“I think it is simply disgraceful—” added the sharp voice of Sally Moon, who could always be depended upon to back up the girl she fawned upon, “I think it is a shame the way you kids run after those two boys——”
“Especially since one of them happens to be my brother,” said Amy, disgustedly. “Really, you girls are too absurd.”
Seeing that Belle and Sally were just warming up to a fresh display of rudeness and knowing that Amy would soon lose her temper completely, Jessie started once more to pass Belle. The latter did not budge an inch, but looked at Jessie with such sneering disdain that even her mild temper gave way to exasperation.
“Are you going to let me pass, Belle Ringold?” she asked, in a low tone.
“I would like to know why I should,” retorted the other girl, with an impudent toss of her head. “I don’t see why I should get out of the way for a person who passes counterfeit bills. As a matter of fact, I expect them to get out of my way.” This was too much for Henrietta. Her face was red with fury and every freckle seemed to stand out upon it in a little brown blotch.
“Let me go, Miss Jessie! Just let me get at her! I’ll scratch her eyes out, I will, the mean old thing!”
“Oh, Henrietta, Henrietta, hush. Don’t say any more.” And while she tried to quiet the frantic child Jessie was conscious of Amy’s voice, saying furiously:
“If you don’t get out of the way and let us by, Belle Ringold, I’ll——” But the threat was destined never to be finished.
There was the familiar growl of a motor horn, and as the girls looked around they saw the long low body of a touring car glide up to the curb and slow to a standstill. At the wheel was Burd Alling, a grin upon his cheery countenance, and in the tonneau was Darry and a lady whom the girls did not recognize. However, it was sufficient that, at that moment, they recognized Darry and Burd!
“Hello!” sang out the latter in a tone that showed he had estimated the situation perfectly. “Just in time to give you a lift, girls.”