ried off," Jessie
returned. "Come to think of it, I didn't get very far with my story. I
must talk to daddy again. But Momsy says he is much troubled over a
case he has on his hands, an important case, and I suppose he hasn't
time for our small affairs."

"I imagine that girl who was kidnaped doesn't think hers is a small
affair," observed Amy Drew, dipping her spoon into the rich concoction
that had been placed before her. "Oh, yum, yum! Isn't this good,
Jess?"

"Scrumptious. By the way, who is going to pay for it?"

"Oh, my! Haven't you any money?" demanded Amy.

"We-ell, you suggested this treat."

"But you should stand it. You won the prize coat," giggled Amy.

"I never saw the like of you!" exclaimed Jessie. "And you say I am not
fit to carry money, and all. Have you actually got me in here without
being able to pay for this cream?"

"But haven't you any money?" cried Amy.

"Not one cent. I shall have to hurry back to the parish house and beg
some of Momsy."

"And leave me here?" demanded Amy. "Never!"

"How will you fix it, then?" asked Jessie, who was really disturbed
and could not enjoy her sundae.

"Oh, don't let that nice treat go to waste, Jess."

"It does not taste nice to me if we can't pay for it."

"Don't be foolish. Leave it to me," said Amy, getting on her feet.
"I'll speak to the clerk. He's nice looking and wears his hair slicked
back like patent leather. Lo-o-vely hair."

"Amy Drew! Behave!"

"I am. I am behaving right up, I tell you. I am sure I can make that
clerk chalk the amount down until we come in again."

"I would be shamed to death," Jessie declared, her face flushing
almost angrily, for sometimes Amy did try her. "I will not hear of
your doing that. You sit down here and wait till I run back to the
church----"

"Oh, you won't have to," interrupted Amy. "Here come some of the
girls. We can borrow----"

But the girl who headed the little group just then entering the door
of the Dainties Shop was Belle Ringold. The three who followed Belle
were her particular friends. Jessie did not feel that she wanted to
borrow money of Belle or her friends.

CHAPTER XII

THE GLORIOUS FOURTH

"Never mind," whispered Amy Drew quickly, quite understanding her
chum's feelings regarding Belle and her group. "I'll ask them. It's my
fault, anyway. And I only meant it for a joke----"

"A pretty poor joke, Amy," Jessie said, with some sharpness. "And I
don't want you to borrow