"What's that?" cried Walter, crowding up. "Handsome stranger?
Remember, boys, I saw her first!"
"She means the lace seller," said Belle, languidly.
"Tell you later," Cora promised.
CHAPTER V
INEZ
They were at the autos, standing near the edge of the depot platform now. The porter had set down the grips of the boys, and had departed with that touching of the cap, and the expansive smile, which betokens a fifty-cent tip. They do not touch the cap for a quarter any more.
"How'll we piece out?" asked Jack, and his tone was listless. "Who goes with whom?"
His voice was so different from his usual joking, teasing, snapping tones that Cora looked at him again. Yes, her brother was certainly ill, though outwardly it showed only in a thinness of the bronzed cheeks, and a dull, sunken look in the eyes. A desperately tired look, which comes only from mental weariness.
"You'd better ride with me, Jack," his sister said. "The car has more room."
"Walter can come with us," suggested Jack. "I've been sort of leaning on him in the train, and it eases me. So if—"