“And that’s agreed!” came instantly from the stranger. “The Speedaway, though, doesn’t need much brains to run it—she’s naturally the best boat along the Harrapin or any other river. She’s ready to run anything ragged that gets into a race with her.”
“I thought Frank Allen was going to race his Rocket against her.” Irene was pursuing the matter insistently.
“That’s what Frank Allen is going to do,” that personage spoke up. “The Rocket is ready any time, including to-day.”
“I haven’t the Speedaway here this afternoon,” said Cunningham, “and I am mighty sorry. Moreover, I’ve got to be out of town on some business for a few days. But as soon as I get back I’ll be ready.”
“How about one week from to-day?” asked Frank Allen.
“Fine! That’s agreed, is it?” Cunningham replied. “I’ll be back in a few days and we’ll run the race one week from to-day. Let’s attend right now to all the details of distance, starting, passengers, and everything else.”
So, while the luncheon proceeded, all details were set forth, some being the cause of disagreement, but some one was prepared to meet any of these points, and everything was determined for the race.
As they left the lunch Frank got a chance to speak with Minnie, asking her and two of the girls to take a short ride in the Rocket. Though Minnie acted rather coolly, she agreed to go, and in a few minutes three of the girls were with Frank in his boat, and had put out from the shore.
“Look at that cloud,” one of the girls said. “Is there any danger of being caught in a rain? There’s no place on the boat to keep dry.”
Frank cast his eye toward the cloud, but he did not feel that there was any immediate danger of a rain, and proceeded down the river a distance before giving the subject much more thought, in the meanwhile trying to engage Minnie in conversation while the other girls sat forward.