re they
were half way to Baltimore she was breathing freely once more,
conscious of the fact that in Gerald the big auto had a good pilot,
and convinced that did the occasion demand it, the car could be
brought to a standstill within its own length.

"I believe I like it when you 'speed her up,' as you say," she
finally admitted, greatly to Gerald's delight. "I hope I shan't
develop a mania for speeding, however, as that would necessitate my
buying a car--something which I don't feel able to do just at
present."

"I shouldn't allow you to buy one," said Dorothy, a note of authority
in her voice that caused a laugh from the others.

"Humph! Talks like she rules the ranch," said Jim.

"Well, maybe I do, Mr. Smarty," replied the girl. "One thing I am
quite sure of--_you_ don't!"

"Come, children; neither of you rule the ranch," Aunt Betty
intervened. "I rule it and expect to do so for an indefinite period."

"See!" Jim cried, tauntingly. "Told you so! Told you so!"

Dorothy aimed a playful blow at him, but he dodged and caught her arm
in a vise-like grip, refusing to let go until she had promised to be
a good girl.

At ten-fifteen they passed through a village which Gerald said was
the half-way mark between Baltimore and the South Mountains.

"We have rather a bad stretch of road ahead, however," he told them,
"so for the next half hour it will be slower going. But wait till we
strike the graveled county road this side of Baltimore. Then we'll
make up some of our lost time."

But somehow this did not interest Aunt Betty. She was talking with
the girls and apparently felt not the slightest tremor at the thought
of going at a faster pace--a change that Dorothy noticed and
commented on with no little delight.

Just when Gerald was congratulating himself that the roughest part of
the trip was over, the front tire on the left exploded with a bang
that brought a scream from every feminine inmate of the car.

Molly, who was nearest the noise, promptly threw her arms around
Gerald's neck, and clung there as if her very life depended on it.

It was with considerable difficulty that the boy retained the
presence of mind to stop the car. But he did so immediately, then
gave himself up to the task of releasing Molly's arms. When he had
succeeded, he kissed her on the lips, greatly to her amazement and
chagrin, for the others, recovered from their momentary scare,
laughed heartily.

"Gerald Blank!" she cried. "I'll n