Mrs. Eland and her sister, Miss Pepperill, who has been Tess Kenways school teacher, become very good friends of the Corner House girls. In the volume of the series immediately preceding this present narrative, entitled The Corner House Girls Odd Find the Kenways find an old, apparently worthless, album in the garret of the mansion a treasure room which seems inexhaustible in its supply of mystery and amusing incidents.
This album seems to contain a lot of counterfeit money and bonds, which in the end prove to have been hidden in the Stower house by a miserly uncle of Mrs. Eland and Miss Pepperill, Mr. Lemuel Aden, who had died too suddenly to make a will or to tell of his hidden treasure and the money and bonds are really perfectly good.
The four Kenway sisters, therefore, saw their friends, the hospital matron and the school teacher, made comfortably wealthy for life; and the beautiful, seven passenger touring car, with self-starter, quick top, and all the modern appurtenances of a good automobile, was the gift of the legatees of Mr. Lemuel Aden.
But it might as well be a flivver, said Agnes, in disgust, if weve got to sit here all day and watch a fat brown pony whisk his tail.
I dont see what I can do, my dear, said the woman in the basket phaeton. You cant lead him, and you cant push him, and I verily believe if you built a fire under him hed just move up far enough to burn the cart, and stand there until his harness scorched him.
Agnes giggled at that, and was her own jolly self again. Its up to you, Neale ONeil, she declared. Youre the chauffeur and are supposed to make us go. Make us!
Get out and walk around the pony, proposed Neale, grinning.
And what about the car?
Do you think we could lift it over? said Ruth, with scorn.
Now, young man, Agnes pursued, with gravity. It is your duty to get us to Marchenell Grove. Were still twenty-five or thirty miles away from it
My goodness! exclaimed the lady in front. Were you young folks going there?
We had an idea of doing so when we started, maam, said Agnes, quickly.
I should have gone there to-day, too
Not with that pony? shrieked Agnes, clasping her hands.
Why no, said the lady, smiling. But if my nephew hadnt lost his automobile he would have taken me. Oh, dear! Now I shall have to ride behind Jonas all the time.
You really dont call this riding, do you, maam? asked the irrepressible Agnes.
The woman laughed. She liked Agnes Kenway from the first, as almost everybody who met her did.
Im not riding fast just now, and thats a fact, she said, nodding her bonnet with its many bows. Nor does Jonas take me over the roads very rapidly at his very best pace.
Neale ONeil had got slowly out of the car and now walked around to the head of the fat brown pony. The pony had blue eyes, and they were very mild. But he seemed to have no idea of going on and getting himself and his mistress out of the way of the automobile. Maybe he did not like automobiles.
You see, my nephew bought a car and we let Jonas kick up his heels in the paddock. Oh! hes lively enough when he wants to be Jonas, I mean. But my nephews car was stolen day before yesterday and hes worried almost to death about it, poor man.
Oh! cried Ruth, who is your nephew, Madam?
Why, Philip Collinger is my nephew. Hes the county surveyor, you know. A very bright young man if I do say it. But not bright enough to keep from having his auto stolen, she added, ruefully.
Just then Agnes, who had been watching Neale ONeil, called:
What are you doing to that pony, Neale?
The boy had rubbed the fat brown ponys nose. He had lifted first one foot and then the other, going all around the pony to do so. He had patted his neck. Jonas had seemed rather to like these attentions. He still whisked flies calmly.
Now Neale reached over and took one of the ponys ears in his hand, holding it firmly. To the other ear the boy put his lips and seemed to be whispering something privately to Jonas.
What are you doing to that pony, Neale? cried Agnes again.
Mercy! what is the boy doing? Why, Jonas doesnt pay any attention to me when I fairly yell at him. Hes deaf, I believe.
And then the lady stopped, startled. The four Corner House girls all expressed their amazement with a united cry. Neale had taken the pony firmly by the bridle and was leading him quietly out of the middle of the road.
For pitys sake! gasped the ponys mistress, I never saw the like of that before.
Jonas seemed to have forgotten all about balking. He still wagged his ears to keep the flies away and whisked his tail industriously.
Neale, leading the pony, turned a corner in the lane, and there came upon a house. The lady had left the phaeton to speak to the girls more companionably. Neale tied the pony to the picket fence before the house, leaving the hitching strap long enough to allow the animal to graze.
Well, I want to know! cried the woman, when the boy returned to the car. How did you do that? What did you do to Jonas to make him change his mind?
This is Mrs. Heard, Neale, said Ruth, smiling. You sometimes do prove to be a smart boy. What did you do to him?
Neale grinned broadly. He had been used to horses all his life and he knew a few tricks of the Gypsies and the horse-traders.
I just told him something, the boy said.
Oo-ee! cried Tess. Did you really whisper to him?
Neale nodded.
What did you whisper to the pony? asked Dot, wide-eyed.
Agnes snapped, thinking Neale was fooling her: I dont believe it!
Yes, I whispered to him, said the boy, seriously.
Oh, Neale! remonstrated Ruth.
Well! For all I ever heard! exclaimed Mrs. Heard. What did you whisper to that vexatious brute of a pony?
If I told what it was, that would spoil the charm, said Neale, gravely.
Nonsense! ejaculated Agnes, flushing.
Now you know that is ridiculous, said Ruth, inclined to be exasperated with the boy as much as she had been with the pony.
No. It is a fact, said the boy, decidedly.
Now, you know that isnt so, Neale ONeil! cried Agnes.
I assure you it is. Anyway, they say if you tell it what you say to anybody else, the horse will balk again right away. Its a secret between him and the person
I never heard such a ridiculous thing in all my life, gasped Mrs. Heard.
I think you are not very polite, Neale, said Ruth, quite sternly.
Now see here! cried the badgered boy, getting rather vexed himself. I tell you I cant tell you
Youre talking anything but English, complained Agnes.
Well, maybe I didnt talk English into the ponys ear, retorted Neale, grinning suddenly again. Anyway, the old Gyp who taught me that trick told me I must never say the words aloud, or to anybody who would not make proper use of the magic formula.
Oh, shucks! exclaimed Agnes, in disgust. Tell me. Ill try it on Billy Bumps when he balks, said Tess, in a small voice.
At that they all laughed and Neale got in behind the steering wheel again. The two older girls were much interested in Mrs. Heard and that woman was evidently pleased with the sisters.
Oh, shucks! exclaimed Agnes, in disgust. Tell me. Ill try it on Billy Bumps when he balks, said Tess, in a small voice.
At that they all laughed and Neale got in behind the steering wheel again. The two older girls were much interested in Mrs. Heard and that woman was evidently pleased with the sisters.
Why, yes; I ought to know you Corner House girls. Goodness knows Ive heard enough about you and my name being Heard, I heard a lot! and she laughed. But you see, I live away on this side of town, and dont go to your church; so we have never met before.
I am sure the loss has been ours, said Ruth, politely. I hope your pony will not balk again to-day.
Goodness knows! Hell balk if he takes a notion to. I dont suppose what you whispered to him is guaranteed to be a permanent cure, is it, boy? she asked Neale ONeil.
No, maam, grinned the boy.
And you expected to go to Marchenell Grove to-day, Mrs. Heard? Ruth said, reflectively, looking at Agnes enquiringly although she spoke to the mistress of the fat brown pony.
I had thought to. Philly Collinger was going to take me. But if he doesnt recover his car hell not take me auto riding very soon again.
Well, said Ruth, having received a nod of acquiescence from Agnes, I dont see why you shouldnt go there to-day just the same. Wont you come with us? Theres room in the car.
Goody! Of course she can! cried Agnes, clapping her hands.
I think that would be real nice, agreed Tess.
Dot moved over at once to make room. She can sit beside me and the Alice-doll, she proclaimed.
Well, I declare! exclaimed Mrs. Heard, her face alight with pleasure at this united invitation. You are just the nicest girls I ever met. I wonder if Id better?
Of course, said Ruth. You can find some place to leave the pony. Or Neale can, Im sure.
Why, I know these people right in the very next house, said Mrs. Heard. Indeed I expected to call there if Jonas ever got that far.
Neale got briskly out of the car again. Ill go and unharness him, he said, cheerfully. You just find out where I shall put him. Hed rather have you ride in an automobile than drag you himself, and he laughed.
Did did he tell you so, Neale, when you were talking with him? asked Dot, in amazement.
Then they all laughed.
CHAPTER III WHAT MRS. HEARD TOLD
In ten minutes the Kenway car was moving again. Jonas had been put up at the barn of Mrs. Heards friends, near which the pony had balked, and Neale soon whisked them out of sight of the place.
This this is just delightful, sighed Mrs. Heard. Especially after sitting behind that brute of a pony. I do love an automobile.
So do I! Agnes cried. Id rather ride in this car than in a golden chariot I know I would.
I dont know how they run chariots, nowadays, said Neale, chuckling; whether by horse-power or gas. But sometimes a car balks, you know.
Not so often as that Jonas, declared Mrs. Heard. Ive been out with my nephew a lot. His is a nice car. I hope hell find it.
Why, of course the thieves will be apprehended, said Ruth. What good are the police?
When it comes to autos, said Neale, slyly, the police are mostly good for stopping you and getting you fined.
Well, dont you dare drive too fast and get us fined, Neale ONeil, ordered Ruth, sternly.