“Thanks—very much,” exclaimed Tom, in relief, and taking the card, he had the Jersey twin scribble his name on the only vacant line.
“I put our friend Jerry down for you,” he explained to Ruth, as he joined her.
“Thanks,” she murmured. “Oh, there’s that lovely two-step. I can’t dance that enough!” and her little foot tapped the floor impatiently. Tom led her out as the music welled forth.
All too soon it was nearing the end of the little affair, for, though it was not late, the rules of Fairview forbade any extended festivities. Tom, who had been dancing with Miss Harrison, was walking over to claim Ruth for the next number, when he saw Langridge stepping toward her.
“Confound him!” thought Tom, an angry flush mounting to his face, “is he going to speak to her again?”
Such was evidently the intention of the former Randall bully. He was smiling at Phil’s sister, who at first did not notice him. Langridge and Tom reached her at about the same time, and what was our hero’s surprise to hear his enemy say:
“I believe this is our dance, Miss Clinton?”
She turned in astonishment, a wave of color surging into her fair face.
“Our dance—yours——” she stammered.