Her car shot ahead, the girl skillfully guiding it, and the twins
timidly following, until, with many a twist and turn, Cora piloted
them up a little hill to a big red barn, with the wide doors
invitingly open.
"Drive right inside," called Cora, slowing down her car. "I guess
no one will object, and we haven't any lights to put out, as the
warning over the door of the garage says."
The rain was falling in torrents now, and before Cora could get the
Whirlwind wholly within the shelter, and while yet the Flyaway was
entirely out; the girls received quite a wetting. A moment later
they were out of the storm in the barn, had stopped their cars, and
shut off the engines.
"Suppose the owner doesn't like it?" suggested Belle.
"Well, we're in, anyway," declared Cora, "and I guess they won't put
us out. But we must be careful. Don't let any gasolene or oil drip
out. But I guess it won't, as both the cars are new."
No one but themselves seemed to be in the barn, which was odorous
with new-mown hay, great mows of it being on either side of the
broad floor on which the autos stood.
"There are some men coming," announced Bess, looking out through the
big doors into a mist of rain.
"The haymakers," announced Cora. "They were getting in the crop,
but the rain didn't let them finish. See how they're running."
"What shall we do when they come in?" inquired Belle, anxiety
depicted on her face.
"Why, nothing, I should say," replied Cora. "There is plenty of
room for them and us, I'm sure, even if our cars are rather large.
We won't eat the men, and I hope they won't eat us."
"Oh, dear!" sighed Belle, but Bess laughed.
The first to reach the barn was a very tall farmer, of the type
designated as lean and lanky. He was headed straight for the open
doors, his head bent down to avoid the pelting drops, and he did not
see the cars and the young ladies until he had nearly collided with
Cora. Then he straightened up suddenly, and the look of astonishment
on his face made Cora want to laugh, only she felt, under the
circumstances, that she did not dare.
"Wa'al, I'll be gum-swizzled!" exclaimed the farmer. "What's this,
anyhow? Auto-mobiles? As I live! Wa'al, I swan t' goodness! An' gals
a-drivin' of 'em! Ho! ho! Wa'al, that's what I call rich--yes, sir,
rich!"
A fringe of curious haymakers gathered behind the one who had
entered first.
"We only came in out of the rain," explained Cora, who was looking
her prettiest in the confusion. "We hope we're not in the way."
"Oh, you're welcome," the man hastened to say. "As welcome
as--wa'al, a heap sight more welcome than this thunderstorm is. We
calcalated t' git all th' hay in, but we didn't quite make out.
We've got lots of room here, you see. There ain't another barn in
all Woodbine that'd take a locomotive like that in it," and he
walked around Cora's big car, eying it curiously.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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