"Will you race, Sidney?" called Cora, before the occupants of the yellow car had had time to greet the others.
"Yes, certainly," he assented. "I would like nothing better."
"Then we'll have to handicap the girls," suggested Walter. "They have by far the fastest machine."
"But it's brand new," objected Cora, "and isn't tuned up yet, as the two runabouts are. Besides, look who we are—girls."
"Very charming ones, I'm sure," said Sid quickly, but, somehow, his voice did not ring true.
"Handicap," spoke Walter. "I suppose it's right, but you see—er—we fellows could—" He was floundering about for a way of saying that the girls should not be penalized by giving the drivers of the two runabouts a start. For, in spite of their small size and less power the runabouts were speedy cars. It seemed as if Walter did not want to take the obviously fair advantage due him.
"Oh, no," declared Cora. "We'll let you handicap us all you wish.
We are willing to test the Whirlwind on its merits."
"I should think so," sneered Ida, and then she turned disdainfully away, as if the landscape held more of interest for her than did the details of a race.
"Who is that forward girl?" asked quiet Mary of Bess.
"Ida Giles," was the whispered reply.