CHAPTER XII

GENTLEMEN OF THE ROAD.

California at last!

To most of the girls, who had never been farther west than Wyoming, this state, with its renowned climate and its beautiful scenery, appeared even lovelier than they had pictured it. The mountains and canyons, the wonderful Yosemite Valley with its tall trees; the great stretches of smooth road, seemed like heaven after the desert. For a time the travellers forgot their losses, their anxiety, and even their rewards in their admiration of the country.

It was Marjorie who first brought their thoughts back to the practical side of life.

Girls, how many of you would be willing to keep on going for a couple of hours after supper? It doesn’t get dark for a good while, and since we haven’t any camp to pitch, we might as well make use of every minute. We can’t afford to waste any time, you know!

That’s a splendid idea! cried Ethel. Only one thing I beg—let’s be sure to get the car into a garage for the night!

Maybe we better insure it, suggested Lily. For if this one were stolen, we would be left.

We wouldn’t be left, returned Ethel. Because we’d manage to get there somehow, even if we had to hike!

But then we wouldn’t earn our automobiles!

So we’d have to walk back, concluded Marjorie. Well, girls, we’ll see to it that we don’t lose this car. Now—to go back to my first suggestion, what do you say to a little ride after supper?

To her joy she found all the others heartily in favor of the proposition; so after a good substantial meal, they set off again in the early twilight.

How long shall we drive? asked Alice, who was taking her turn at the wheel.

Till about nine o’clock I should suggest, said Mrs. Remington. The first good-looking hotel after that—

With a garage! put in Lily.

Yes, with a garage. At least if we find that we can secure rooms. And if we can’t, we’ll drive on.

Just as long as we don’t have to drive all night, remarked Marjorie. Like that night we met the woman and the sick child.

The child that wasn’t sick, you mean, corrected Alice.

The girls drove along merrily; indeed, it seemed almost as if the theft of the smaller car had not been a misfortune, so enjoyable it was never to be separated. They watched the sun set beneath the horizon; then, in a few minutes, the cars which they passed began to show lights, and they realized that evening was coming on. A little after dark they came to a broken piece of the road where a detour was necessary. Alice stopped short in time to let the girls make a decision.

Shall we go on? she asked.

It just depends, observed Marjorie, upon how far the detour lasts. If it keeps up off the main road for a good distance, I should say that we had better turn back to that hotel we just passed.

No! No! protested Alice. Don’t let’s do that—when time is so precious!

But if we don’t know where we are going— objected Lily.

On! On! cried Florence, dramatically. We want to get to the coast!

And what care we for danger? challenged Alice.

A daring spirit of adventure seemed to have taken possession of the little party, for they one and all agreed that they wanted to press on. Alice gladly turned to the wheel again, and released her brakes.

They continued on the same road for about fifteen minutes; all the while the cars which they passed became fewer and fewer, and the road more narrow and rough. Then they began to look anxiously for detour signs, or for a hotel; but neither appeared. Finally Alice declared that she knew that they were lost.

Here’s a building with a light—let’s stop here and inquire! she suggested. Probably they can direct us back to the Lincoln Highway.

But we won’t all go in and leave the car alone this time, remarked Florence, with a significant glance at Alice. The same thief might come along again!

I’ll go and ask, volunteered Mrs. Remington.

She disappeared into the building, and the girls fell to discussing their misfortunes, and the possibility of regaining any of their lost property. They had reported the theft of the Rolls-Royce at Salt Lake City, but they hardly expected to hear of it again; the food and the uniforms they counted as gone forever.

The conversation dragged, for the girls were growing tired; they could think of nothing but their desire to find lodging for the night. They began to look impatiently for Mrs. Remington.

I do wish she’d hurry! yawned Florence. I’m beginning to feel pretty sleepy!

If only we had our camping outfit! mourned Alice. We could go to bed right here!

Girls, Mrs. Remington is coming out now! Marjorie informed them. Look—and some children are with her!

These girls don’t know a thing about the Lincoln Highway, said Mrs. Remington when she reached the car, but they are so anxious to hear something about the Girl Scouts that I thought maybe we could go in and let them see our uniforms, and do a little signalling—

But we’re dirty, and tired, grumbled Florence. We can give them the Headquarters’ address—

Do a good turn daily! murmured Alice, under her breath.

We’ll be delighted! announced Marjorie, immediately. At least, if you girls can assure us of finding some place to stay for the night.

Oh, somebody will surely take you in! their leader told them. There is a boarding house about half a mile up the road.

Then let Lily and me stay and watch the car, urged Florence. The rest of you go in—we don’t dare take any chances!

Putting aside their own sense of fatigue, the girls followed the children back to the building, and gave them a thorough demonstration of scouting, explaining as they proceeded. Their audience was thrilled; with shining eyes they followed every detail, and showed such intense gratitude that the girls forgot all about their weariness.

It was after ten o’clock when they finally left the building and climbed into the machine once more. Florence had turned it around, and sat at the wheel in readiness. They all felt that it would be best to get back to the Lincoln Highway again, and there hunt for a place to spend the night, instead of risking the unknown boarding house the children had mentioned.

It was not, however, such an easy task as they had hoped; in the darkness they failed to recognize any of the land-marks which they had noted in the twilight, and because of the roughness of the road they were forced to proceed slowly and carefully.

I think we have passed it, remarked Florence, after they had been driving for some time.

But we couldn’t have! protested Alice. Even in the dark we would be able to see any road crossing this.

Then we’ve strayed on to another road. I’m sure we weren’t so far from the highway; we should have crossed it long ago.

And I’m sure there was no road leading from this that we could stray into, insisted Alice.

Then why don’t we come to it?

Maybe Aunt Emeline had it moved back a few miles, just to annoy us, suggested Ethel.

I think you’re all wrong, said Lily. I’ve noticed before, when driving at night, that if you’re looking for a road it always seems farther away.

Lily’s right, agreed Marjorie. Of course we came out lots faster than we are going back; we could see the ruts then and avoid them. Don’t you think so, Captain?

Very likely, answered Mrs. Remington. I do think we’re on the right road, and we’ll reach the highway if we only keep on going.

I see a light ahead! announced Ethel, who was sitting in front with Florence.

So do I! said Lily. Two lights!

That’s an approaching car!

At least we can ask for directions, declared the ever-ready Marjorie. Pull over to the right, Flos, and stop when they get to us.

They could see by the bobbing of the lights that the other car was approaching at a pretty rapid pace, regardless of road. In another moment it was upon them, but showed no signs of turning out.

Now! cried Marjorie; and Florence swung the car sharply to the side of the road and applied the brakes.

Just in time to avoid a collision, growled Lily. Where do they think they are driving like that—

But even as they stopped, the other car came to an abrupt halt too, a few yards ahead of them, the brakes screeching shrilly in the night.

With the full glare of the other car’s headlights in their eyes, the girls could just make out the two figures which descended from the machine.

Can you tell us, please, called Marjorie, whether this road will take us to the Lincoln Highway?

The answer, when it came, was like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky.

Hands up! ordered a rough voice; and two men approached.

The girls were thrown immediately into helpless, speechless panic. So great was their consternation that they even failed to do as the man commanded. Hold up yer hands, I say! he roared, advancing to the side of the car, threatening them with a revolver.

Obediently, seven pairs of hands were elevated.

Ye Gods! Bill, called the ruffian to his companion. ’tain’t nothin’ but a carload of girls!

Easy pickins, I’ll say! remarked the other.

The men now stood revealed in the gleam of their own headlights. They were clad in soiled overalls and jumpers, and looked like ordinary mechanics except for the masks which covered their faces completely—rudely improvised masks consisting of nothing more than pocket handkerchiefs with eyeholes cut in them. But they looked weird enough, and it was no wonder the girls were frightened.

Ladies, said the man with the gun, who seemed to be the leader, we hate to disturb you, and all that sort of thing, but we’re badly in need of ready cash. So I just guess you’ll have to oblige us with some.

You mean you want to steal our money? cried Daisy.

Yes, dearie, if you have t’ put it that way. Shell out’s the word, replied the man, laughing.

With a sigh of resignation, Mrs. Remington lowered her hands long enough to produce her purse, which she dropped reluctantly into the outstretched hands of the bandit, and the girls followed her example. Marjorie was among the last to surrender her purse. After the first moment of surprise, she had quickly recovered her wits, and was casting about for some method of escape; for she noticed that the man with the revolver failed to keep them covered with it when he saw that they were all girls, and had even replaced the gun in his pocket.

If I can only get hold of my revolver without arousing his suspicions, I’ll have the drop on him, and make him give the money back. The other man won’t dare do anything for fear I’ll shoot his companion.

These thoughts flashed through her mind with lightning rapidity, and she determined to take a chance. Under pretence of reaching for her purse, she calmly directed her hand to the pocket where she always carried her revolver, a gift from John Hadley. Alas, the pocket was empty! Then she recalled having put it away in her bag the day they had washed their uniforms. It galled her exceedingly to hand over her purse without resistance. If only Jack and John were with them! But she realized that it was useless to think of resistance now. She could not help saying, however, as she submitted like the other girls:

You ought to be ashamed of yourselves—two men robbing a party of girls!

We are, dearie, we are. It almost breaks our hearts. In fact, you’d better hand over your jewelry to console us!

We haven’t anything but our watches, replied Mrs. Remington, quietly. Girl Scouts in uniform don’t wear jewelry.

Wal, fork ’em over! ordered their persecutor. Each scout slipped off her wrist-watch and handed it to the bandit. The man surveyed the articles sullenly, and seeming satisfied returned to his own car. His companion had already started the engine, and without any other words they drove past the girls and sped away into the darkness.

The girls’ tongues were loosened now; they all began to talk at once. Anger was the predominating sentiment—anger at being so taken in; but there was also relief at being freed with their lives.

A pretty pair of cowards! snapped Marjorie.

They all turned naturally to Mrs. Remington for the solution of their problem.

We have some travellers’ checks in our trunk, she said.

Well, we needn’t say a word about paying at the hotel until tomorrow, said Ethel. Luckily, hotels aren’t pay-as-you-enter-contrivances. We can settle later.

That’s so! exclaimed Marjorie, joyfully. But are you sure that we have enough money to get us to San Francisco?

Yes, I’m sure, replied the older woman.

Florence started the car again, and they turned their attention to watching for the Lincoln Highway. It was not long before they spied the detour sign in the distance, and knew that a hotel was not far off.

Here we are! cried Marjorie, after they had proceeded about half a mile. Here—on the right!

But it’s closed! protested Florence.

So is most everything now, put in Lily. It must be nearly midnight.

Yes, we’ll have to rouse them, said Mrs. Remington. Marjorie, come on out with me while we see.

It was another fifteen minutes before they were rewarded with an answer.

Yes, we can put you up, replied the proprietor sleepily, but we haven’t any room in the garage for your car!

The girls, who had all heard this reply, looked at each other despairingly.

Our car is the only thing we have left! wailed Alice; we’ve been robbed of food, and clothing, and jewelry, and money—

And another car, added Lily.

The proprietor regarded them sympathetically; if what they said was true, they certainly had been having a rough time.

You must have enemies, he remarked. Nobody could have all those misfortunes just by chance!

But we haven’t any enemies! protested Alice. Only some bootleggers whom we prosecuted last year—and they’re in jail!

Well, I am sorry for you, the man concluded; and I guess I can find a safe place for your car under my shed. Only, if the place burns down I’ll lose my insurance—but I guess I’ll take a chance. You look pretty tired!

They put the car away where he indicated, and crept wearily up the stairs to their rooms. The little clock that Mrs. Remington kept in her suit-case informed them that it was one o’clock in the morning—the beginning of a new day, the thirtieth of July. Yet they went to bed with a sense of victory in their hearts; they still possessed one car, and enough money to get them to their destination. Moreover, two days remained to complete their trip to the coast!