An appointment was made and as the door closed behind them the four chums dropped into their chairs and stared at each other without speaking. Then Joy came to life with a dance. "Come on Kit, I just have to dance. If I don't I'll explode into a million pieces."
But Shirley was holding the two five-dollar bills in her hand looking at them as if she had never seen such a thing before.
"Girls, you've all been so good in helping. Let's divide this equally between us."
"Why the idea, Shirley Williams!" exclaimed Bet. "Who made those prints? Who sat up until two o'clock one morning? Did we? —We did not. That money belongs to you and no one else."
"Say girls, that was a good idea about the tea. What made you think of it?" Shirley asked a little later.
"We wanted a share in Shirley's first sale and that was the only way we could think of getting into it," smiled Kit.
"It was a good day's work, young lady!" approved Bet. "For if they hadn't been drinking tea they wouldn't have known anything about Shirley's picture-taking ability and now she has an order."
The door rattled again and the girls stood up, expecting another customer. But it was better than that. It was Colonel Baxter with a big package in his arms. He had just returned from New York, bringing with him some purchases for the shop.
As soon as he appeared, the girls met him, all talking at once, and drew him to a chair.
"Sit down, Colonel Baxter. I'll have a cup of tea for you in a minute," shouted Kit and she and Joy ran to the little electric plate in the back room. "The water is almost hot. It will be ready in less than no time."