“Hold on a minute, Hunch.”
“What for? Come along. I ain't seen a girl in weeks.”
“Don't go over yet. I ain't told her about you.”
“That's nothing. I guess she knows who I am.”
They stood near the girls, but fixed their eyes on the drill. After a moment, Bruce glanced around at the little girl. She threw him a smile, and he said, “Hello, Marne.”
“Her father's boss of the bridge gang on the Pere Marquette,” he confided to Badeau, who was edging closer to the group.
“Wonder if they're going to do the upset drill,” Badeau said, in a loud voice.
The girls giggled, and one said boldly, “Won't it be fun if they upset the boat?” After this sign of favor they blushed, Then for several minutes each party carried on a conversation intended for the ears of the other, meanwhile drawing nearer. At length Considine found himself at Mamie's side. Her elbow brushed against his.
“Who's your friend?” she asked. Considine stepped back, thus including Badeau in the group.
“Hunch Badeau,” he said, “shake hands with Marne Banks.”