Betty's "dare" to a race and Betty's little roadster had won the day,
racing like a streak of light along the country road and leaving Mollie's
high-powered but more clumsy car far behind.

But Mollie had taken her defeat like the little sport she was--even though
it must be admitted she had been considerably disappointed and taken aback
by her failure--and in her ever since there had been a great respect for
Betty's car.

But now she eyed with impatience the bent figure of the Little Captain as
she still leaned over the wheel, her ear tuned to the purr of the engine.

"For goodness' sake, what's the matter with you?" she cried. "I thought
you were the one who was in a hurry to be off and now look at you--sitting
there like--"

"Engine is missing," Betty informed her briskly. "Guess I had better have
a look--"

"If you start fussing with bolts and screws now, you can count me out,"
said Mollie, resolutely climbing back into her car. "It is ten o'clock
already, and we won't be home before night if we don't hurry."

"Oh, all right," laughed Betty. "But if the car gives out before we get
back don't blame me, that's all."

"It would give me the greatest of pleasure," said Mollie with a diabolical
chuckle as her machine moved off down the street, "to have everyone in
Deepdale see me towing your poor little flivver through the town."