AN AUTOMOBILE RACE
Lyddy was to write to Aunt Jane the next day. That was the decision when
Harris started for town after breakfast, too. No time was to be lost in
acquainting Aunt Jane with the fact that the old doctor spoke truly when
he had said that "there were curative waters on Hillcrest."
In Dr. Polly Phelps's day a mineral spring would have been of small
value compared to what it would be worth now. Jud Spink, of course, had
known something about the old doctor's using in his practise the water
from somewhere among the rocks. On the lookout for every chance to make
money in these days, the owner of "Stonehedge Bitters" and "Diamond
Grits--the Breakfast of the Million" had determined to get hold of
Hillcrest and put the mineral water on the market--if so be the spring
was to be discovered.
Too penurious to take any risk, however, Spink had wished to be sure that
the mineral spring was there, and of its value, before he risked his good
money in the purchase of the property.
The question now was: Had he satisfied himself as to these facts? Had he
found the mineral spring quite by chance, and was he not still in doubt
as to the wisdom of buying Hillcrest?
It would seem, by his trying to get at the old doctor's papers, that Spink
wished to assure himself further before he went ahead with his scheme.
"We'll put a spoke in his wheel--that's sure," said Harris, as he bade
the two girls good-bye that Monday morning, while Lucas and the restive
ponies waited for him.
In two hours he was back at the farmhouse. The ponies stopped at the door
all of a lather, and both Harris and Lucas looked desperately excited.
Tom Castle, as well as the Bray girls, ran out to see what was the matter.
"He's off!" shouted Lucas Pritchett. "He's goin' to beat ye to it!"
"What _are_ you talking about, Lucas?" demanded 'Phemie.
"Where does your aunt live, Miss Lyddy?" asked the young chemist. "Not at
Easthampton?"
"No. At Hambleton. She is at home now----"
"And that Spink just bought a ticket for Hambleton, and has taken the
train for that particular burg," declared Harris, with emphasis. "If I'd
only been sure of your Aunt Jane's address I would have gone with him."
"Do you really think he's gone to try to buy the farm of her?" questioned
Lyddy.
"I most certainly do. He couldn't have made connections easily had he
started yesterday after you drove him away from Hillcrest. But he's after
the farm."
"And she'll sell it! she'll sell it!" wailed 'Phemie.
"Perhaps not," ventured Lyddy, but her lips were white.
"He can get an option. That's enough," urged Harris. "We've got to head
him off."
"How?" cried the older girl, clasping her hands.
"Jumping horse chestnuts!" ejaculated Tom Castle. "It's a cinch! It's
easy. You can beat that fellow to Hambleton by way of Adams----"
"But there's no other train that connects at the junction till afternoon,"
objected Lucas.
"Aw, poof!" exclaimed Tom. "Haven't we got the old buzz-wagon right here?
I'll run and see father. He'll let me take it. We'll go over the hill and
down to Adams, and take the east road to Hambleton. Why, say! that Spink
man won't beat us much."
"It's a great scheme, Tommy!" shouted Harris Colesworth "Go ahead. Tell
your father I can run the car, if you can't."
In twenty minutes the big car was rolled out of the barn, and Mr. Castle
came out to see the quartette off,--the two girls in the tonneau and
Harris and Tom Castle on the front seat.
"You see that he doesn't play hob with that machine, Mr. Colesworth,"
called Mr. Castle, as they started. "It cost me seven thousand dollars."
"What's seven thousand dollars," demanded Master Tom, recklessly, "to
putting the Indian sign on that Professor Spink?"
They were not at all sure, however, that they were going to be able to do
this. Professor Spink might easily beat them to Aunt Jane's residence in
Hambleton.
But at the speed Tom took the descent of the ridge on the other side, one
might have thought that the professor was due to board a flying machine if
he wished to travel faster. 'Phemie declared she lost her breath at the
top of the hill and that it didn't overtake her again until they stopped
at the public garage in Adams to get a supply of gasoline.
The boys behind the wind-break, and the girls crouching in the tonneau,
saw little of the landscape through which the car rushed.
They rolled into Hambleton without mishap, and before noon. A word from
Lyddy put Master Tom on the right track of Aunt Jane's house, for he had
been in the town before.
"We're here quicker than we could have had a telegram delivered," declared
Harris, as he helped the girls out of the car. "I'm going in with you,
Miss Lyddy--if you don't mind?"
"Why, of course you shall come!" returned Lyddy, really allowing her
gratitude to "spill over" for the moment.
"Me--oh, my!" whispered 'Phemie, walking demurely behind them. "The end of
the world has now _came_. Lyd is showing that poor young man some favor."
But 'Phemie, as well as the other two, grew serious when the girl who
opened the door told them Mrs. Hammond had company in the parlor.
"Two gentlemen, Miss--on business," said the maid.
Just then they heard Professor Spink's booming voice.
"Oh, oh! he's here ahead of us!" cried 'Phemie, and she flung open the
door and ran into the room.