"Gee, it's time we were moving, Grace," said Will, jumping up. He had been silent for the greater part of the evening. "It's getting late and you've done enough knitting for one day."
This was the signal for a general breaking up, and as the young folks rose to say good-bye they stole furtive glances at Will.
What was the matter with him? they wondered. Will, who had always been the life of a party before, and so intensely patriotic and thoroughly American! Yet he was the only one among them who was not shouldering his share of the nation's responsibility.
As Allen lingered after he and Betty had reached her home she spoke her wonderment and worry.
"Allen," she said, a little troubled line between her brows, "do you know what's the matter with Will? Is he, can he be—a slacker?"
"I don't know," said Allen, shoving his hands deep into his pockets as he always did when anything was, as he expressed it, "too deep for him." "I can't make him out at all, Betty. We'll just have to hope for the best."
"That's all we can do," she answered, and gave a long-drawn sigh.
CHAPTER XII
HONOR FLAGS
"Yes, yes, this is Betty.—Oh, Allen!—When?—To-morrow morning! Oh, isn't that terribly short notice?—Oh, I can't, I can't believe it!—Roy and Frank, too?—No, I didn't hear about it—Listen, Allen.—No, I'm not crying.—What's that?—Well, I'm trying not to!—Please listen to me.—Bring the boys around here to-night, will you? I'll get the girls and we'll have a p-party.—No, I'm not crying.—G-good-bye!"