"Aren't they dreadful?" exclaimed Daisy with doubtful sincerity.

"Hope mother doesn't hear of it," replied Maud. "She would be
sure to worry."

Cora laughed, and Bess fairly panted. Belle tossed something into
the hay wagon as it passed - it made a practice of passing each
machine in turn, and then doing it all over again.

Every one in Chelton and the near-by places rushed out as the
procession went along. It was like a circus - many folks really
did believe that a "railroad show" had come to town unannounced.

The girls had planned to have dinner at a pretty little tea-house
on the outskirts of Hollyville. But the boys had no intention of
turning back, it seemed, and imagine those boys in the tea-house,
kept by a couple of enterprising college girls!

"Hey there!" called Jack. "When do we eat? There's the noon
whistles."

"Yon don't eat," replied Cora.

"Don't, eh? Well, look out for your commissary department,"
answered Jack. "We came prepared to fight."

"Oh," sighed Daisy, "do you suppose they will spoil all our
boxes?"

"I'm sure I don't know," replied the noncommital Maud.