an ice. I sat in the pavilion
eating a pineapple ice as peacefully as you please. All of a sudden I
realized someone had stopped beside my chair; two someones by the way.
One of them was Row-ena Quarrelena Fightena Scrapena; the other," Jerry
paused impressively, "was our precious hob-goblin, Miss Cairns."

CHAPTER III.

GATHERING CLOUDS.

"Really!" came in surprised exclamation from Vera.

"Hmm! What a congenial pair!" was Helen Trent's placid reception of the
information.

"Like walks with like." Leila's tones vibrated with satirical truth.
"Knaves fall out, but to fall in again."

"I know it," agreed Jerry. "One would naturally suppose that Miss Cairns
would have no use for Row-ena after the net she led her into. Not a bit
of it."

"It must have been a shock, Jeremiah, to look up suddenly and find
yourself in such company." Helen could not repress the ghost of a
chuckle.

"It was. They were lined up for battle. I saw that at a glance. Row-ena
was half laughing; a trick of hers when she is all ready to make a grand
disturbance. Leslie Cairns looked like a Japanese thundercloud. I never
said a word; just sat very straight in my chair. I went on eating my
ice as if I didn't know they were there. Like this."

Jerry gave an imitation of her manner and facial expression on the
occasion she was describing.

"I thought they might give it up as a bad job and go away, but they
stayed. Then Row-ena started in with a regular tirade about Marjorie and
all of us. I can't repeat what she said word for word. Anyway, she
called us all liars. I don't remember what I said, but it must have been
effective. I certainly handed Row-ena my candid opinion of herself. She
saw she was getting the worst of the argument and declared she wouldn't
stay and be so insulted. She started out of the pavilion, calling Miss
Cairns to come along. The fair Leslie wouldn't budge. She told Row-ena
to go on, that she had something to say to me. That was the first remark
she had made. Then she asked me in her slow, drawling way if I would
listen to something she had to say to me. I said I would not. I had
heard too much as it was. I got up and beat it and left her standing
there. I was so sore I forgot to pay for my ice. I had to send Hal back
with the money. As I started away from the pavilion, I saw Row-ena
getting into a dizzy-looking black and white roadster. I think the car
belonged to Miss Cairns. It looked like her. I suppose she an