“Yes, do!” urged Hattie, riding up on the other side of Frank. “I am awfully curious now. I am dead stuck on anything romantic.” “How about slang, Hattie?” asked Mabel. “Goodness! I forgot! You see, Mr. Merriwell, we have taken the pledge never, never to use slang any more, and you can bet we are going to keep it!” Then, as both Frank and Mabel laughed, she realized what she said, and her face grew crimson. “It’s awful!” she declared. “But we girls picked up those things at school, and we find it hard to get rid of them.” “Tell us about Mr. Diamond,” urged Mabel. “Yes, please,” entreated Hattie. “You tempt me, girls,” confessed Frank; “but I do not believe in giving away a friend. Excuse me for that bit of slang, but nothing else seems to express my meaning so perfectly. I can tell you nothing of Mr. Diamond’s love affairs.” “Then he has an affair?” exclaimed Hattie. “I knew it! Now I wonder if he is so constant that he absolutely will not flirt? If he is, he’s the first fellow I ever saw taken that way. You try him, Mabel.” “I will if I get a good opportunity,” said Miss Mischief; “and then if he does flirt, I’ll tell him what I think of him. I’d like to find one fellow who would be constant.” “I hope she doesn’t mean anything!” murmured Hodge, reddening somewhat. “It seems to me she does,” laughed Frank. Mabel found an opportunity to chat with Jack before Northport was reached. They came to a hill that was not particularly difficult, but she complained that her wheel ran hard, and said something was the matter with it. She asked Jack if he would not examine it, and so they dismounted at the foot of the hill. Diamond looked over the wheel in a systematic manner, but could find nothing the matter with it. He got out his oiler and oiled it. Then Mabel said she did not feel like riding up the hill, so they walked up together, for the Virginian would not leave her. Now, Mabel Mischief was the kind of a girl to attract the Virginian. Jack was dark and passionate, while she was light and gay. Without appearing to, she brought all her arts to bear on him in the short time given her to do so, but the result was not what she expected, for he did not seem at all impressed. On reaching favorable ground, he said: “Now, Miss Mitshef, we can overtake the others in a short time.” He did not even venture to call her Miss Mischief, although everyone else did so, but was particular to pronounce her name correctly. “I do not like to ride fast,” she smiled, looking up at him. “We are in sight of them. What is the need of hurrying?” “I didn’t know,” said Jack. “I thought you would enjoy being with your friends.” “I am satisfied with present company,” she laughed. Then he looked away, without appearing to hear her, and called her attention to the view, which was charming. “You have beautiful scenery around here,” he observed, in a matter-of-fact way.