A slatternly woman, who had come to the door of the tumble-down house
at the sound of the dog's yelps, poured out a volume of vituperation
at the girls, most of it, fortunately, being lost in the chugging of
the motor.

Three or four other curs came out from various hiding places to
commiserate with their fellow, and the girls left behind them a weird
canine chorus.

"Curious, isn't it?" observed Belle, "that the poorer the people
seem, the more dogs they keep."

"What were we talking of?"

"Perhaps misery loves company," quoted Bess.

"Jack?" suggested her sister.

"No, Walter," corrected the other, and they laughed.

"What's the joke?" asked Cora, who had slowed up her car to await the
on-coming of her chums. "Did you try to see how near you could miss
a dog?"

"Something like that, yes," answered Bess, as she related the
occurrence.

There was a period of rather tedious waiting at the station, before a
whistle was heard, announcing the approach of some train.