Taking advantage of the lull that followed her speech, Redtop mounted the bench and in the briefest way announced the programme and introduced the first speaker, who was Reginald Steele. Hector was to follow him, and Billy was to be called on for an impromptu speech, when he would introduce one or two of the girls.
But this programme was never carried out. Before Reginald got to his “secondly,” two boys sprang at the torches and extinguished them; half a dozen bunches of firecrackers began to explode in different localities; and a scream from the wading pool at the same moment completed the panic.
The long twilight had faded and the scattered park lamps shed only faint gleams.
“There’s no danger! Everyone go home quietly!” shouted one man. And another called, “The little chap that screamed fell into the wading pool. He isn’t hurt, and has gone home.”
In five minutes the playground was deserted and silent under the quiet stars. Billy remained to the last, searching in vain for Erminie. He had seen her there, and expected her to wait for him. On a sudden impulse he decided to go across to her home.
As he neared the house he saw her standing under the porch light with Jim Barney. Her face was in the shadow, and he could not hear their words; but he knew from their low, tense tones and Jim’s eager, bending attitude, that their conversation was important.
Billy watched them an instant, dazed and uncertain, yet tormented by the tender pleading in an occasional tone that floated out to him in Erminie’s voice. But eavesdropping Billy despised; and as soon as he could recover himself he turned away, his disappointment at the utter failure of the meeting pushed to insignificance by this puzzling, sinister, covert situation that included both Erminie and Jim. Billy was utterly perplexed. What could she mean?
Slowly, his feet weighing tons, he plodded home, and entered to find the telephone ringing.
He hurried to take down the receiver that the household might not be disturbed. “Who is it?”
“Erminie,” came back over the wire. “Oh, Billy, I’m so glad to get you!”