Oh, no, thank you ever so much. I shall be all right." She gave Jack
her hand, in a warm clasp, and then turned to Ed. "Thank you--so much!"
She smiled, showing her white, even teeth, and ran up the steps of the
building--a place where a lone girl could always find a safe shelter.
She turned on the top step, waved a good-bye to them, and disappeared
behind the doors.

CHAPTER IX

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

"What do you know about that?"

"It's rather queer--all the way along."

Jack asked and Ed answered. They stood by the machine and looked up at the
building into which the girl had gone.

"Well, I guess there's nothing for us to do but to see if there isn't some
way to get to Fairport from here," remarked Jack, after a pause.

"That's it--and telephone. There's a drug-store across the street. It has
a 'phone sign."

"Come on, then."

Presently they had been connected with the Mansion House, and Cora was at
the other end of the wire.

"Oh, Jack, what happened?"

"We got lost--on the wrong road--that's all."

"Oh, Jack, I've been so worried!"

"Pshaw! What was the use? Didn't I ever get lost before?"

"Yes, I know----"

"You're too fussy, Sis. How's everybody?"

"All right--but----"

"But them as is wrong; eh? Well, we'll soon be with you. We had quite an
adventure."

"You did? Were you hurt?"

"No, can't a fellow have an adventure without getting hurt? We met a
pretty girl, and gave her a ride--that's all."

"Jack! You never did!"

"Oh, yes, we did. Ed's here, and he'll tell you all about it. It was a
great time."

"Jack Kimball, I believe you're just teasing me! You're not in Hayden at
all!"

"Where am I, then?" he challenged.

"Right in town, and just as like as not you're calling up from across the
street here."

"Well, I'm not then. You ask central. We really were lost on the road,
and had quite a time. I don't know now whether we can be with you to-night
or not."

"Oh, Jack, you must!"

"But if we can't--we can't. If we can find a short cut we'll take it.
Otherwise we'll stay here all night and come on early in the morning."

"Well, that will have to do then," said Cora, with a sigh. "Oh, but we
have been so worried. Who was that girl, Jack?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"No."

"Does Ed?"

"Not guilty."

"The idea! And you gave her a ride?"

"Why not? We met her on the road--she was all alone--it was dark. What
else could we do?"

"That's so, I supp