“Whew,” whistled Mollie, taking Betty’s arm and hurrying her forward. “By any chance did you girls hear what I heard? _Me_ for _it_, Betty Nelson.” The girls talked little an their way to Betty’s house, but they thought a good deal. They were tired and disgruntled, and it seemed to them in their pessimistic mood that everything they had tried to do that day had gone wrong. And the climax of it all was their meeting! if it could be called a meeting! with Percy Falconer. Worst of all, Betty was going to allow him to call! With something of this in her mind, Mollie glanced sideways at her chum and, curiosity getting the better of her discretion, ventured to remark upon it. “I wonder what Allen will say,” she said, “when he learns about Percy.” It was an unfortunate remark, as Betty very soon showed by turning upon her chum angrily. “I don’t know that Allen has a right to say anything at all about what I do,” she said. “And as I don’t intend ever to see Percy Falconer after to-morrow, I think we had better forget about him. But there,” she added, bringing herself up short and giving Mollie’s hand a little conciliatory squeeze, “I didn’t mean to be cross. I’m just kind of mad about the whole thing! and tired, and hot!!” “I know,” said Mollie generously. “I guess we all are! tired and hot, I mean. We will feel better after we have had something cold to drink.” Betty’s mother had left not only the lemonade but some sandwiches of chopped nuts and cream cheese. Jubilantly the girls carried these delicacies out on the front porch and proceeded to devour them without further delay. As they ate and drank, their ill-humor vanished and they began to feel once more like their cheerful, optimistic selves. They even began to laugh a little about the close shave they had had with Percy and his friend. “It was mighty clever work of yours, Betty, swerving around like that,” Mollie said reminiscently, as she patted the Little Captain’s hand approvingly. “I’m sure I would have been so scared I’d have gone right ahead and then there would have been a nasty smash.” “I do hope the folks don’t hear about it,” worried Grace. “It would only make them nervous and they might even refuse to let us go out in the _Gem_ any more.” “I don’t see how the folks are going to know anything about it,” said Amy calmly. “Unless our dear friend Percy blabs it all over town,” added Grace. “I think we ought to tell the folks,” Betty spoke up suddenly. “I know they would rather hear about it from us than from any one else. Hello,” she broke off, as her eye lighted on a newspaper lying on the table, “this looks like the evening edition. Maybe it has some news of Allen’s division.” “My, just listen to her,” yawned Grace. “Allen’s division, indeed. As though he were the only one we were interested in!!” But her words were cut short by a startled exclamation from Betty. “Oh, girls, look here!” she cried. “Look at these names. Oh, I hope it isn’t true! I hope it isn’t!”