"
"Oh, dear!" sighed Belle, but Bess laughed.
The first to reach the barn was a very tall farmer, of the type
designated as lean and lanky. He was headed straight for the open
doors, his head bent down to avoid the pelting drops, and he did not
see the cars and the young ladies until he had nearly collided with
Cora. Then he straightened up suddenly, and the look of astonishment
on his face made Cora want to laugh, only she felt, under the
circumstances, that she did not dare.
"Wa'al, I'll be gum-swizzled!" exclaimed the farmer. "What's this,
anyhow? Auto-mobiles? As I live! Wa'al, I swan t' goodness! An' gals
a-drivin' of 'em! Ho! ho! Wa'al, that's what I call rich--yes, sir,
rich!"
A fringe of curious haymakers gathered behind the one who had
entered first.
"We only came in out of the rain," explained Cora, who was looking
her prettiest in the confusion. "We hope we're not in the way."
"Oh, you're welcome," the man hastened to say. "As welcome
as--wa'al, a heap sight more welcome than this thunderstorm is. We
calcalated t' git all th' hay in, but we didn't quite make out.
We've got lots of room here, you see. There ain't another barn in
all Woodbine that'd take a locomotive like that in it," and he
walked around Cora's big car, eying it curiously.
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