do, Betty?" as the latter started to open the