“I do hope you won’t be so busy but what you can run our car occasionally,” suggested Agnes. “I’d feel lost without you at the wheel, Neale.”
“Oh, I’ll be there,” he promised.
“We shall have to give Nally a good time,” said Ruth, “and I was planning two or three picnics. You’ll come, won’t you, Cecile?” she asked, but she looked at Luke.
“Yes, if I can. I don’t know how much time brother can spare from his work, but——”
“You leave it to brother!” chuckled Luke, with a meaning look at Neale. “I haven’t been with Professor Keeps all summer for nothing. I learned more than he thought I did.”
The evening passed pleasantly, and when the time came for Neale, Luke and Cecile to depart, the two young men insisted on going around the house to make sure all outer doors were securely fastened.
“Oh, it’s silly to think those men could be anything more than unfortunate, ignorant tramps,” insisted Ruth.
“Yes, perhaps,” said Luke in a low voice. “But, my dear—” and how naturally the words came to him—“we mustn’t take any chances.”
And Ruth treasured that “we,” for a long time.
Somewhat to the disappointment of Tess and Dot, and to the expressed chagrin of Sammy, the Corner House was not robbed that night. Not a sight or sound of intruders marred the rest of the girls, and even Dot laughed as she pulled her Alice-doll from behind the piano.