"Aren't you going to take that off?" she asked, for she knew he had it on over his other clothes.
"Got no time!" he said briskly. "We got to get this young lady to a doctor right away. I'll drive you just as I am. I don't mind," he said quickly. "It's in Pentville, and nobody'll know me there. I wouldn't want to drive through Bayley Corners like this, for it would sort of spoil things for the youngsters if they see me ahead of time. But it's all right in Pentville. Drive you just the way I am!"
Terry was feeling too miserable to object, and Arden realized it would be useless. Besides, she knew Terry must have her injured ankle looked to as soon as possible. After all, perhaps no one the girls knew would see them.
Terry managed to hobble on one foot and, assisted by Arden and Santa Claus, was placed on the rear seat of the car with her chum to hold her against the rough riding. For it would be rough getting out of the stretch of woods and clearing.
"Might as well take this holly you picked," said Mr. Henshot. "It'll look right pretty in the car with me dressed like Santa Claus and all this snow coming down. A regular white Christmas!" he chuckled. "Right pretty!" He piled the branches in with the girls, putting some in the empty seat beside him, and slid under the wheel.
Then he started the car, driving carefully, after Terry gave a little moan of pain at a sudden jolt.
"I'll have to take a short cut," he explained, "so we can't go past the Hall and pick up your ghost-hunting friend. Sorry, but I can't go that way."
"It's all right," said Arden. "He has a car."
She wondered what those who saw the strange outfit would say, but this held only a moment's interest. Terry's injury might mean a curtailment of some of the Christmas festivities, besides all poor Terry's suffering.
They were out of the woods at last and on a smoother road, not having passed either Granny's cottage or the Hall. In a short time they were on the outskirts of Pentville and entered the town by a back road. So not many saw them, and those who did, while they smiled and laughed and pointed, put it down to an advertising stunt. Arden saw no one she knew, Terry saw nothing but Arden's kind shoulder which she leaned against.