you know I have kept a secret to myself for three whole days. Of course,
I told Mollie to-night, when you left us by ourselves, but that doesn't
count."

Mollie's cheeks were glowing and her eyes dancing in the soft firelight.
"Oh, yes," she added naughtily, "Ruth and I can keep good news to
ourselves as well as other people. At least," she continued wistfully,
her eyes turning to her mother, "I hope it is good news."

"Mrs. Thurston," inquired Ruth, "don't you dearly love 'The Automobile
Girls'?"

Mrs. Thurston smiled. "I most certainly do," she replied.

"Then all is well!" Ruth made her a low curtsey. "Anyone who truly loves
'The Auto-Girls' cannot fail to rejoice at my news. Mrs. Thurston, we
cannot bear to be disbanded. We must get together again before I go home
to Chicago. Mollie told me she and Bab wanted you to go on a visit to a
cousin in St. Paul, but they feared you would not consent to leave them
alone. Here's where I come in! I want you to let me take care of your
babies, while you go on your trip."

Ruth gave an impudent pull at Mollie's curls, as she went on with her
request. "Father and I have planned another per-fect-ly grand trip for
'The Automobile Girls!' Now please don't anybody object until I have
finished. Here, eat another marshmallow! This trip is not to be in the
least like the other one. What I want is to go for a month on a camping
party in the Berkshire Hills!"

"Hear! Hear!" called out Bab, hopping up, and forgetting all about her
sprained ankle.

"I have just had this letter from Aunt Sallie, father," continued Ruth.
"She is game! Of course, she started out by saying she thought the trip
was perfect nonsense; she knew we would have pneumonia and various other
diseases if we attempted it, but she ended by declaring that, of course,
she could not be left behind if we were determined on the frolic. She is
a darling! So, now, Mrs. Thurston, if only you will consent, in a few
days we want dear old 'Bubble,' to make a start for the Berkshires. This
is the perfect time of the year and the mountains will be simply
glorious! Oh, I can't talk any more, I am so out of breath! Do go on
please, father."

"Mrs. Thurston, our plan is not so wild as it sounds. Ruth will take the
girls in her car up into the Berkshires. I have discovered that on one of
the mountains some distance from the regular line of travel, is a well
built log cabin. It has big fireplaces in it, and can be made thoroughly
c