CHAPTER XI
TOM ROVER’S DILEMMA
Andy and Randy were facing the same way as Fred, and they, too, noticed the approach of Brown and Martell. Randy whispered something in a low tone of voice to Martha and Mary, and the two girls pursed up their lips, but said nothing, nor did they look around.
The dining car was almost full, and the only table vacant was a small one directly behind where Fred was sitting. Slugger and Nappy were conducted to this by the head waiter, thus passing the Rovers. They did not, however, notice our friends until they had seated themselves and given their order.
“Humph! what do you know about that?” murmured Nappy Martell to his crony. He was seated where he could stare directly at the two girls.
“What’s the matter?” returned Slugger Brown, and then turned around to follow his crony’s gaze. “What do you know about that? I didn’t know they were in such a hurry to get to the diner, did you?”
“I knew they would most likely want to eat,” answered Nappy.
The newcomers winked at each other, and then, while they were waiting to be served, Nappy began to stare boldly at Martha. But she refused to look at him, confining her attention to her plate and to Mary and the twins.
Fred could no longer see the unworthy pair, as they were behind him. But Jack, looking over his cousin’s shoulder, got a good view of how Martell was staring at his sister, and he also saw how uncomfortable this was making Martha. He waited a minute or two longer, hoping that Nappy would desist. But then, as the dudish young man continued to gaze at the girl, trying his best to catch her eye, he whispered something to Fred, and then rose to his feet.