Читать книгу Betty Gordon and the Lost Pearls - Eunice W. Creager - Страница 6

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There was not a moment to lose! Norma and the gray-haired man were too far in advance to be of any help.

Afterwards Betty wondered how she had the presence of mind and the courage to do what she did.

As the snake struck, Betty sprang forward and brought Mrs. Calott’s suitcase down with force upon the reptile’s head.

Alice turned, saw the snake, and, aware of her danger, screamed in terror.

Norma and the gray-haired man came running.

“Help! Help!” cried Betty. “A snake! A snake!”

“Hold it down! Hit it over the head!” yelled Mrs. Pryde Calott, commanding from a safe distance where she quickly established herself on a tall tree-stump.

But Betty was not able to hold down the snake. The reptile struggled free. It’s head was mashed and bleeding and just as the gray-haired man struck at it with a heavy stick, it turned quickly and wormed away into the underbrush.

“Oh, Betty!” Alice’s face was ghastly. “I believe I’m going to faint!”

“Don’t you dare! We must get out of here before we meet with more snakes!” said the practical Betty. “Come, Alice, brace up!”

Alice began to cry.

“Suppose you had not thrown that—suitcase—when—you—did?”

“I did, though—for a wonder. Forget it,” advised Betty cheerfully.

“Ooh!” shivered Norma, her arms about Alice. “Let’s not talk about it! Let’s get out of here!”

“I saw a path a short distance away. Follow me and I think we will have no further trouble,” said the gray-haired man.

The girls silently followed. The incident of the snake had depressed their high spirits, and to them the woods had taken on a sinister look.

Mrs. Calott cast several indignant glances at her suitcase but wisely refrained from saying anything.

“She thinks I would not carry it for her if she complained,” thought Betty: and smiled to herself.

Presently the little party, weary and disheveled, were relieved to find themselves clear of the woods and on the outskirts of Grubville.

“If I’m not mistaken, we can catch a street car to the main-line station by walking around that corner,” said the gray-haired man. “We had better take a street car as the quickest means to get on our way.”

Mrs. Calott seated herself on a grassy knoll and adjusted her skirts, hugging to her bosom the precious black bag. She adjusted her monocle and stared at Mrs. Hiller.

“I’ll sit right here,” announced Mrs. Calott, “until you telephone for a taxi. I shall not ride in a street car! I’ve had enough of common things for one day!”

“I suppose we are the ‘common things’ she mentioned,” laughed Norma, her high spirits returning, now that the woods and the snake were left behind.

Betty and her two friends reached the main-line station just fifteen minutes late. The man had stayed behind to assist Mrs. Hiller.

“When does the next train leave?” asked Betty anxiously of the ticket agent.

“Not until midnight. But a through train stops at the next station in about an hour.”

“How far is the next station?”

“Just four miles to Maysville. You could easily make that train if you had some one to drive you over.”

“How about a bus or taxi?”

The station agent smiled.

“Slim chance, I’m afraid. They have all left the station now. Hello, though! There’s Mose. Hey there, Mose!”

A colored man ambled into the station.

“Want to use that new car of yours to take these girls to Maysville?”

Mose chuckled.

“I’d sho’ be delighted, suh!”

“Well, go on, girls. Mose is perfectly reliable if the car doesn’t prove to be,” laughed the ticket agent.

The girls, expecting to see a new car, were surprised when they went outside and Mose indicated a dilapidated flivver.

However, they got in, and with many creaks and groans, the ramshackle old car started on its way. It was evident that Mose was in love with his new toy, for he talked to it constantly.

They had perhaps gone a couple of miles when the car began to shake and quiver.

“Ooh! what’s the matter? Look out for another smash-up!” cried Norma.

The words were scarcely out of her mouth when the car lurched forward, a back door swung open, and the three girls were thrown pell-mell to the ground. Mose, alone kept his seat.

“Whoa dere, Hen’y,” soothed Mose. “What am de mattah wid yo’? Yo’ sho’ am actin’ up, Hen’y. Hey, dere! Is you-alls hu’t?” he demanded anxiously, peering over the side of the car and looking down at the girls.

“Not a bit!” they exclaimed all in one breath and scrambled laughing to their feet.

“Oh, look, Mose!” exclaimed Norma. “You have a broken axle. The wheel has rolled over here into the brushwood.”

“I decla’e to gracious!” Mose descended stiffly and surveyed the car with mournful eyes. He scratched his head in perplexity. “And I done bought Hen’y only yist’day!” he groaned. “How’s de young ladies gwine to git dar now?”

How, indeed? The girls looked at one another in dismay.

The road ahead lay like a yellow ribbon in the sunlight and beckoned invitingly. The girls glanced ruefully down at the three-wheeled car. Betty turned to the downcast chauffeur.

“How much farther is it, Mose?” she asked.

“Two miles yit to Maysville. I sho’ feel baid to disoblige de young ladies.”

“Why, Mose, you can’t help it!” said Betty cheerfully. “Here’s some money. We’ll get on some way and telephone a garage to send some one to tow you in.”

The girls gathered their belongings together and decided to walk on down the road.

“Perhaps some one will come along and give us a lift!” said the optimistic Betty.

Alice glanced uneasily around. She looked worried.

At that moment a long gray touring car glided by. Two dapper young men, occupants of the car, cast interested glances toward the girls.

“Oh, look!” exclaimed Betty gleefully. “They’re slowing down. Perhaps they will ask us to ride!”

The young men had stopped the car and were looking back. The driver was a thick, heavy-set man with light hair and a sandy mustache. The other young man was tall and darkly handsome.

The girls hastened forward and approached the car.

“Have you had tire trouble?” the dark man inquired gayly.

“Worse than that,” answered Betty, smiling. “A wheel off. We were on our way to Maysville.”

“So were we. Hop in! We can’t pass up such good-looking girls, can we, buddy?” the darkly handsome man exclaimed, nudging the driver, who agreed with a loud laugh.

Alice drew back.

“Oh, girls,” she whispered, “I don’t think we should go with them.”

“Nonsense,” said Betty in a low voice. “It is broad daylight and there are three of us! Don’t be silly!” Betty had been known to “rush in where angels fear to tread.”

The handsome young man jumped out and opened a back door of the car with a flourish.

“Mine the honor, ladies!” he exclaimed, bowing low with mock deference.

Betty and Norma got into the car, and the dark young man unexpectedly jumped in after them.

“You go and sit with my buddy on the front seat and be sociable,” he called back to the surprised Alice, who was left no choice but to obey.

The girls’ hearts sank with misgiving as the gray touring car sped like a flash of lightning down the road and they were left to the mercy of the two men upon whose breath, so they now discovered, the odor of liquor was very strong. Betty began to regret her impulsiveness.

How often had Mrs. Eustice, the principal of Shadyside School, cautioned the girls in her charge about getting into cars with strange men.

“My name is Walter Brisket and my buddy’s name is Sidney Gold,” said the darkly handsome young man, taking a cigarette from a little blue and gold pasteboard box. He lighted the cigarette and leaned familiarly toward Betty, fixing his bold, questioning eyes upon her face.

“How about a date this evening?” he inquired. “The minute I set eyes on you I said, ‘That is the girl for me!’”

“Oh!” exclaimed Betty, startled. She moved a little closer to Norma. Alice glanced back and Betty was aware that her friend’s face was white with anxiety.

The car dashed madly on at the rate of sixty miles an hour.

Walter Brisket laughed loudly and edged nearer to Betty. “Must not spring the shy violet act. It isn’t done these days, you know.”

“Please sit over,” demanded Betty, suddenly losing her temper. “I’m not springing any kind of an act and I’m not making dates. All I want is to get to Maysville. I shall gladly pay you for your trouble if you’ll only behave yourself and get us there.”

Walter Brisket laughed loudly.

“Pretty little spitfire! Pay? Pay? Your payment is goin’ to be a kiss and I’m goin’ to get payment in advance!”

He seized the indignant girl in his arms. Betty felt his foul breath upon her cheek, and she screamed in terror.