oadster."

"A roadster?"

"Yes; a car built for traveling across country--one you can take long
trips in--a car built to stand no end of wear and tear."

"All right, boys!" Aurora called out at this moment. "We're through
lunch. Let's be moving. You know we want to get as near the mountains
as possible before putting up for the night."

So on they went, the country spreading out before them in gentle
undulations. The Ajax would climb a low hill to pass the pinnacle and
go bowling down into some miniature valley, over foot-bridges and
through grove after grove of pretty trees. It seemed that old Mother
Nature had spread on the scenic touches with a master hand in this
part of Maryland, and the occupants of the car thoroughly enjoyed
themselves, particularly as the recent rains had soaked the dirt so
thoroughly it had not yet had time to resolve itself again into dust.

Farmers stopped to watch them, often to wave hat or handkerchief as
they went flying past. To these salutations the girls took delight in
replying, greatly to the disgust and chagrin of Jim Barlow.

"Why, you don't even know them!" he said to Dorothy in a sternly
reproving tone, when she chided him gently about a reproof he had
just administered to Molly, who had become quite enthusiastic in her
efforts to attract the attention of a young farmer lad who was
plowing in a nearby field.

"Neither do they know us," the girl responded. "Besides, Molly is her
own mistress, and you have no right to tell her she may or may not do
as she pleases."

"But I can express my opinion on the subject," growled Jim. "This is
a free country."

"Ugh! He's a regular bear to-day, girls," said Aurora. "Let's leave
him alone until he can be civil."

Which made Jim grate his teeth in rage. He gradually cooled off,
however, when he found that no one was paying any attention to him,
and by the middle of the afternoon was laughing and chatting as gayly
as ever.

Villages appeared before their gaze every few miles, only to vanish
behind them as they went down the main street, the hoarse-voiced horn
sending out its warning to pedestrians. Their speed was clearly
within the limits of what was required by law, however, so they
experienced no trouble from country constables, as is often the case
when automobile parties go on tour.

Throughout the afternoon the big auto kept up its steady gait,
reeling off mile after mile, until the sun had disappeared below the
horizon. J