"May Eunice go away with us now?" Ruth urged. "And won't you go down to the village, and stay with Naki and Ceally until Eunice comes back?"

"Take the child, when you will," a.s.sented the Indian woman. "She is mine no longer."

"Then come, hurry, Eunice. We must be off," Bab cried.

Eunice got her new coat and hat. Then she flung her arms around her grandmother, and kissed her in the way Mollie had taught her.

The old Indian woman hugged the child to her for one brief instant; then she relaxed her hold and went back into her wigwam.

"The Automobile Girls" and Eunice ran down the hill.

In half an hour they found "Mr. A. Bubble." He was patiently awaiting their return.

"Jump into the car in a hurry," Ruth cried. "Put Eunice in the middle. We have a long distance to travel before night falls."

The girls leaped into the automobile. It sped away through the autumnal woods.

"Look, do look up above us!" Mollie exclaimed.

Away above their heads something white sailed and circled in the air.

"It is Reginald Latham in his airship," cried Grace.

"Well, Mr. Reginald Latham," laughed Mollie, "an airship may do the business of the future; but for present purposes I'll bet on the automobile."

For hours "The Automobile Girls" drove steadily on. The roads were well marked with signposts. Ruth wished to make a nearby town away from the main line of travel.

At dusk they arrived in North Adams.

Ruth drove at once to a telegraph office, where she telegraphed to Miss Sallie: "Safe in North Adams with Eunice. Had a fine trip. Expect you and Mr. Latham in the morning. All is well. Do not worry. Ruth."

Ruth and her friends put up at the Wilson House in North Adams. They explained to the hotel proprietor that they were staying in Lenox. Their aunt would join them the next day.

Five weary girls slept the sleep of the just.

CHAPTER XXIII

THE RECOGNITION

Miss Stuart and Mr. Winthrop Latham did not arrive in North Adams the next morning.

A little before noon, Miss Sallie telegraphed to Ruth: "Must see Indian woman before we join you. Proof of child's ident.i.ty required. Wait."

Ruth showed her telegram to the girls.

Barbara shook her head. "More of the work of Mrs. Latham and Reginald,"

she suggested.

Soon after the receipt of Ruth's telegram, the afternoon before, Miss Stuart telephoned Mr. Winthrop Latham, "Will you please come to the hotel to see me immediately?"

Now, Miss Sallie realized her difficult position. How was she to protect the interests of Eunice without accusing Mr. Latham's relatives of evil designs against the child?

She called up Naki in Pittsfield and told him to come to her hotel that evening. "Naki can tell Mr. Latham what I cannot," Miss Sallie reflected.

"He can report the visit of Mrs. Latham and Reginald to the Indian squaw, and can make Mr. Latham see his sister's intentions."

Mr. Latham arrived first for the interview with Miss Stuart. He looked worn and tired.

"My 'Automobile Girls' have run off with Eunice!" Miss Stuart at once informed him.

"Why should there be any running away with the child?" Mr. Latham asked impatiently. "I could very easily have gone up to the wigwam in the morning. I think, in many respects, it will be wisest to see the Indian woman and child on their own ground. To tell you the truth, Miss Stuart, I shall require positive proofs that this Indian girl is the child that my brother's Indian wife carried away from our home years ago."

"Certainly, Mr. Latham," Miss Stuart replied quietly. "I entirely agree with you; but I think it may be possible to secure such proofs."

"I have been talking to my sister and nephew of this child," Mr. Latham continued. "They regard the idea that this little Eunice is the daughter of my brother's wife as absurd. They recalled the fact that we were positively a.s.sured of the child's death. They do not believe it possible that the Indian relatives would not have claimed the child's fortune for her. There were a number of educated Indians living in the town of Stockbridge at the time. My brother's wife took refuge with them after leaving us."

"Then, Mr. Latham," Aunt Sallie rejoined, "if the Indian grandmother cannot give you satisfactory proofs of the child's parentage, possibly you can find the additional proofs in Stockbridge."

Mr. Latham was silent. He had not been sorry to be persuaded by Mrs.

Latham and Reginald that Eunice was an impostor.

Naki knocked at the door.

"I would rather not see visitors, Miss Stuart," Mr. Latham declared. "I am entirely upset by this present situation."

"It is only our Indian guide, Naki," Miss Sallie explained. "I sent for him."

"Naki," Miss Sallie began, as soon as the man entered the room. "My niece has taken Eunice away for a few days. She told me to ask you to go up to the wigwam and bring the Indian woman down to your house again."

Naki shut his lips together. "The Indian woman will not return to my house," he said.

"Why not?" Miss Stuart asked, angrily. "It is much better for her to be with you. She will die up there."

"She wishes to die up there," Naki avowed.

"Nonsense!" retorted Miss Stuart. "We cannot let her suffer so because of the child."

"She is afraid to come down the hill again," Naki continued. "She is afraid of the law."

"Why should she be afraid of the law?" inquired Mr. Latham.

"I cannot tell," Naki replied; "but the woman who came to my house with her son told the old squaw she must hide. If her secret was discovered she would be sent to prison."

"What woman and her son came to your house to see this squaw?" asked Mr.

Latham.