chances were against it and yet----

"Really so many strange things have happened to us on some of our auto
trips," she explained to Eline as they talked it over, "that I would not
be surprised if we did see her again--and perhaps----"

"Even that Nancy Ford!" supplied Eline.

"Oh, that would be too much to expect, my dear!" said Cora, with a laugh.
"We turn here!" she added, "just hold out your hand, Eline."

"Hold out my hand?" Eline asked, wonderingly, as she stretched it straight
out in front of her. "What for?"

"No, I mean out at the side of the car," explained Cora. "It is a sign
to whoever is coming behind that you are going to turn. It prevents
accidents."

"Oh, I see," and this time the Chicago girl did it properly.

CHAPTER V

A FLOCK OF SHEEP

"What a delightful road!"

"Isn't it splendid!"

"Too perfect!"

It was Cora who made the first remark, Eline who answered and the Robinson
twins who chorused the third. The highway was so wide, and there was so
little traffic thus early in the morning, that the two cars could run
side by side. On high gear with the gas throttled down they made scarcely
any noise, so that conversation was possible.

"I don't know what I have done to enjoy such pleasure," said Mrs. Fordam.

"Are you really enjoying it, Cousin Mary?" inquired Cora.

"Indeed I am, my dear! I wouldn't have missed it for a good deal. I never
knew before how delightful it was to be chaperone to such nice girls."

"I'm sorry I can't stop steering long enough to pass you a chocolate
candy!" exclaimed Bess. "Belle, you will have to do it for me. Such
compliments!"

"No, I really mean it," declared Mrs. Fordam, earnestly.

"Wait until the boys begin to cut up," warned Cora.

"Oh, I know Jack of old," returned the chaperone. "He can't do anything
very bad."

"They seem to be hatching up some sort of a plot back there," remarked
Eline, as she looked to the rear where Jack's gaudy red and yellow car
was careening alongside the _Beetle_--that owned by Norton. It had been
so christened because of its low, rakish appearance, and the fact that it
was painted a dead black. It was not a pretty car, but it had speed, as
Norton often boasted.

"Oh, I've no doubt they will do something," conceded Belle. "But we can
do things too!"

They ran on for some distance, this stretch of the road being particularly
fine. They were under a perfect arch of maple trees, which, being planted
on either