that was not at all skillful.

"Good-bye," they called, and "good-bye," he answered, as the two cars
sprang forward in a cloud of dust. Not until they were out of sight did
Joe Barnes turn away and retrace his steps toward his deserted
motorcycle.

"Joe, my boy," he communed with himself, shaking his head over the
memory of Betty's dimples, "that little Miss Nelson is one girl in a
million. I wonder now," slowly mounting his machine and looking
reflectively at the road in front of it, "why I didn't ask if I might
call." Then the absurdity of the idea made him laugh at himself. "What
nonsense to think of taking advantage of an accident--Where was it they
said they were stopping for the night? Oh, yes, Bensington. Well, he
might go there and take a chance on seeing them--her. Fate might even be
kind to him and burst some more tires!" Then he laughed at himself again
and started his motor.

Meanwhile Grace, who had noticed Joe Barnes' expressive glance in
Betty's direction and the latter's subsequent confusion, commented upon
the coincidence.

"Goodness, Betty," she drawled lightly, "I always knew you were a heart
breaker, but I never saw you make a conquest in so short a time. Half an
hour and--poof--it's all over but the shouting."

Betty gave an annoyed little laugh.

"Don't be foolish, Gracie," she commanded adding reflectively as she
skillfully avoided a rock in the road: "He was awfully nice looking
though, and pleasant."

"Of course!"

"But I couldn't help wondering," Betty went on, as though talking to
herself, "why he was here at all when his country needs him."

"Um--yes, that was rather strange," mused Grace. "One isn't used to
seeing a young, good-looking and apparently healthy boy on this side of
the water these days, unless he's in khaki. I wonder if our knight by
the wayside is by any chance one of those insects we term--"

"Slackers?" finished Betty, adding in quick defense: "No, I'm quite sure
he isn't that kind. You know we have had a good chance to study both
types, and he doesn't look like a slacker."

"Granted," agreed Grace, adding with a quick change of mood: "Just the
same, it makes me feel desperate to see any young fellow running at his
own free will about the country, evidently enjoying life, while our boys
are giving up everything--"

"But, if Joe Barnes isn't a slacker," Betty reminded her gently, "he is
probably passionately envying our boys the right to 'give up
everything'."