“I don’t know what else to do,” Harriet’s note continued, when Ruth had strength to go on.  “So early this morning I telegraphed to Charlie Meyers.  When you receive this note, I shall be married to him.  Ask my father to forgive me, for I shall never see him again.  Your heart-broken cousin, Harriet.”

“Absurd child!” Miss Sallie ejaculated, trying to hide her tears.  But Mr. Stuart stepped to Mr. Hamlin’s side as he entered the room, looking conscience-stricken and miserable.

Poor Harriet was paying for her folly with a life-time of wretchedness.  She was to marry a man she did not love; and her friends were powerless to save her.

Mollie slipped quietly away from the table.  No one tried to stop her.  Every one thought Mollie was overcome, because she had been especially devoted to Harriet.

“Won’t you try to find Mr. Meyers, Uncle?” Ruth pleaded.  “It may not be too late to prevent Harriet’s marriage.  Oh, do try to find her.  She does not care for Charlie Meyers in the least.  She is only marrying him because she is so wretched she does not know what to do.”

Mr. Stuart was already getting into his coat and hat.  Mr. Hamlin was not far behind him.  The two men were just going out the front door, when a cry from Mollie interrupted them.  The three girls rushed into the hall, not knowing what Mollie’s cry meant.  But when they saw the little golden haired girl, who sympathized the most deeply with Harriet in her trouble, because of her own recent acquaintance with debt, the “Automobile Girls” knew at once that all was well!

“Oh, Mr. Hamlin!  Oh, Mr. Stuart!  Do wait until I get my breath,” Mollie begged.  “Dear, darling Harriet is all right.  She will come home if her father will come for her.  I telephoned to Mr. Meyers and he declares Harriet is safe with his aunt.  He says, of course, he is not such a cad as to marry Harriet when she is so miserable and frightened.  He went to the boarding house for her, then took her to his aunt’s home.  Mr. Meyers was on his way here to see Mr. Hamlin.”

Two hours later, Harriet was at home again and in bed, suffering from nervous shock.  But her father’s forgiveness, his sympathy, his reassuring words, and above all, the thought that by the ruse of Bab, she had been mercifully saved from the deep disgrace that had shadowed her life, soon restored her to her normal spirits.  There was a speedy investigation by the State Department—­the result of which was that Mrs. Wilson disappeared from Washington society.  Her son Elmer reported that his mother had grown tired of Washington and was living in New England.  As for Peter Dillon, his connection with the Russian Embassy was severed at once.  No one knew where he went.

* * * * *

“The President would like to see the ‘Automobile Girls’ at the White House to-day at half past twelve o’clock,” Mr. William Hamlin announced a few mornings later, looking up from his paper to smile first at his daughter and then at the group of happy faces about his breakfast table, which included Miss Sallie Stuart and Mr. Robert Stuart.