"As that will be my last act of law-breaking, I'll drive," announced Frances.
Therefore, the girls hurried away in the car. They had not gone more than half the distance to Dorothy Ames's home, when Natalie saw a dog following the machine.
"Go home, old fellow!" called she, waving her hat to drive him back.
But the dog stood momentarily still and wagged his stumpy tail, then galloped after the car again, to make up for lost time.
"Girls, what shall we do with that dog?" cried Natalie in distress. "If he follows us much further he may get lost."
Frances stopped the car and called the dog to her. He stood with front paws on the running-board and looked up at her with happy eyes.
"He's a fine Collie, girls. Look at his head and the lines of his body. Someone get out and look at the collar for the owner's name," said Frances, leaning over to study the dog.
Belle got out and having examined the collar, remarked: "No name on it. It's just a plain leather affair with a frayed rope-end still attached to the ring."
The dog gave a short friendly yelp at Belle and wagged his tail rapidly, as a token of good fellowship.
"Let him run after us if he wants to, then we will take him back with us when we return," suggested Janet.
"We'd better have him jump inside the car, then, so he won't stray while our attentions are turned," ventured Norma.
So the dog was given room in the tonneau where he stood and watched over the side of the machine as they flew along the road.
Arrived at Dorothy Ames's farm, he waited until the door was opened, then he leaped out and pranced about the girls.
"That's some dog you girls got there!" declared Mr. Ames, as he came forward to welcome his visitors.
"Yes, he must belong to someone living near Green Hill. He ran after our car as we turned from the state road into this road," explained Natalie.
"I ain't never seen him about afore. I knows every dog fer ten mile around Greenville, and there hain't no farmer that kin afford a' animal like that," returned Mr. Ames.
"Got every point a prize-winnin' Collie ought to have. I wish he was my dog! I'd win a blue ribbon on him," said Mr. Ames, as he examined the dog critically.
"Then someone will worry until he is home again," said Norma concernedly.