"Wrong as usual!" said Marjorie, a little sharply. "I told you that before, Ruth."
Harold Mason looked up quickly, incensed at the tone Marjorie had unconsciously used towards Ruth. In that instant he became her enemy; if she and Ruth should be rival contestants in any cause again, he vowed to himself that he would do all in his power to help the latter.
"Well, if it's nothing exciting, why don't you tell us about it?" said Jack.
"It's a personal matter, Jack," said Marjorie; "I should think you and Ruth would understand that by now!"
Apparently, Ruth was squelched. "I beg your pardon," she said humbly. But the very next instant she winked at Harold, and he knew her well enough to interpret the signal as a challenge against Marjorie.
"Don't make any engagement for Friday!" she whispered, as Harold left the house with the others.
By pre-arranged signals, Ruth and Harold sat waiting in his car at eight-thirty on Friday morning. The machine did not stand in front of either Mason's or Henry's house; instead, it was drawn up before a provision store, where, to the passer-by, it might appear to be waiting while Mrs. Mason or Mrs. Wilkinson was making purchases inside.
The young people did not have to wait long, for a few minutes before nine, Jack Wilkinson came hurrying towards them.
"They're gone!" he shouted. "The other direction—out the Main street."
In a second, he was inside the car, and Harold stepped on the starter and released the emergency.