“But how do you think he ever accomplished it?” Mollie inquired.

Harriet laughed and flushed.  “Oh, Peter accomplished it in the same way he does everything else—­by making friends with people,” she declared.  “Girls, I hope you realize how ashamed I am of last night’s proceedings.  I never dreamed that anything had happened to you, or I should have certainly forced Charlie Meyers to turn back.  But I think I have learned a lesson.  Charlie Meyers was horribly rude to you, Bab, and I told him what we thought of him after you left.  I don’t want to see him again.  So Father, at least, will be glad.  Though how I am to get on in this world without a husband with money, I don’t know.”  And Harriet sighed.

“Still I would like to have my questions answered,” Mollie repeated.  “How did Peter Dillon get us away from that wretched jail in such a short time when we thought we might have to stay there all night?”

“Why, he just found the justice of the peace, arranged about Ruth’s fine, mentioned Mr. Hamlin’s name and did a few more things,” Bab laughed.  “So, at last, you were permitted to come home.”

“Poor Hugh and Elmer were so mortified at not having enough money with them to pay the fine.  It was just an accident.  Yet it was truly my fault,” Ruth argued.  “Father has always insisted that I take my pocket-book whenever I go out of the house.  But, of course, I forgot it yesterday.”

“Will Uncle Robert be very angry with you, Ruth, for being arrested?” Harriet asked.  “He need never find out anything about it.  Your fine wasn’t so very large, and you always have money enough to pay for anything.”

Ruth laughed.  “Oh, I always tell Father every thing!  I don’t think he will be very angry with me, when he hears how we happened to get into trouble.”

“Do you really tell your father everything?” Harriet asked, in a surprised tone.

“Why, yes; why not?” Ruth questioned.

Harriet shook her head.  “Well, I do not tell my father all my affairs.  Oh, dear me, no!”

“I suppose I shall have to go back to Alexandria to-day, and appear at court,” Ruth lamented.  “I just dread it.”

“Oh, no you won’t,” Bab explained.  “Mr. Dillon said he would talk matters over with Mr. Hamlin, and that he had some influential friends over there.  You will have to pay your fine, Ruth, but you probably will not have to appear at the trial.  They will settle it privately.”

“Girls,” exclaimed Harriet, “I forgot to tell you something.  There is a big reception at the White House to-morrow evening, and Father says he wishes to take the ‘Automobile Girls’ to present them to the President.”

“How exciting!” exclaimed Grace Carter.  “To think that the ’Automobile Girls’ are going to meet the President, and yet you speak of it as calmly, Harriet Hamlin, as though it were an everyday affair.”

“Oh, nonsense, Grace,” Harriet begged.  “It will be fun to go to the White House with you.  You girls are so interested in everything.  But a White House reception is an old story to me, and I am afraid there will be a frightful crowd.  But which one of you will go shopping with me this morning?”