"Yes, we noticed he jumped around the block and down the street home," commented Fred dryly.
"You don't think he meant to do it, do you?" Albert Holmes said. "Joe wouldn't do a thing like that."
Ward had regained his breath by this time and he was determined to be heard.
"I don't see," he remarked a little pensively, "how any one can throw a firecracker over his shoulder the minute I come in sight. He waited till I was almost in front of him."
"He told me that the firecracker was ready to explode," Albert insisted. "You wouldn't want him to burn his fingers off, would you?"
"I think we ought to be going home," said Polly. "Mother wants me to help her pack—the trunks are going to-night."
"We're going to Sunrise Beach for the whole summer," proclaimed Carrie. "If you get time, come and see us. We'll be at the bungalow colony: Mattie Helms' mother has a beautiful new bungalow."
"Now, Margy, don't burst," advised Polly, as the Riddle Club members walked on. "I wish you could have seen your face when Carrie was talking. You looked like some offended queen."
"Did you ever hear of anything so silly in your life!" sputtered Margy furiously. "Asking us to come and see her as though she had just met us. And I've known Carrie Pepper ever since we were in kindergarten!"