“Suppose I put on your hat and veil and your long coat,” he continued, “and sit here on the step waiting. It’s getting darker all the time, and so if the men come back they’ll think it is you; but if they thought somebody was onto them, they would probably break their word and chase off with the motor.”
“I don’t think that would be quite fair,” said Billie. “Suppose they found out you were a boy. They might shoot you or something.”
“But they won’t find it out,” answered Charlie. “Hurry up. We have no time to lose.”
“Yes, do,” urged Ben. “It’s much the best way. We couldn’t leave you for the thieves and it’s a pity to lose the car. Besides, the rest of us will hide in the house and if anything happens, we’ll come to the rescue.”
Billie removed her ulster without another word.
“She’s a dandy, sensible girl,” thought Ben to himself.
“You’d better take the skirt, too. If they saw your trouser legs, it would be all off,” said Billie, as she unbuckled her belt and removed her gray walking skirt, standing before them without any embarrassment in a short, red silk petticoat.
“What about shoes?” observed Mary Price. “Those Charlie is wearing are not much like a girl’s shoes.”
“How about these pumps? I wear No. fives,” said Billie, calmly kicking off her slippers.
Charlie, good-naturedly, unlaced his stout boy’s boots.