ute of
every day since then," said Allen in a low voice. "If you haven't heard,
it's because you wouldn't listen."

Betty colored adorably--to quote Allen again--and resumed her packing with
great fervor.

"All of which," Frank finished his self-justification, "shows that we're
far from anxious to leave you girls when we say we're eager for action. I
guess," he added, thoughtfully, "it's just because we're so crazy to be
with you that we're eager to go across."

"That sounds rather--" began Grace, but Frank would not let her finish.

"I know it does," he admitted. "Sounds like a contradiction. But I think
you know what I'm trying to get at, just the same."

"Why, sure," Will backed him up eagerly.

"Frank means that we've got a confounded, disagreeable job to do before we
can settle down and be happy on good old United States soil again--"

"And the sooner we get it done, the better," finished Roy.

Allen nodded.

"I guess that's about the size of it," he said. "The sooner we get there,
the sooner we'll be coming home again. And, say, fellows, what a home
coming!"

At the wistfulness in his voice the girls felt the tears rise to their
eyes, and to save them from a breakdown Betty crisply changed the subject.

"I hope you boys can get over to the Hostess House Thursday night to see
the entertainment we are helping get up among those new fellows who came
week before last," she cried.

"Working yourselves to death over it, are you?" inquired Allen.

"Never!" returned Grace, with sudden emphasis.

"But it's lots of fun," chuckled Mollie. "We have found out by judicious
inquiry--Amy, here, soon worms out the heart secrets of these boys by her
quiet, sympathetic way--that a number of those boys have parlor tricks of
one sort or another, and--"

"That orchestra fellow really is good," interrupted Amy. "Boys, you should
hear him play! He has a guitar hung over his shoulder, a harmonica
strapped to his head, a piano near by to which he makes sudden dashes, and
all the while he dances the most marvelous dance!"

For once Amy was aroused to enthusiasm. The boys, however, were less
interested, and Roy wanted to know what the girls themselves had to do in
the coming entertainment.

"Oh," laughed Betty, "we are stage managers, scenic artists, stage hands,
costumers, modern mutation of the Greek chorus, stays and props for the
weak and timid, brakes for the overbold--in fact, we are around to do any
work that nobo