Alice Dale Hardy

“ Williamson shot ahead, anxious to catch up with the other car.
"I read in a book that people with sense always watch things. When they are taking a walk, they see the trees and the plants. When they are out driving they notice the landmarks. I like advertisements—I always watch them. And when our car tipped to let the other go by, I looked right at that advertisement for orange marmalade and I remembered it. So when Polly said she dropped her pin I knew she must have dropped it there."
"My goodness, you read a lot of books, don't you, Artie?" Jess said, with manifest respect. ”

“ He could think of nothing but the missing bank.
“I’ll resign as treasurer,” he said to Polly, on their way to school.
The sun was out and the snow had stopped. A white world, brilliant and beautiful, was spread before their eyes.
“I’ll resign,” said Fred. “I’m not fit to be treasurer and take care of other people’s money. I’m too careless. And I’ll save every cent of my allowance and pay all the money back to the club.”
“Don’t be silly, Fred,” Polly told him loyally. [166] “We don’t want you to resign. No one will be as good a treasurer as you are.” ”

“ He said that Ella would be glad to know the Riddle Club had captured them.
"You wouldn't think he'd even remember any of us won a race, would you?" said Polly. "Every one says he is the kindest man. But what do you suppose can have happened to Ella?"
The boys and girls did not feel like going swimming that morning, but they went down to the beach and were idly picking up shells when the put-put of a motor boat sounded close inshore.
"That's Larry," Fred said. "I wonder where he is going? He chases up and down the coast exactly like a delivery wagon." ”

“ Their tanned faces and bright eyes showed what a healthful summer it had been and their good spirits spoke for their happiness.
[6] “It’s our turn to have a party,” said Margy Williamson, eagerly. “Polly and Artie had us Hallowe’en last year. We can have the kitchen at our house and do anything we please.”
“I thought you’d come to our house; but it’s all right that way,” said Polly. “Shall we dress up?”
“Oh, I don’t think it’s one bit of fun unless we dress up and wear false-faces,” declared Margy.
“We’ll know each other—can’t help it, with only six of us,” demurred Fred. ”

“ Whichever way the cows turned, there were champing, snorting machines and noisy horns to distract them.
"I agree with Artie that cows should not be made nervous," said Mr. Williamson. "Ward, go around and ask every one please to stop blowing his horn. Fred and Artie, help me let down these bars. I think we can drive the cows in here."
"But that's an alfalfa field," Mr. Marley protested. "The cows will ruin it, won't they?"
"If the cows stay here much longer they'll be ruined," replied Mr. Williamson. "The choice is not a wide one." ”

“ As every one will tell you, it is quite impossible to keep your mind on any job and sneeze at the same time. Small wonder that Artie forgot the rope, as Ward had done.
The table teetered a minute over the edge of the loft, then dropped. Fred felt as though his arms were being pulled from the sockets for one brief moment, and then the strain slackened. He looked back. The three girls were holding the rope, their feet braced as they pulled. Ward and Artie stood staring at him.
“Grab that rope!” shouted Fred. “What are you thinking of? Grab hold! Do you want the thing to go bang?” ”

“ Margy thought for a moment. Her face cleared.
"A bicycle!" said she.
"You can use a bicycle in machinery," Polly insisted. "Take it apart and use it for lots of things. Three guesses, Margy, because it isn't thinking weather, as Artie says. Try again."
Margy thought so long that her brother Fred began to shuffle his feet impatiently. Margy looked at him reproachfully.
"How can I think when you are so noisy?" she asked. "Is this right, Polly? A flywheel?"
Fred and Artie hooted, for this was too much for their mechanical minds.
"A flywheel is a part of machinery," Fred explained. ”

“ That night it began to snow again, the fine, steady snow that always promises a real storm. When Mr. Marley came home to supper, his overcoat was covered with the white flakes.
“It’s lucky that every one lives near,” said Mrs. Marley, lighting another electric lamp to make the dining-room more cheerful. “No one would want to go very far on a night like this.”
“Oh, they would, Mother, if they were going to the Riddle Club,” Artie assured her. “I’d go anywhere to a Riddle Club meeting.” ”

“ Williamson. "Never. I am more shocked than grieved."
"What did he do?" clamored Ward and Jess, for the other car had shot on ahead. "What did Fred do?"
"He made a pun, and that is worse than a riddle," Mr. Williamson answered.
"He just did it for fun," said Polly, half-believing that Fred's father was displeased.
"I made a pun—just for fun," Fred chanted. "Gee, that's poetry."
"It was bum," sang Artie. "That makes more poetry."
"More truth than poetry, you mean," Margy put in. "'Bum' doesn't rhyme with 'pun.'"
"It does, too," Artie insisted. "Doesn't it, Polly?" ”

“ It seemed like another Christmas to the members of the Riddle Club, the day after their experience in getting home. Every one was so glad to see them that they were allowed to please themselves pretty much, till Ward made himself sick with too much candy and Margy and Fred quarreled because they wanted to go skating and coasting at the same time; that is, each wanted the other to do his or her way. ”

“ She guessed at once, from Artie's manner, that he was trying to conceal something.
"You haven't heard from Ella Mooney, have you?" she asked abruptly.
Artie shook his head.
"If Polly is going to be at home to-morrow, tell her Mattie and I will come over," Carrie said placidly.
This was dreadful and Artie floundered.
"She—she won't be at home," he stammered. "That is, I don't think she will be."
"Well, Jess or Margy will do," Carrie returned. "I want to ask them something."
"They won't be home, either," said Artie. "Nobody will be at home to-morrow." ”

“ Whatever he chose to do, he did with all his might, and the matter of club dues was a serious matter with him.
“What are we going to spend the money for?” asked Artie, to whom, like Ward, the bank seemed to hold a fortune.
“We’re not going to spend it for anything,” Polly informed him, “till we need something very much.”
“We could buy Christmas presents with it,” suggested Artie, wistfully.
“Artie Marley, I’m surprised!” said Polly. “That money doesn’t belong to us any more. It is club money, and has to be spent for the good of the club. Don’t you understand?” ”

“ It was a long pier and the end was black with people, all trying their luck with line and pole.
"Dad likes to fish from a boat," remarked Fred. "He said we could go with him, if he goes to-morrow."
"We can't go—I asked Mother," said Jess. "Just you boys, because girls don't go out. Ward says men have a better time fishing by themselves."
"Well, I should think they would," Polly declared. "I don't see any fun in catching fish, and Mother doesn't, either. So of course we wouldn't have a very good time."
"Fish are too smelly," said Margy, as though that settled the matter for her. ”

“ Fred groaned in anguish and Polly laughed.
“That’s it,” said Fred, bitterly. “Never want to pay a cent in, but always willing to let it all go out. Take the last penny in the bank—what [9] do you care? Why should dues worry you? They’re only something to throw away.”
“Don’t spend your old dues, if you don’t want to,” snapped Ward. “I don’t care whether you put in a furnace or not; I’m never cold. It’s the girls who are making a fuss.”
“A furnace costs a heap of money,” put in Polly, wisely. “We never could afford that. Besides, Mr. Larue wouldn’t let us. We might set fire to the barn.” ”

“ Marley jump, the music started, the merry-go-round began to move, and the blissful ride was well under way.
When the music stopped, Jess took another giraffe, on the outside of the platform this time, Ward deserted his lion for a friendly-looking bear and Fred and Polly tried the zebras. Artie stuck to his elephant and Margy refused to budge from her car, though the others urged her to ride an animal.
"It's lots more fun than that silly old car," said Fred, with brotherly disapproval. ”

“ In a moment the three boys and Jess were on their feet, and, joined by Margy and Polly, they rushed pell-mell down the front stairs. The door in the hall was open and Mrs. Pepper stood talking to Mr. Williamson on the porch. The grown-ups caught a glimpse of a flying brown body and then a colorful flash as six gay-colored sweaters dashed past them. Then the chase headed for the Pepper yard. ”

“ Polly was really a little frightened when she found that she could not raise her arms, but Artie rubbed one and Fred the other, while Margy and Jess rubbed her legs and ankles, and presently they began to feel better.
"I don't wonder you cried when your foot went to sleep, Jess," said Polly, managing a smile. "It's worse when you go to sleep all over." ”

“ Nothing ever daunted Polly. If she could not find what she wanted ready-made, she made it herself.
“And another thing,” said Margy. “Being the Riddle Club, why can’t we ask some riddles? I mean short ones—one apiece.”
“All right,” agreed Jess.
“Maybe we can get some about animals,” suggested Artie.
“Oh, any kind of riddle will do,” declared the president of the club.
The plans for the party made, the six chums made fudge as a grand wind-up to the afternoon. They went home to supper, where the candy apparently made little difference in their hearty appetites. ”

“ She began to fondle and exhibit her snakes and the crowd pressed closer. Ward made all haste to get further away from the woman who had been frightened. He was afraid she might begin to scold again, but she was too interested in the snake charmer to remember her fright.
The Riddle Club stayed till the last snake had been put back in its box and then came out, the strong sunlight making their eyes blink after the darkness.
"Say, this is your unlucky day all right, Ward," said the grinning Fred. "First your pass is no good for peanuts and then you give the whole snake show a regular fit. ”

“ JESS HAS LUCK
All of the other members of the Riddle Club stared at Artie in blank wonder.
“Cabbages?” cried Fred.
“What do we pull up a cabbage for?” Margy demanded, curiously.
“To see whether you’ll be rich or poor,” said Artie, as though that settled the matter.
“How will you know whether you’ll be rich and poor?” Ward demanded.
“Not rich and poor,” Artie corrected him. “Who ever heard of any one being rich and poor? Rich or poor, silly.”
“Well, all right,” agreed Ward, amiably. “Rich or poor then. How’ll we know we’re going to be rich or poor by looking at a cabbage?” ”

“ I wish I knew whether Joe meant to throw that firecracker at you."
"There wasn't any one else back of the barn except me," Ward declared. "Of course he was throwing it at me."
"Well, he might not have known that you were carrying fireworks," said Fred. "He might have been trying to scare you and tossed the firecracker before he noticed what you had in your arms."
"Yes, that must have been it," Polly chimed in, always ready to find an excuse for every one. ”

“ You come along, Fred, and make her give you the bank. That’s the same as stealing, to take things like that.”
“It isn’t stealing to take one glove,” protested Artie.
“’Tis, too,” insisted Jess. “What good is one glove? No good at all! Carrie Pepper knows those gloves are new. She has to give it back to me, that’s all there is to it.”
“Well, you take my advice and go mighty slow about accusing any one of taking your glove,” said Fred, earnestly. “I’d no more go to her and ask her for the bank than I’d fly. I might as well come right out and say she stole it.”
“She took Polly’s pin, didn’t she?” ”

“ Polly offered them to the tramp who thanked her and ate them with evident appetite. Then Jess toasted him several marshmallows, and though he said he wasn't "any great hand for sweet things," he ate them without further protest.
Fred put more wood on the fire, and as he leaned over to prod it into a better blaze, he saw Ella Mooney slip her hand into the gaping pocket of the shabby jacket the old man wore.
"I'll bet she gave him some money," ran Fred's swift thought. "She's that kind of a girl—while all Carrie can think of is that she may lose her silly sweater." ”

“ Fred, go ahead.”
“I’ll ask you, Polly. Here is a stinger: What’s the difference between a brand new ten-cent piece and an old-fashion quarter?”
“The difference is exactly fifteen cents,” replied Polly, placidly.
“Wow! I guess you read the same riddle book I did.”
[41] “Here is one for you, Margy,” said Artie. “Why is a lollipop like a horse?”
“When he’s the same color,” said Margy, quickly.
“No, that isn’t the answer. A lollipop is like a horse because the more you lick it the faster it goes.”
“Now, Ward, you ask the last riddle,” said Polly. “Then we’ll go on with our Hallowe’en fun.” ”

“ Artie demanded, while Polly looked puzzled.
"It's a man, isn't it?" said Jess slowly.
"Yes. And you can't use a man in any machinery can you?" Margy pointed out. "Daddy told me the other night about a wheelwright."
"But he isn't a wheel," declared Fred. "That isn't the answer, is it, Polly? Anyway, you said it was just the thing for to-day, and I don't see what a wheelwright has to do with to-day."
"The real answer is a pin-wheel," Polly explained. "And it's only two days to Fourth of July, you know, so it fits." ”

“ Polly whispered to Margy, as they tiptoed through the lower rooms.
“So do I,” answered Margy. “Oh! What was that?”
It was nothing but a window shade that had rattled against the pane, blown by the draft which came through the broken window. Dora, the Larue maid, had gone to her own home to stay over the holiday, and there was no one but the searchers in the house.
“Well, he isn’t on the first floor,” said Fred, when all the rooms had been carefully examined. “Artie and I will go up to the attic and have a look around there. A turkey might feel more at home in an attic.” ”

“ Margy said. "I give up."
Polly and Fred echoed her surrender reluctantly. They, too, could not think of an answer that might fit.
"I don't give up," said Artie. "But I can't think of the answer. That is, not in a hurry."
Jess was of the same mind, and Larry shook his head when appealed to.
Ward consented to give the answer after Fred insisted that they could not "wait forever" for Artie to think.
"The smallest man in the world," he informed them, "is a sailor. It's funny you couldn't guess that."
Five members of the Riddle Club sat up with a jerk. ”

“ Fred gazed at the circle in despair.
“You don’t any of you have the right idea [2] about these club dues,” he informed them. “You seem to think I want the money to go off and spend on myself. There’s no use in having a treasurer, unless you’re willing to put something in the treasury.”
“Oh, but, Fred! we are willing,” protested Polly Marley, president of the Riddle Club. “Of course we’re willing. The only reason I didn’t pay to-day was because I didn’t have ten cents.” ”

“ So had Fred. But his common sense told him that when one lived almost across the street from the ocean, the beach was the place to construct a raft.
"Where did you get your hammer and nails, Artie?" he asked curiously. "And the boards? It must take heavy boards to build a raft."
"They're already nailed together," Artie informed him. "I only have to put on a couple of cross-pieces and it will be done."
"But I think you're an awful chump to build it in the barn," persisted Fred. "You can't see in that dark corner, either. And why get up in the middle of the night to build a raft?" ”

“ Polly was glad to make the flowers, and she stayed after school for an hour or two every afternoon, cutting and pasting.
“I’m so sick of braiding this silly old paper,” Carrie Pepper complained to Mattie Helms. “I think it’s mean we never have any of the fun. All Polly Marley has to do is to sit there and make flowers. Any one can make flowers, and it’s interesting. Not like braiding this stuff.”
“I don’t think her flowers are much,” commented Mattie. “Do you?”
“No, nothing extra,” said Carrie. “There goes Fred Williamson. He looks at me so funny, every time he sees me.” ”

“ Marshall had put six beautiful rhubarb saucer pies in her box, two dozen sugar cookies and half a chocolate layer cake. As the three mothers had counted on hearty appetites, they had packed generous boxes, too, and Mr. Larue said that they could probably live the rest of the summer on what was left over. But, to everyone's surprise, there was very little left.
"We must all be poets," said Mr. Marley, pulling Artie over backward and tickling him. "For look what we have done to the party—the birds are lucky if they get a few crumbs." ”

“ Jess discovered that her knee was not badly hurt, after all, and Ward was grateful for the rest.
“Looks like more snow,” said Fred, pointing to the sky, now gray and overcast.
“Why can’t you be cheerful?” scolded Margy. “We’ve had all the snow we want for a long time. It’s going to be clear weather—the paper said so,” and Margy looked triumphantly at her brother.
“You have to take the kind of weather you get,” said Artie, sagely. “It doesn’t make any difference what you want.”
“Well, I don’t think it’s going to snow,” announced Polly, rising. ”

“ Fred suggested. "Nothing very improving about Indians and pirates, that I ever heard of."
"That's because you don't read 'em," announced Artie. "Ward and I have an invention most made now—a new kind of arrow. Any book is improving that teaches you something."
"Right you are, Artie," Mr. Williamson flung over his shoulder. "I daresay even arithmetic and spelling books would be 'improving,' if certain students should learn something from them."
They all laughed, for Fred "detested" spelling and Margy and Jess were none too strong in arithmetic. ”

“ Fred shook his head.
“I wonder——” he said slowly. “Yes, I do believe it will work!”
“What will work?” demanded Margy, eagerly. “What will work, Fred?”
“Well, I’ll step into the first half of the giraffe,” [51] explained Fred, “and Artie can manage the back feet—Ward will get out of breath too quickly to do what I want done. When the bell rings, we’ll go out the back door and amble around to the front of the house and just wrap Mr. Ghost lovingly around with that nice, long, rubber-hose neck. That ought to give our friends a thrill. They won’t know what has them in the dark.” ”

“ Carrie slipped her arm through Margy's as the Riddle Club resumed its tramp.
Carrie did most of the talking on that walk, and it did not seem to exhaust her at all. When the Riddle Club reached the town, she accompanied them to the post-office, and when Fred said something to Polly about going home another way, she declared that she would love to go.
"I like to walk; and, anyway, you'll have to take me home for I don't know my way," she said. "I'll tell you—let's go as far as your cottage and I'll see your folks and then you can walk back to the bungalow with me." ”

“ The Riddle Club had never bothered much with by-laws.
But Polly thought it time to interfere.
“I think you boys are too silly for words,” she pronounced. “Of course Fred has to collect the dues—that’s his work. But you know, Fred, that if you didn’t pitch into Ward, he’d hand you the ten cents without coaxing. Why you want to argue and get cross is more than I can understand.”
[115] Ward scowled and Fred laughed good-naturedly.
“There’s the bank,” he said. “You can put your money in it or leave it alone. But let me tell you, no club lasts very long without dues.” ”

“ Don't aim to have a big brother come out of the clouds and walk through us."
The boys, by a desperate effort, managed to keep awake till three o'clock. Then, just as Artie was sure his eyes would not open again, they heard Polly stir uneasily.
"Fred?" she whispered. "Artie?"
"Right here," Fred said reassuringly. "What's the matter?"
"I can't get up," said Polly desperately. "I can't move. I feel as though I had turned to stone."
Fred tore off the blanket. Jess was asleep, her whole weight thrown against Polly, her head on her shoulder. Against the other arm slumbered Margy, resting heavily. ”

“ Children will eagerly follow the doings of little Jack Rabbit, who, every morning as soon as he has polished the front door knob and fed the canary, sets out from his little house in the bramble patch to meet his friends in the Shady Forest and Sunny Meadow. And the clever way he escapes from his three enemies, Danny Fox, Mr. Wicked Weasel and Hungry Hawk will delight the youngsters. ”