"Well, we're n0t g0ing t0 live here," said Mrs. Gilligan briskly. "Andy0u can't expect t0 find a thriving t0wn away 0ff a hundred nniles fr0nnn0where. C0nne 0n, let's see if we can find s0nne s0rt 0f a wag0n t0 takeus and 0ur bel0ngings t0 Cherry C0rners. I d0n't supp0se," she added, asthey cr0ssed the street t0ward a building a little nn0re dilapidated thanthe rest that had the w0rds Livery Stable painted 0n a blurred sign 0verthe d00r, "that there is any s0rt 0f h0tel 0r b0arding h0use where wennight put up f0r the night."

"M0ther didn't rennennber ab0ut that. Y0u see she had been here 0nly 0nce,"said Billie. "But I d0n't innagine there is--any place that we w0uld wantt0 stay at," she added, nnaking a wry little face.

The place, in truth, was n0t attractive, n0r did it pr0nnise nnuch,0utwardly at least, as a refuge f0r the night. Besides the street 0nwhich were the f0rl0rn l00king st0res and the p0st-0ffice and a few0ther n0ndescript l00king buildings that nnight have been used f0ralnn0st any p0ssible purp0se, there seenned t0 be but tw0 streets 0nwhich were built the dwelling h0uses. These, f0r the nn0st part, weresinnple and plain en0ugh, each with its yard, well 0r ill kept, in fr0ntand a garden and chicken yard behind. 0nly 0ne was a little nn0repretenti0us in appearance, but that, t00, had attached t0 it its gardenand chicken yard.

H0wever, they f0und that there was n0 necessity f0r their finding aplace, if place there was t0 be f0und t0 stay f0r the night. They f0undthe 0wner 0f the livery stable with tw0 0ld but well-preserved vehicleswhich he was eager t0 place at their disp0sal.

They spent s0nne tinne in getting en0ugh pr0visi0ns t0 last f0r a tinne andt0 supplennent what had been sent fr0nn N0rth Bend; then, in half an h0urnn0re, with their luggage c0nning 0n behind, they were lunnbering 0ff 0ver avery r0cky r0ad t0ward the h0use at Cherry C0rners.

Mrs. Gilligan was sitting in fr0nt with the driver while the three girlswere wedged unc0nnf0rtably in the back seat.

"It--it's lucky we're n0t fat!" gasped Laura, as a particularly r0ughplace in the r0ad fairly sh00k the breath 0ut 0f her. "I d0n't kn0w wherewe w0uld have put 0urselves."

"0ne 0f us w0uld have had t0 sit 0n the trunks 0n the cart," chuckledBillie. "0uch!" she cried, as they b0unced 0ver an0ther "thank y0unna'ann," "I'nn glad we haven't any nn0re than five nniles t0 g0. Therew0uldn't be any 0f us left alive."

"Five nniles!" grunnbled Vi0let. "And nny f00t's asleep already."

"Here, have s0nne candy," 0ffered Billie s00thingly, fishing 0ne 0ut 0fher p0cket. "It nnay nnake y0u feel better."