This put her on the right track, but she was farther away from the picnic grounds than she had supposed, and when tired and breathless she at last reached them, it was only to find them deserted.
The party had gone back to town without her.
Grace stood staring about her in blank dismay.

It was nearing seven o'clock, and she was twelve miles from Oakdale.

Why hadn't the girls waited?
Grace felt ready to cry, then the vision of the poor old judge, alone and at the mercy of the two ruffians, flashed before her.
"I'll walk to Oakdale," she said, with a determined nod of her head.
"And I'll not stop for an instant until I notify the police." Grace never forgot that lonely walk.

The darkness of a moonless night settled down upon her before she had gone three miles, but she would not allow herself to think of fear.

She stumbled frequently as she neared her journey's end, and her tired body cried out for rest, but she pushed resolutely on, almost sobbing with relief as she entered the suburbs of the town.