"Thanks, ever so much!" exclaimed Jimmie. "I'm sure I can't thank you
enough. If ever you get stuck----"
"You'll pull us out!" finished Mollie.
"Not until Stamp is better able to do it," the boy answered with a
laugh. "But I'll do all I can."
"And so you didn't like Shadow Valley?" asked Will, as the boy made
ready to proceed on his way.
"No, it's too gloomy for me. Hardly anyone lives there."
"Did you see that big mansion up there?" asked Grace.
"The one that rich man built, you mean? Yes, I passed near it a while
ago. It's only about three miles from here. The grounds are pretty well
in ruins now, but the house is good."
"See anything strange about it?" asked Will.
"Strange? What do you mean?"
"Oh, well, I mean--er--any tramps in it--or anything like that?"
"No, not a thing," and Jimmie looked curiously at his questioner. "Well,
I must be going. No more muddy roads for me!"
The auto party took their places again, Betty succeeding Mollie at the
wheel, and Will being promised a chance later. Then they started off.
"Where are you going?" asked Grace, as Betty turned up a road on which
they seldom journeyed. "This doesn't take us anywhere in particular."
"It goes to Shadow Valley," answered Betty.
"Are--are you going there?" gasped Amy.
"Just to get a glimpse of it," was the reply. "Surely you're not
afraid--in broad daylight.
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