“The party will be very exclusive,” Mollie declared, “including only the four boys and our four selves.”
“And we’ll shoo the boys home early,” said Betty, preparatory to hurrying home for a hasty dinner. “If we hope to get a reasonably good start in the morning Grace will have to be in bed by eleven.”
At this direct insult Grace drew herself up haughtily.
“Speak for yourself, old dear,” she said, at which the girls chuckled derisively, thus adding insult to injury.
And so came the evening and with it three of the boys in fine spirits and ready for “a bang-up time,” as they expressed it. There was only one thing that checked the hilarity, and that was Allen’s absence.
Although she tried to join in the fun as if nothing was amiss, Betty’s eyes constantly wandered to the door and she grew anxious as the time passed and still no Allen appeared.
Finally Mollie cornered her and asked a question.
“Didn’t Allen say he’d be here, honey?” she asked, with a glance at the clock.
“He said he might be a little late,” interrupted Frank Haley, who had overheard the question. “Said he had a little business to attend to.”
“Mighty busy chap, Allen, these days,” added Roy, admiringly. “If his reputation grows much bigger I guess this little town won’t be able to hold him.”