“Gee! Then we’ll be the first! Let’s have it!”
They cheered this to the satisfaction of even Mr. Streeter.
“I shall offer a prize of fifty dollars for the best design, to be competed for by the members of the Good Citizens’ Clubs. The Chamber of Commerce likes the idea, and will add another fifty. We’ll begin our annual historic pageants this year, in September, and award the prize then. How does that strike you?”
It struck them happily, and they despatched a few more details of the organization, arranged for the meeting hour, and for immediate cooperation with the playground campaign,—for that was good citizens’ work,—and adjourned.
Billy had to remain with Bess after the rest to receive, and receipt for, the money paid in for dues. A teacher gave them a drawer in one of the desks in the library, and Billy had a key to it. On passing out of the larger room he had managed to sign to Erminie, who had attended the meeting, to wait for him. He and Bess finished their work together, Billy remaining on some invented pretext till after she had gone; though he had to follow her immediately, for the teacher was anxious to lock up and get away.
Very casually, Billy thought, he sauntered along to where Erminie was standing, looking nowhere in particular as he came up, and, under pretence of showing her his club accounts, handed her a folded paper. But even a pair of thoughtless boys passing read his beaming face; and a teacher going by smiled in spite of himself; smiled, and scowled at Erminie without knowing it.
She caught the look, read her own meaning into it, and turned away with a casual, “Thank you, Billy,” that chilled him as no wind ever had. He little dreamed she was saving him at her own expense, as she did again a moment later, when the teacher repassed with Barney by his side, and she gave the bully the brilliant smile Billy had expected for his own.
“I didn’t mean you should kiss him with your eyes,” Billy growled, jealousy flaming so ludicrously in his face that Erminie laughed when she would better have been serious.
“Don’t be foolish, Billy; you told me to square with him. Sh—! Here they come again,” she added, and with a hasty good-bye left Billy to gloom all the way home about that smile.
Of course he himself had advised the recognition, but not like that. Oh, that smile!