n't think Catherine of Russia is a woman to whom a lady can point
with pride," George said conclusively. Genevieve, who had appeared, shot
Betty a triumphant glance as they started. Pudge waved to them from the
candy store at the corner.

"There's a new candy store every week!" said Penny, shuddering. "Heaven
help that poor boy; it must be in the blood!"

"Women must always have something sweet to nibble," George said, leaning
back. "The United States took in two millions last year in gum alone!"

"Men chew gum!" suggested Betty.

"But come now, Betty, be fair!" George said. "Which sex eats more
candy?"

"Well, I suppose women do," she admitted.

"You count the candy stores, down Main Street," George went on, "and ask
yourself how it is that these people can pay rents and salaries just on
candy,--nothing else. Did you ever think of that?"

"Well, I could vote with a chocolate in my mouth!" Betty muttered
mutinously, as the car turned into the afternoon peace of the main
thoroughfare.

"You count them on your side, Penny, and I will on mine!" Genevieve
suggested. "All down the street." "Well, wait--we've passed two!" Penny
said excitedly.

"Go on; there's three. That grocery store with candy in the window!"

"Groceries don't count!" objected Betty.

"Oh, they do, too! And drug stores.... Every place that sells candy!"

"Drug stores and groceries and fruit stores only count half a point,"
Betty stipulated. "Because they sell other things!"

"That's fair enough," George conceded here, with a nod.

Genevieve and Penny almost fell out of the car in their anxiety not
to miss a point, and George quite deliberately lingered on the
cross-streets, so that the damning total might be increased.

Laughing and breathless, they came to the bridge that led from the town
to the open fields, and took the count.

"One hundred and two and a half!" shouted Penny and Genevieve
triumphantly. George smiled over his wheel.

"Oh, women, women!" he said. "One hundred and sixty-one!" said Betty.
There was a shout of protest.

"Oh, Betty Sheridan! You didn't! Why, we didn't miss _one_!"

"I wasn't counting candy stores," smiled Betty. "Just to be different,
I counted cigar stores and saloons. But it doesn't signify much either
way, does it, George?"

CHAPTER VI. BY HENRY KITCHELL WEBSTER

Of the quartette who, an hour later, emerged from the bath-houses
and scampered across the satiny beech into a discreetly playfu