“Here’s the team,” smiled Merry. “We engaged it for the afternoon, and the afternoon is not more than half over.”
“Good!” cried Fillmore. “Wait till I call Hackett. He’s here with me.”
Tom Hackett came out of the house when he was called. He was introduced to Elsie and Inza and surveyed the girls keenly, but not offensively. He shook hands with seeming warmth with Frank and Bart.
“Powerful glad to know you, gentlemen,” he said. “Fillmore told me about your arrival last night. Of course I’ve heard more or less concerning you at other times.”
He was told of the plan to drive out on the Pimlico Road and immediately declared it would give him pleasure to go along.
“Wait a moment,” said Fillmore, “and I’ll be ready.”
He then ran into the house and did some telephoning.
Soon the quartette was ready to start. As they drove away they lifted their hats to the girls, who had lingered on the steps outside the door. Fillmore noticed that Hackett turned to look back and fancied he did so to obtain another view of Inza.
It was a beautiful drive out along Mount Royal Avenue and through Druid Hill Park to the Pimlico Road. They chatted freely, their talk being mainly of such sports as must interest college men.