CHAPTER IX
IN SHADOW VALLEY
The boy, who was endeavoring—and by gentle urging, be it said to his credit—to get the horse to pull the wagon out of the mud-hole, looked up on hearing his name spoken by Betty. At first he did not recognize the girls, and his face plainly showed this.
"Don't you know us?" asked Mollie, as she brought her car to a stop.
The boy shook his head. Then, as he looked from face to face, a light came over his own.
"Oh, yes!" he cried. "You found the little lost child when you were on your walking tour, and turned her over to me."
"Exactly," agreed Betty. "But you seem to be in trouble, Jimmie," for the bony horse had given over the attempt to move the mired wagon and was patiently resting between the shafts, awaiting developments.
"I am in trouble," Jimmie admitted, frankly.
"Have you given up your business, and are
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