“It isn’t dark enough to go out yet. We got to be awful careful. You girls sort o’ walk up the beach as though we weren’t all together.”
Lavender was actually pale and his eyes burned fiercely. Sidney looked at him admiringly. She knew he was not thinking of the reward but of the fair name of the Cape.
Obediently the girls strolled up the beach. And, as they turned, a voice hailed them. To their consternation Pola came flying toward them.
At sight of her Sidney bit her lips with vexation. She gave a sidewise glance at Mart and saw Mart’s chin set stubbornly.
“Sidney—wait a minute!” Pola called and Sidney could do nothing but wait until Pola came up to them.
“I thought you were going to stay in Chatham tonight.”
“I should say not!” Pola had enough breath to make her answer expressive. “I was never so bored in my life. Those Truxton girls are stupid. And I kept wondering what you were doing. I coaxed mother to let Shields bring me back and she said she would provided I came and stayed with you tonight. Can you squeeze me in? Dug will give me his room, I know.”
Sidney cast a wild glance toward Mart. She started to answer, then stopped. Pola looked from her to Mart and back again to Sidney.
“What’s the mystery? If you don’t want me I’ll go to the hotel.”
“Oh, Pola, it isn’t that. It’s—it’s—”