“Never mind. When the boys come I am going to shoo them on to that place.”
“What boys?” demanded Ruth in surprise.
“The Copleys arrive to-morrow. And their place is not five miles away from this very spot. We’ll get a motor-boat and go down there to-morrow evening and welcome them. I got a telegram from Tom when I came back from canoeing. I forgot to tell you.”
“Tom!” exclaimed Ruth, and for perhaps the first time in her life she seemed undesirous of hearing about Tom Cameron.
Helen gave her a somewhat puzzled side glance as she found the telegram and gave it to her chum, who read:
“Vacation begins to-morrow. Will be with you next day. Tom.”
Helen giggled. “You can make up your mind that he knows Chess Copley has started for this neck of woods. Tom is becoming Mr. Jealous Jellaby. Did you ever?”
“I am sorry Tom considers it necessary to take a vacation when he has only just begun work with your father, Helen.”
“There you go again!” exclaimed her chum. “I don’t understand you at all, Ruth Fielding. Tom doesn’t have to work.”
“It might be better if he did,” said Ruth, and refused to discuss the point further that evening.