on this evening the tension was somewhat relaxed. The Misses Gates chat

shes, the cut glass, and the silver were of the best. Two tall candles in pewter holders lighted the room. Cora Sully, fai

Iris said half apologetically, when

," Doris agr

the biscuits light, the salad crisp and fresh. It was only that she had taken a d

f our former dressmaker, but she married a man that was no good. Undoubtedly he mean

Doris m

, and Kitty was leaving the bur

the dessert, a steaming rich pudding which she placed

we are here alone," Azalea remarked, "bu

o a great deal of trouble o

r. "It is a pleasure to have yo

e watching Mrs. Sully, that an irrit

re here," Doris thought. "Probabl

eating her pudding, there came an unexpected interruption. A

changed guilty gla

murmured. "What c

itty looked do

apologized, "but I'm a

d, a glimmer of amu

odded u

ked him up on the road this afternoon and brought him along. We didn't want to leave him ou

out a series of savage yelps and Doris heard the soun

he matter," she sai

made such a disturbance at the aviation meet! Wags, still securely tied under the porch

Wags!" Dori

tranger asked unpleasantly. "Vic

orably impressed than before. He was dressed in a new suit of loud pattern, and carried

m her surprise, the Misses Gat

your voice," Iris murm

tonight," Azalea added, a tell-tale

ch a smile which to Doris see

m two such charming young ladies?" h

at her chum in disgust. Azalea and Iris saw nothing amiss. On

e which he bestowed upon her with all t

tones as he twirled the stick jauntily be

t you clev

as if to appear very modest, "th

oat solicitously and hung it up to dry

lay of a friend of mine would come out, and of course it came out as I said it would. You understand, ladies, that it was just a friendly little bet, nothing to disturb one's conscience," hoping th

that they entirely forgot the presence of the two gir

s will be a pleasant surprise for you. May I prese

t 'chu,'" the s

der what she was saying. She could not believe that she had heard correctl

u to say Mr. Trent i

fore Azalea could answer. "Don't worry, k

e glanced toward Kitty and saw the puzzled

ought dismally. "Oh, dear, I

laring tie carefully, "but I found a chummy roadhouse with a big welcome during the

feared her family might call her away at once, if they should become aware of the fact that such a man as this one were to spend any time in the company of the girls. She pictured the faculty at Barry Manor as being highly shocked and amazed should anybody tell

his matter serio

ally worried