“Not half so good at it as Molly, or Nan either, for that matter.”
“That will do for you to say, Jean. Come on, Jimmy’s taking Clare into the delicatessen. Let’s go, too.”
Jean wondered what was getting into Billy, Billy the shy with girls. He was “certainly putting coals of fire on her head,” though he did not know it. But she had known Billy Baxter all her life and it seemed very natural to sit at the little table and sip a chocolate soda. They left the subject of secret societies and talked about the school teams, the prospect for baseball, the plans for the new gym, how the old town might wake up after a while, and who had a new car. Jimmy Standish slapped Billy on the shoulder as he passed him, going out with Clare, and said, “Hello, Jean, how are the Seven Peaches to-day?”
“I can’t imagine what you mean,” grinned Jean, “but that’s a nice name.”
CHAPTER IV
STEALTHY PROWLERS
It happens sometimes that a sudden decision has far-reaching consequences for good or evil. On the other hand, an organization started upon an impulse and with no particular purpose might easily die an early death, with no special consequences. It was probably due to the character of these girls that their little club, so impulsively formed, should bring them some happy adventures, as well as some odd ones, with a mystery of which they could have no idea now.
There were two points about which the girls were thinking: what they should do, and what the S. P. should mean. Naturally it should have some connection with the purpose of the club, provided it was to have any. It was queer, Jean said, how many things S. P. could mean. Who would have thought of it? The boys missed no opportunity to tease them by concocting different combinations. Other girls asked Jean or Nan what was going on and they explained, “It is just a simple little club that we are beginning to work on a little, and we are not telling much, about it yet. No, it isn’t a sorority and won’t be like one.”
“I’ve made more explanations, Jean,” said Molly, when they all met on Saturday at the Dudley place, “and when there isn’t anything much to explain, what can a body do? I do hope nobody feels left out!”
“You couldn’t help that, Molly, if any one wanted to feel that way, about any club. It seems all right to me to have one and we’re not going to act any different from before. You’re an old dear, Molly, and you are used to the church societies, where it’s come one come all.”