"All I can tell you now," said Hugh, who had discovered some one
peeping out through the lace curtains at the parlor window, and knew
how anxious Sue must be for him to run up the steps and ring the door
bell, "is that it concerns Owen Dugdale. So just let your
curiosity-mill work on that until I can spin the whole odd yarn."

"Whew! you've twisted me up worse than ever now," he heard Thad
muttering, as he hastened to make for the door, where the eager Sue
awaited him, having seen the car stopping at the curb.

As Ivy lived only a short block away, they speedily had her installed
alongside the chattering Sue in the back seat; though possibly on the
way home the girls might prefer to change partners, as Ivy was heard to
say she just dearly loved to be alongside the chauffeur when out in a
car, because the view was so much better.

On the road they passed several vehicles, all bound in the same
direction. Now it was a slow car that managed to roll along "like an
ice-wagon," as Thad laughingly called out on going ahead. Then again
it was a buggy pulled by a horse; for there were actually a few of
these almost extinct quadrupeds still to be found in some of the family
stables of Scranton.

"Listen! that must be the carryall ahead of us," called out Thad, not
venturing to turn his head when he spoke, because the road was rather
poor, with ditches on either side, while the moon gave rather a poor
light, since it had not yet risen above the haze near the horizon.

Some one aboard was noisily tooting the horn, for some boys seem to be