It seemed as if Dudley’s bright-red hair always took part in his emotions. Perhaps it pricked him or tickled him, or something, for he ran his fingers through it and spoiled it so far as the part went, unmarking a beautiful straight line of curls that began at his forehead and made a border right over the top of his head. Boys hate curly hair, but girls love it—even on boys.
Babs was smiling as she left him. She liked to punish boys, and her first inclination was to “cut him,” to refuse to ride with him. Only her own selfish determination to find out more about the slumming party prompted her acceptance of his invitation.
“Oh, hello there Babs,” sang out a familiar voice as she was almost up the stairs.
“Hello Glenn!” she answered happily. It was so good to see Glenn; he always understood everything.
“See you later,” he added, and she knew what that meant. It meant that he expected to be with her at the movie party. He surely thought she would ride out with the crowd in the big car; how could he guess Dudley had asked her to go in his?
Cara was down and alongside of Glenn before Babs could think further. Of course, the girls had all been “crazy” to know Glenn. And he was good-looking. A little catch pinched her throat as she saw Cara hurry the boy out with her. Glenn could drive any car. No doubt he would drive Cara’s. And he was——Oh, pshaw! why fuss? Of course Glenn and Cara were perfectly suited to be chums. He was charming. Perhaps Babs had never given him credit for half of his good points. But then, with her he was merely some one interested in bacteriology, while with Cara a good-looking, well-mannered boy could become a wonderful pal. She had time for palship.
But he, Glenn, was Babs’ chum. They had worked and played together.
“Coming?” It was Dudley calling her.
“Just a moment—I must find Ruth,” replied Babs, trying to clear her mind from its petty jealousies.
“Ruth’s in the other car. But here’s Dick; we’ll grab him for a chaperon,” proposed Dudley, just as Dick Landers swung himself over the porch rail and announced to Dud that he was making himself late and they wouldn’t see the “funny-picture” if he didn’t “get a move on.”