"Now wouldn't you like to have it?" she answered mischievously, holding a letter just out of his reach.
"Where is mine?" demanded Sam.
"Oh, I thought you wouldn't want that so I tore it up," she answered, with a twinkle in her eyes.
"If you don't give me that letter, Dora, something is going to happen to you," went on Tom; and now he caught her by the wrist. "You know the forfeit—a kiss!"
"All right, take your letter, Mr. Can't-Wait," she returned, and handed him the missive.
"But you said you had one for me!" broke in Sam. "Come now, Dora, don't be mean."
"Oh, Sam, it's only a bill."
"A bill! You are fooling!" And then as his face fell, she did not have the heart to tease him longer, and brought the letter forth from her handbag.
As the lads had anticipated, the communications were from Grace and Nellie. In them the girls said that the session at the seminary was over, and that the day previous they had returned to their home on the outskirts of Cedarville. Both had passed in their examinations, for which they were exceedingly thankful.
"But they haven't found that four-hundred-dollar diamond ring yet," said Sam, after he had finished his letter. "It certainly is a shame!"