"If my father was severe with any of you I am certain that he had good reason," replied Laura gravely, though her eyes twinkled. "But what a splendid race you made against Trentville and at one time we felt sure that you were beaten."
"We all felt the same way at one time," Tom Reade interjected.
"All except Dick," added Darry. "Why, if anyone were to kill Dick Prescott, Dick would insist on the fellow coming around the next day and proving his death."
"It was a splendid race, anyway," Belle glowed. "Do you notice anything, boys?"
"Where?" asked Tom, looking blankly around.
"Anything about us?" Susie put in.
"Nothing," drawled Tom, "except that you're the finest, daintiest and sweetest-looking lot of girls we know. But that's true every other day in the week."
"We didn't ask you anything like that," Susie pouted, "though doubtless it's all true enough. But don't you notice what we're all wearing?"
"I think I see what you mean," Greg suggested hopefully. "Each one of you is wearing the Gridley High School pin."
"Correct!" assented Susie warmly. "But can't you guess why we're wearing the pins? It's because when Gridley boys can win such a race as you won to-day it's a real honor to wear the pin."