of her head. It was all right to have Darry pay the check--it
was really a relief--but it did not seem to Jessie as though she could
endure having the matter made an open joke of.

The four settled about the little table. But the Ringold crowd was too
near. Belle turned sideways in her chair, even before they were
served, and, being at Darry's elbow, insisted upon talking to him.

"Talk about my aunt!" said Burd Alling, grinning. "I'll tell the world
that somebody has a crush on Sir Galahad that's as plain to be seen as
a wart on the nose of Venus."

"Of all the metaphors!" exclaimed Amy.

Jessie feared that Belle would overhear the comments of Burd and her
chum, and she hurried the eating of her second sundae.

"I must get home, Darry," she explained. "Momsy has gone without me in
her car and will be surprised not to find me there."

"Sure," agreed Burd quickly. "We'll gobble and hobble. Can't you tear
yourself away, Darry?" he added, with a wicked grin.

Amy's brother tried politely to turn away from Belle. But the latter
caught him by the coat sleeve and held on while she chattered like a
magpie to the young college man. She smiled and shook her bobbed curls
and altogether acted in a rather ridiculous way.

Darry looked foolish, then annoyed. His sister was in an ecstasy of
delight. She enjoyed her big brother's annoyance. She and Jessie and
Burd had finished their cream.

"Come on, Darry," Burd drawled, taking a hint from the girls. "Sorry
you are off your feed and can't finish George Washington's finest
product. I'll eat it for you, if you say so, and then we'll beat
it."

He reached casually for Darry's plate; but the latter would not yield
it without a struggle. The incident, however, gave Darry a chance to
break away from the insistent Belle. The latter stared at the two
girls at Darry's table, sniffed, and tossed her head.

"Yes, Mr. Drew," she said in her high-pitched voice, "I suppose you
have to take the children home in good season, or they would be
chastised."

"Ouch!" exclaimed Burd. "I bet that hurt you, Amy."

Darry had picked up both checks from the table. Belle smiled up at him
and moved her check to the edge of her table as Darry rather grimly
bade her good-night. He refused to see that check, but strode over to
the desk to pay the others.

"That girl ought to get a job at a broadcasting station," growled out
Darry, as they went out upon the street. "I never knew before she was
such