"Sure!" broke out Nappy. "I'll get the tickets," and he took several steps toward the ticket booth.
"Thank you, but I said I didn't want to go with you," said May, quite loudly and with flashing eyes.
"We pick our company when we go anywhere," added Ruth, giving Slugger Brown a look which would almost have annihilated any ordinary boy. But the bully was proof against anything of that sort.
"Oh, you needn't get on your high horse about it, Ruth Stevenson," he sneered. "Some day maybe you'll be glad to go to a show with me."
"If you won't go, I guess there are other girls just as good, and maybe better," added Nappy Martell, not knowing what else to say.
It was at this moment that the big box-sled containing the cadets hove into sight. With a flourish, the driver drew up to the curb with the boys tooting loudly on their tin horns, but this salute came to a sudden end when the lads caught sight of their former schoolmates.
"Look who's here, will you!" ejaculated Randy.
"Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell," murmured Fred.
"Say, they are talking to Ruth and May!" broke in Andy.
To all this Jack said nothing. But he lost no time in leaping to the pavement and walking up to the girls, who came forward to greet him.