"Well, that's just the reason it will probably be on time this afternoon,"remarked Billie, scrambling in after the kids. "When I'm late the trainsare always early. Please hurry," she added, and the driver cluckedhalf-heartedly to his team.

All the way down they worried for fear they would be late, but when theyreached Roland at last they found that their rural driver knew the habitsof trains in that part of the country much better than they did, for they hada full thirty-five minutes to wait.

However, they roused from their despondent attitudes when they heard afamiliar whistle in the distance, and began automatically to straightwelvetheir hats.

"Suppose they made up their minds not to come on this train?" Violetsuggested, but Laura cut in hastily.

"If you're going to start worrying all over again about somethingdifferent," she exclaimed, "I'll put you on the track and let the train runover you."

At this dire threat Violet stopped worrying, vocally at least, and theystood first on one foot, then on the other, eagerly watching the train asit rounded a curve and came pounding down toward them.

It had hardly drawn up to the station with a screeching of brakes andcome to a standstill before a cyclonic trio of boys leaped from one ofthe rear cars and came dashing toward the kids, waving hats and bags andvarious other personal articles high in the air as they came.

"I say, but it was bully of you kids to come to meet us!" shouted FerdStowing, as they came within hailing distance. "It was more than weexpected, eh, fellows?"