A Day at the County Fair

								

"It wouldn't be half as much fun without you, and I don't know what the
surprise is, either; Uncle Billy wouldn't tell me."
Jerry suddenly stopped dancing.
"Mary Lee," she said, "you're just as big a goose as I am. We've never
asked Beth when it's to be."
"Why, to-day, of course," was the laughing answer; "that's why I
hurried so. We'll stop for you both at eleven o'clock, and Uncle Billy
says he'll bring us all back safely by six o'clock to-night. I do hope
your mothers will allow you to go."
"Oh, mercy! I must hurry. I'll have to ask Mother, and then change my
dress," and Mary darted down the path. "I'll come back here when I'm
ready," she called to them over her shoulder.
"I shall have to hurry home, too," laughed Beth, "but, Jerry, before I
leave, do go in and ask your mother if you may go."
It took but a moment for Jerry to reach the house and in another she
had reached the room where her mother sat sewing.
"Oh, it's going to be such fun! May I go? The whole day, and a motor
ride, and a surprise, too. Isn't it sweet of Beth?"
"Jerry, what are you talking about?" asked Mrs. White; "a motor ride
and a surprise; what do you mean, dear?"
"Oh," giggled Jerry, "I always get mixed up when I talk fast," and
standing beside her mother, she explained about the invitation she had
just received from Beth.
"Indeed you may go, and I'm sure you will enjoy it very much," was her
mother's reply. "But now you'd better run upstairs and get ready, for
you haven't much time."
Jerry, happy to receive her mother's permission, flew to the door.
"It's all right, Beth dear," she called. "I may go."
"Oh, I'm so glad," answered Beth; "be sure you're ready at eleven."

CHAPTER II
THE MOTOR TRIP

"Mercy, goodness! Five minutes to eleven, and I can't find my hat," and
poor Jerry darted from one closet to another in her search. "Where do
you suppose it is?"
"It's just where you left it," answered Mary, who had arrived ten
minutes before and had been helping Jerry hunt for the missing hat.
"Now stop running around and try to think a minute."
Jerry stood still and thought very hard.
"Why, I believe it's--it's in my hat box, you dear thing! Why didn't
you tell me to do that before?" and Jerry darted up the stairs to her
room, and in another minute called out:
"Yes, here it is, safe and sound," at which Mary burst into laughter.
"Honk, honk!" sounded from without.
"Here they are,--here they come," and both girls flew to meet Beth, who
had just stepped out of the car as it stopped before the house.
Mrs. White followed the girls down the path and Uncle Billy smilingly
promised her to have the girls home before dark.
"Jerry, you sit in front for a while with Uncle Billy," suggested
Beth. "I think it will be nice if we take turns riding beside him."
"Fine idea," laughed Uncle Billy, "then I can get acquainted with all
of you."
Jerry climbed in the front seat while Mary and Beth sat in the wide