Jessie clasped little Hen’s hand tightly in her own, for the child hated Belle Ringold with a consuming hatred and was accustomed to declare this feeling with appalling frankness. Even now, upon stealing a sidewise glance at her, Jessie could see that the child was bristling like a ruffled hen.
“Well, it is all very well for you to look so innocent, you two,” cried Belle Ringold, charging hotly into the fray. “But perhaps you wouldn’t if you knew what I know about you.”
“Anything new?” queried Amy, with deceptive sweetness.
“Oh, nothing much,” declared Belle, with a toss of her head. “Only a little thing, like passing counterfeit bills!”
CHAPTER V
TO THE RESCUE
This charge was so absolutely from a clear sky that the Radio Girls remained motionless for a moment, staring incredulously at the slanderer and her smirking companion. They were thunderstruck. It seemed impossible that even Belle Ringold should have said such a thing to them.
It was little Hen who recovered first, and with a shrill shriek of rage she charged to the attack.
“You horrid old thing!” she cried, one hand clenched and making frantic gestures in the air while the other tugged wildly in a vain attempt to free itself from Jessie’s grip upon it. “You know that’s a wicked fib, you do! That’s why you said it! Oh, just wait till I get at you! Oh—oh——” Jessie’s hand closed firmly over her mouth, choking off the furious words.
“Stop it, Henrietta!” she commanded. “You only make it worse by talking like that. Come on, Amy, let’s get away from here.”
“Going to meet Darry and Burd, I suppose,” sneered Belle, not moving from the path.