"You're afraid I'll beat you," declared Grace.
"No, I'm not. But your mamma said——"
"I don't care what she said. She didn't forbid my jumping," cut in the obstinate girl. "Are you going to turn or not?"
"Yes, I'll turn," replied Nan, and at once the jumping started. Soon Grace had reached forty. Then came fifty, and then sixty.
"I do believe she will reach a hundred after all," declared Nellie Parks, a little enviously.
"I will, if you turn steadily," answered Grace, in a panting voice. Her face was strangely pale.
"Oh, Grace, hadn't you better stop?" questioned Nan. She was a little frightened, but, nevertheless, kept on turning the rope.
"No!" puffed Grace. "Go—go on!"
She had now reached eighty-five. Nellie Parks was counting:
"Eighty-six, eighty-seven, eighty-eight, eighty-nine, ninety!" she went on. "Ninety-one-, ninety-two——"