“I said I’d make that my last venture, and to remind myself how desperate my chances were I just jotted down those words, and pinned the note to the bill.  Then I must have gotten excited in my dream.  I know just before I fell asleep I kept taking the bill out of the pocketbook, and looking at it to make sure I had it.  I might have done that while half asleep, and it blew out of the window.  That’s how it probably happened, and you girls picked up the money.  I can’t thank you enough.  But I’m afraid it will come to me too late to use as I had intended,” the man went on, with a sigh.

“Why?” asked Betty.

“Because the option on the business I was going to buy expires at midnight to-night, and as you say the five hundred dollars is in Deepdale, I don’t see how I am going to get it in time to be of any service.”

“Isn’t that too bad!” cried Amy.

“And we might have brought it with us,” said Mollie.

“Only we didn’t think it would be wise to carry that sum with us,” spoke Grace.  “And we never thought the owner of it would jump off a railroad trestle right in front of us,” she added, with a laugh.

“No, of course not,” admitted Mr. Blackford, drily.  “You couldn’t foresee that.  Neither could I. Well, it can’t be helped.  Maybe it will be for the best in the end.  I’ll have the five hundred, anyhow, and perhaps I can find some other business.  But I did want to get this one on which I had the option.  However, there’s no help for it.”

A sudden light of resolve came into Betty’s eyes.  She confronted the owner of the bill.

“There’s no need for you to lose your option!” she exclaimed.

“But I don’t see how I can get the money in time.  I might if I had an airship; but to go to Deepdale, and then to New York with it, is out of the question.”

“No!” cried Betty.  “We can do it by telegraph!  I’ve just thought of a way out.  You can take up that option yet, Mr. Blackford!”

CHAPTER XXV

BACK HOME

Betty Nelson’s chums stared at her.  So did Mr. Blackford.  Betty herself, with flushed cheeks and flashing eyes, looked at them all in turn.  Her idea had stimulated her.

“What—­how—­I don’t see—­” stammered Mr. Blackford.  “If you—­”

“It’s this way!” cried Betty, all enthusiasm.  “You know you can transfer money by telegraph in a very short time—­it only takes a few minutes to do it—­really it’s quicker than an airship,” and she smiled at Mr. Blackford.

“That’s so,” he admitted.  “I see now.”

“I’ll have my father telegraph the five hundred dollars to me at Judgeville,” explained Betty.  “Then I can give it to you, and you can telegraph it to your business man in New York.  It is sure to reach there before midnight, and you can take up your option, if that is the proper term.”

“It is—­very proper,” said Mr. Blackford.  “I believe you have the right idea, Miss Nelson.  I should have thought of that myself, but that shows I am really not a good business man.”