One very steep hill confronted them. The engines of both cars were fairly "gasping for breath," and Cora, knowing that the hot radiators could cook anything from cabbage to pork and beans, realized that it was not wise to start up the hill until the engines had been cooled off. Consequently the cars stopped near a spring house at the roadside, and the girls alighted to get a refreshing drink. The door was unlocked, and a clear, clean glass stood on a small shelf, just inside the low building. "Did you ever see anything so delightful?" exclaimed Belle, while Cora dipped the glass in the square, cement-lined pool, and brought it up filled with the coolest, and most sparkling water imaginable. "And was it just built for--roadsters?" asked Bess, taking the proffered drink. "Oh, no indeed," said Cora with a laugh. "These spring houses are the farm refrigerators. In this, every evening, I suppose many, many quarts of milk are put to cool for the creamery. I have often seen a spring house just filled with the big milk cans." "Oh," answered Bess, intelligently. "That's a good idea. Just think how much money we could save on ice if we had a spring house." "Maybe if we had one, you would be able to cool off sometimes," remarked her sister teasingly. "You look as if you needed a dip this very minute." The red cheeks of Bess certainly did look overheated, and the way she plied her handkerchief betrayed her discomfort. "An internal dip will do nicely, thank you," answered the girl. "I don't see that I am any warmer than the rest of you." "Here comes a girl from the house," said Cora, as down the path a girl, in generous sunbonnet, and overgenerous apron, was seen to approach. "Do they wear their sunbonnets to bed?" asked Belle. "I am sure there is no sun now." "Father will be down in a minute with the team," called out the girl, much to the surprise of the motor girls. "Mercy!" exclaimed Belle, "are we going to be arrested?" "I think not," replied Cora; "however, we are trespassing, though I did think farmer folks very--liberal, especially with their spring water." "The girl is smiling like a 'basket of chips,'" said Bess, almost in a whisper. "It is not likely that she is angry with us at all." "Did you get a nice drink?" asked the strange girl, with unmistakable friendliness. "Oh, yes, thank you very much," spoke up Cora, "but I am afraid we are trespassing." "Not at all," said the girl. "My name is Hope--Hope Stevens," she said, in the most delightfully simple manner. "I always like to introduce myself--'specially to young girls." "We are very glad to know you, Hope," said Cora. "This is Miss Bess Robinson, this Miss Belle Robinson, and I am Cora Kimball." "Oh, I know who you are now," declared Hope. "They call you the Motor Girls." "I am afraid they do," agreed Bess. "But then we are just plain girls as well--our motors do not make us--we try to make them--go!"