“Who didn’t mean to do it? What are you talking about?” screamed his sister, at last fully aroused. “You’ve been in some terrible danger, Tom Cameron.”
“No, I haven’t,” returned Tom, beginning to grin again. “Just been playing the chivalrous knight.”
“And got his face scratched!” tittered Ruth.
“Aw—well—— Now wait! let me tell you,” he began.
“Now he’s going to make excuses,” cried Helen. “You have gotten into trouble, you reckless boy, and want to make light of it.”
“Gee! I’d like to see you make light of it,” exclaimed Tom, with some vexation. “If you can make head or tail of it—— And that girl!”
“There he goes again,” said Ruth. “He has got to tell us. It is about a girl,” and she laughed, teasingly.
“Say! I don’t know which one of you is the worse,” said Tom, ruefully. “Listen, will you?”
“Go ahead,” said Helen, solemnly.
“Well, Reno and I were hiking along the Wilkins Corner road yonder. It was just about where your Uncle Jabe’s wagon, Ruth, knocked me down into the gully that time—remember?”