“Oh, if you won’t stay we’ll all go back,” said Gerald disappointedly. “I only thought it would be a peach of a lark, Dan.”
“I’d like it as well as anyone,” responded Dan, “but—”
“He’s afraid I’ll beat him,” interrupted Ned sweetly, making a woefully bad shot for the corner pocket.
“Oh, I’ll play you for fifty points, if that’s what you want,” said Dan, “but I won’t wager staying.”
“Then I won’t play. You’d probably beat me easily. That’s game. Set ’em up, Curt.”
“Well, if we’re going back, we’d better start,” said Gerald. “It’s almost nine o’clock. You fellows play a game and I’ll go out and look at the car.”
He left the room and the others went on with their game. And after that was over they played another and then another, and it wasn’t until they were starting a fourth that Gerald returned looking very grave:
“Say, you fellows, come on out and help me shove the car into the shed, will you? Something’s wrong with her and she won’t start.”