girls, and I'll start the engine-- or try to. Then if she won't go
we'll have to make up our minds to stay here all night or walk to the
next garage."

Accordingly the girls got in and Mollie pressed the self-starter. To
her great surprise, the engine purred a response, and as she shifted
her gears the car moved slowly forward.

"Oh, goodie, we're going," cried Amy, and the faces of the other girls
showed relief.

"Must have been a drop of water in the gasoline," hazarded Mollie, and
then she throttled the engine once more while she and her chums turned
to say good-bye to Professor Dempsey. The latter was still standing in
the road, looking up at them rather wistfully.

"I'm glad that I had an opportunity of helping you, young ladies--
very glad," he answered, in response to their repeated thanks. "You
conferred a great favor on me also, for I have little company.
Good-bye-- and good luck to you."

The girls responded gayly, and as they started forward Betty leaned
far out of the machine to call back an encouraging: "Keep hoping hard
for your boys to come home. I am sure they will be back soon."

"Thank you, young lady, thank you," said Professor Dempsey, but the
words were too low for Betty to catch and she was too far away to see
the mist that sprang suddenly to his eyes.

CHAPTER IV