Carolyn Wells

Eight Girls and a Dog Carolyn Wells

THE clock in the railroad station announced high noon, but of all the party only Marjorieand Millicent were there to hear it. Nan Kellogg had fulfilled her own prophecy by comingdown fifteen minutes earlier, and then going back home for her cuckoo-clock, which wasone of her pet possessions, and which she decided she couldn't be parted from for twowhole weeks. She came flying back, and entered the station by one door just as Betty Millercame in at the other."Oh," said Nan, breathlessly, "I thought of course I'd be the last one here. Where are theother girls? But since they're not here, won't you hold the clock, Marjorie, and let me runback home and-""No," said Betty, decidedly. "You cannot go back for anything else. Follow the example ofyour clock and stop running for a while.""Has it stopped? I was afraid it would. Never mind; I can set it going after we get there. But I do want to go back and-""Nan Kellogg, you'll be put in chains if you are so insubordinate," broke in Marjorie. "Iam commander of this expedition, and I order you to sit down on that bench and not moveuntil the train comes."Nan laughed, but sat down obediently, holding her precious clock; and then Helenappeared with her banjo, and Hester with her camera."Have you checked your wheels, girls?" asked Betty."Yes, with our trunks," said Helen. "Mr. Bond is keeping watch over them until the traincomes; and he is holding Timmy Loo, who is a most important-looking animal just now, dressed in a new red ribbon and a baggage-tag.""Oh, he's delighted with his prospective journey," said Marjorie. "I told him he had theentire charge of our trunks and wheels, and he feels the responsibility. Oh, here's Jessie. Now we're all here but Marguerite. Where is she, Nan?""Who? Daisy? Oh, she'll be here in a minute. I think she waited to learn how to makesoup.