of them. I'll run back to the church."

She started to leave the Dainties Shop. Sally Moon, who was just
behind Belle Ringold, halted Jessie with a firm grasp on her sleeve.

"Don't run away just because we came in, Jess," she said.

"I'm coming right back," Jessie Norwood explained. "Don't keep me."

"Where you going, Jess?" drawled another of the group.

"I've got to run back to the church to speak to mother for a moment."

"Your mother's not there," broke in Belle. "She was leaving in her
flivver when we came away. The committee's broken up and the parish
house door is locked."

"Oh, no!" murmured Jessie, a good deal appalled.

"Don't I tell you _yes_?" snapped Belle. "Don't you believe me?"

"Of course I believe what you say, Belle," Jessie rejoined politely.
"I only said 'Oh, no!' because I was startled."

"What scared you?" demanded Belle, curiously.

"Why, I--I'm not scared----"

"It is none of your business, Belle Ringold," put in Amy. "Don't annoy
her. Here, Jessie, I'll----"

The clerk who waited on them had come to the table and placed a
punched ticket for the sundaes on it. He evidently expected to be paid
by the two girls. The other four were noisily grouping themselves
about another table. Belle Ringold said:

"Give Nick your orders, girls. This is on me. I want a banana royal,
Nick. Hurry up."

The young fellow with the "patent leather" hair still lingered by the
table where Jessie and Amy had sat. Belle turned around to stare at
the two guilty-looking chums. She sneered.

"What's the matter with you and Jess, Amy Drew? Were you trying to
slip out without paying Nick? I shouldn't wonder!"

"Oh!" gasped Jessie, flushing and then paling.

But Amy burst out laughing. It was a fact that Amy Drew often saw
humor where her chum could not spy anything in the least laughable.
With the clerk waiting and these four girls, more than a little
unfriendly, ready to make unkind remarks if they but knew the
truth----

What should she do? Jessie looked around wildly. Amy clung to a chair
and laughed, and laughed. Her chum desired greatly to have the floor
of the New Melford Dainties Shop open at her feet and swallow her!

"What's the matter with you, Amy Drew? You crazy?" demanded Belle.

"I--I----" Amy could get no farther. She weaved back and forth,
utterly hysterical.

"If you young ladies will pay me, please," stammered the clerk,
wondering. "I'd like to wait on these other customers."

"I