"Pretty--pretty," echoed Jack. "Really all she told us was that she had been working in an office, had become tired of it and was traveling about as a sort of vacation."

"Did she look as though that might be the case?" asked Walter.

"Eminently so, my august cross-questioner," answered Jack. "And that's all I'm going to say. I'm dead tired. See you later," and he went to his room.

"Who do you suppose that girl could have been?" asked Bess of Cora a little later, as they were putting up their hair for the night.

"I haven't the least idea."

"Why, how queer. I thought you did have!" and Bess looked at Cora in rather a searching manner.

"No. Why should I?"

"Oh, I haven't any special reason for saying so, and yet--oh, well, it doesn't make any difference I suppose, but----"

"Bess Robinson, just what do you mean?" and Cora's eyes lost their slumberous inclination as she faced her chum.

"Why, Cora dear, nothing at all," and Bess spoke very sweetly. "Only, from the way you spoke to Jack, and the way he answered, I fancied--oh, really it's nothing at all. I shouldn't have said it."

"I don't like those half-formed questions, Bess. If you think anything----"

"No, really I'm too tired to think, Cora. I'm going to bed." They had adjoining rooms.

"Perhaps you have some theory yourself?" suggested Cora.

"None in the least. I don't even know what a theory is. Is it that algebra affair?"

"No," answered Cora, with a laugh. "You are hopeless, Bess. Good-night!"

Jack and the other boys were up early, despite the former's objection to a too-soon breakfast. They ate before the girls had come down, and then went around to the garage to see about the cars, Jack to get a new tire for his, while Norton wanted the ignition system of his engine gone over.

It was when these attentions had been given that Norton, with a twinkle in his eyes, exclaimed:

"Fellows, I've thought of a joke!"

"What is it?" demanded Jack.

"Hush! Listen, as the telephone girl says. Pray thee come hither," and he led the three to a corner of the garage. Then ensued some whispering.

"How's that?" demanded Norton, when he had concluded. "Won't it be rich?

The girls won't know what is up, for we can get Bess and Belle into the car, without them seeing the rear of it."

"It's a good trick all right," admitted Jack rather slowly, "I only hope they won't get angry about it."

"Angry!" cried Norton. "How could they be? According to your story they've done worse than that to you fellows lots of times."

"Sure they have," declared Ed. "Go ahead and do it."

"I have my doubts," spoke Walter, deliberately, "but I'm not going to be the kill-joy. Go ahead, I'll do my share," but he was not very enthusiastic.

"We can get the cloth and paint here," went on Norton. "I'll do the lettering. You can make the pudding, Jack."

"All right. But who's to get in the car with Belle?"

"I will," exclaimed Norton, quickly. "You fellows can make some excuse.

I'll let Walter drive my car, and Bess can ride with him."

"All right," a.s.sented Jack. "It's a go," and they proceeded to carry out their little joke, over the outcome of which Walter and Jack, at least, had some anxiety.

CHAPTER XI

THE GIRLS RETALIATE

"But why should we change our plans?" asked Cora, when, a little later, the boys had brought their own cars up in front of the hotels and had gone back for those of the girls. "I don't see why Bess should ride with Walter."

"No, but I see it," said Walter, quickly. "I want to talk to her, and----"

"Oh, that's a different story," admitted Cora, with a smile. "But what will Norton do?"

"I'd like to drive the _Flyaway_, if I might," put in the latter. "There's a bad stretch of road ahead, and perhaps Belle may not be equal to it."

"Don't you dare intimate there's danger ahead," cried Belle.

"Not exactly danger," returned Norton, with a wink at the other boys, "but the road is rough. If Cora wants to I guess Ed could drive her car for her, too."

"Thank you, I'll wait until I see what sort of a road we are going to encounter, and if I can't negotiate it, I'll let Ed take the wheel,"

a.s.sented Cora. "But I've driven over some very hard stretches myself; haven't I, Jack?"

"Indeed you have, Sis. But it's all right if Belle wants Norton to drive for her for a change."

"Well," began the Robinson twin, "it all came so suddenly. I don't know yet whether I want Norton to drive for me. Of course I'd like to have him in the car, if Bess wants to go with Walter for a change, and----"

"That's it," broke in Norton. "Just for a change. Hurry up now, girls, get in the cars and we'll be off." He ran here and there, helping lift in the luggage, and appeared anxious to make a start. In fact, the boys had seemed in a hurry ever since they brought up the girls' cars, and this very haste might have made the motor maids suspicious, but it did not seem to.

Then came the proposal for the change in companionship for a time, and this took the attention of Cora and her friends. Jack had run his car close up to the rear of the _Flyaway_, so that the back of the tonneau was not easily seen.

"All aboard!" cried Ed. "We're off!"

Quite a little throng had gathered on the sidewalk in front to see the start, and among the persons might have been noticed a certain number of boys, with paper bags concealed in their hands. These same boys might have been observed to be receiving signals--in the way of nods and winks from Jack and his chums, from time to time.

"I am sure those boys are up to something!" exclaimed Cora to Eline, as they took their places.

"What do you mean?"