knew that the girls proposed going alone.
They believed Mr. Fabian or Mr. Ashby's chauffeur would drive the car.

Eleanor bragged about her ability to drive an automobile and the girls
knew from experience how well Dodo could drive, so the outing was planned
without any grown-up being consulted about the driving or chaperoning.

"Did not Carl have a road-map in the side-pocket of the car, the day he
drove us to Stamford?" asked Polly.

"Yes, but the car is in the garage, and the map with it," returned
Eleanor.

"Daddy has a road-map. I'll get his," remarked Ruth Ashby, who had been
invited to be one of the party this trip.

"Then bring it around tonight, Ruth, when you come to plan about the
route we ought to choose for this outing," said Polly.

Ruth hurried home and immediately after dinner, that evening, she found
the map in the library desk-drawer and tucked it in her pocket. As she
ran through the front hall she called to her mother:

"I'm going over to the Fabians for a little talk, Mummy."

"But, Ruth, you just came from there a few moments before dinner," came
from Mrs. Ashby.

"Oh, I didn't visit that time! I only stopped in with the girls to wait
and see if Nancy had a map they all need. Now I'm going to visit,"
explained Ruth.

Mrs. Ashby laughed at a girl's interpretations of a call and Ruth ran
out.

Their pretty heads were closely bending over the map, when Mr. Fabian
passed the living-room door and stopped a moment to consider the picture
they made under the soft-shaded light. He went on to his private den
without saying a word to distract their attention from (as he thought)
their books of learning.

"Now listen here, girls!" exclaimed Nancy, tracing a line on the map.
"Polly doesn't know much about this end of the United States, and Eleanor
doesn't know much more than Polly does but I am supposed to be well
informed about Westchester County, having lived there when I was a little
girl. So I can tell you something about this road I've traced."

The four girls lifted their heads and listened eagerly.

"You know Dobb's Ferry and its vicinity was there in the days of the
Revolution, and Washington camped at that town. Even the Headquarters he
occupied is to be seen as it was at that time. This road, running
easterly from Dobb's Ferry, is the old turnpike road used by the army as
it marched towards the Hudson.

"Now this is what I say! Why shouldn't there be lots of old houses along
that