“I don’t seem to care what happens to me now,” Hodge declared. “I can be led to any fate without a struggle.”
“Then come on,” cried Mabel, “and we’ll lead you to cake and ices.”
Soon they were cozily seated at a small table, with ices before them. As they chatted and laughed, another couple came along and took a table near at hand. Before they appeared Frank recognized the saucy laugh of Fanny Darling.
“Oh, it was such fun!” she was saying, as she sat down. “I knew I could touch him if I kept firing hot shots in his direction, and I was right. He stood it as long as he could, and then he shot back. But wait till I get another good chance. I won’t do a thing to that fellow!”
“He is not worth wasting your time and breath on, Miss Darling,” said the voice of Wallace Hegner. “The best thing you can do is not to notice him.”
“Oh, I couldn’t do that! There wouldn’t be any fun in it. He may be smart, but there are others. I’d like to see you get at him, Mr. Hegner. I’ll bet you’d do him up in short order with the gloves.”
“Well—ahem!” coughed Hegner, “I mean to get at him some time, and I may not wear the gloves. What I’d like to do is to leave the mark of my fist on his——”
The girl gave a startled exclamation and grasped Hegner’s arm, saying something in a low tone. Hegner was heard to ask, “Where?” and a whispered conversation followed.
Frank was genuinely amused, for he knew they had been speaking of him. A low, musical laugh came from his lips, and he observed:
“It is remarkable how really amusing some little occurrences are, Miss Creighton. Did you ever notice it?”