Page:Silversheene (1924).djvu/29

 "It ain't them, Hilda. It is a large touring car with an Oregon name plate."

The girl turned back with a sudden glow of hope at her heart. But this joy was cut short by a sharp detonating report immediately in front of the house. At the sound she went suddenly pale and uttered a half suppressed scream.

"Oh, Mother, it is Silversheene. He has broken away and they have found him."

"Oh, no, child. It was only a tire blowing up. You will be sick if you don't hold on to yourself. Perhaps there will be some way out yet."

The girl passed her hand across her forehead as though to clear her brain.

"Yes," she said. "I was thinking of a plan when that dreadful bang drove it out of my head. Oh, yes, I know what it was. I will see what sort of a party itis. They will have to put on a tire."

She went into the kitchen and again applied water to her swollen eyelids and made herself more presentable.