“Barbara Thurston, what do you mean by running away by yourself?” exclaimed Grace Carter, a moment later.  “We have been looking for you for ten minutes.”

Hugh Post, Mollie and a strange young man were close behind Grace.

“I want to present my friend, Lieutenant Elmer Wilson,” Hugh announced.  “He is a very important person in Washington.”

“Not a bit of it,” laughed the young man.  “I am one of the President’s aides.  I try to make myself generally useful.”

“Your work must be very interesting,” Barbara said quickly.  “Do you—­”

Just then a soft contralto voice interrupted her.  “Are you ready to go with me, Elmer?” it said.

Barbara recognized the voice as belonging to the Mrs. Wilson whom she had met in the drawing room not an hour before.  Could it be that this young and lovely looking woman was the mother of Elmer Wilson?  Surely the young man was at least twenty-two years old.

“Coming in a moment, Mother,” Elmer replied.  “Have you said good-bye to Harriet?”

“Harriet is not in the reception room now.  Nearly all her guests have gone,” Mrs. Wilson murmured softly.  “Mr. Hamlin is angry.  But poor Harriet ought to have a chance to talk for a few minutes to the richest young man in Washington.  I will leave you, Elmer.  If you see Harriet, you may tell her I did not think it fair to disturb her.”

Barbara went back to the drawing-room to search for Ruth.  She found Ruth standing next her uncle, Mr. Hamlin, saying the adieux in Harriet’s place.  A few moments later the last visitor had withdrawn and Mr. Hamlin quickly left Ruth and Bab alone.

Mr. Hamlin was a small man, with iron gray hair, a square jaw and thin, tightly closed lips.  He seldom talked, and the “Automobile Girls” felt secretly afraid of him.

“Uncle is dreadfully angry with Harriet,” Ruth explained to Bab, after Mr. Hamlin was out of hearing.  “But he is awfully strict and I do not think he is exactly fair.  He does not give Harriet credit for what she does, but he gets awfully cross if she makes any mistakes.  Harriet is upstairs, in her own sitting-room, talking to a great friend of hers.  He is a man Uncle hates, although he has known Charlie Meyers since childhood.  He is immensely rich, but he is very ill-bred, and that is why Uncle dislikes him.  I don’t think Harriet cares a bit more for this young man than she does for half a dozen others.  But if Uncle doesn’t look out Harriet will marry him for spite.  Harriet hates being poor.  She is not poor, really.  But I am afraid she is terribly extravagant.  Promise not to laugh when you see Charlie Meyers.  He looks a little like a pig, he is so pink and fat.”

“Girls!” called Harriet’s voice.  “Are you still in here?  Mr. Meyers has just gone, and I wanted you to meet him.  He is going to have a motor party and take you to see Mount Vernon.  We can drive along the Potomac and have our supper somewhere in the country.”