The Outdoor Girls of Deepdale | Page 3

the group of girls.
"Good afternoon!" greeted Percy Falconer, raising his hat with an elaborate gesture. "Charming weather we're having--my word!" Percy rather inclined to English mannerisms--or what he thought were such.
"Hello, Sis--and the rest of you!" said Will, with a more hearty, and certainly a more natural, air. "What's doing?"
"Grace was going to treat," said Amy slowly; "she is so good about that--only--"
"Oh, girls! This is on me!" exclaimed Percy. "I shall be delighted. May I have the honor?" and again he took off his hat with an elaborate bow.
"Shall we?" Betty telegraphed this question to her friends with her eyes.
"Take the goods the gods provide," murmured Grace. "I can save my quarter for another time."
With a rather resigned air Betty followed her chums into the drug store and presently all were lined up before the marble-topped counter.
"The soda's delicious to-day," murmured Grace. "I've a good notion to get some fudge," and she began toying with a little silver purse.
"Save your money for our club," advised Mollie. "Did you hear of our expedition?" she asked Will.
"No, what's that? Are you going to try for the East or West pole?--seeing that the North and South ones have been captured," and he laughed, thereby getting some of the soda down his "wrong throat."
"Serves you right," murmured his sister, as he coughed.
"Betty is going to form a Camping and Tramping Club," went on Amy.
"Fine!" exclaimed Percy. "Are you going to take gentlemen? If so, consider my application."
"Oh, we really mean to walk!" exclaimed Grace, with a glance at the too-small patent leather shoes the overdressed youth thrust out ostentatiously. If he understood the allusion he gave no sign of so doing.
"What's the game, Sis?" asked Will, quizzically.
"Why, it isn't anything very elaborate," explained Betty, as she finished her soda. "It occurred to me that, as school closes exceptionally early this year, some of us girls could go for a two weeks' tramping tour before our regular summer vacation."
"And we're all in love with the idea," declared Amy.
"Twenty miles a day is our limit," added Mollie, smiling behind the youth's back.
"Twenty miles!" faltered Percy. "You never can do it--never!"
"Oh, yes, we can," said Betty, assuredly.
"Now do you still wish to join?" asked Grace, pointedly, glancing at Percy.
"You never can do twenty miles!" affirmed Percy. "Let's have some more soda!" he added quickly, to change the subject.
To the credit of Grace Ford, who was really very fond of sweets, be it said that she refused, and that with the mocking eyes of all the girls fastened on her.
"I've had enough," spoke Betty. "You walk with me," she whispered to Amy. "I don't want Percy to bore me. Stay near me, do!"
"I will," promised Amy.
Balked of his design to stroll beside Betty, Percy was forced to be content with Mollie, and she, with malice aforethought, talked at him in a way he could not understand, but which, the other girls overhearing, sent them into silent spasms of laughter.
"Don't you find it troublesome to carry a cane all the while?" Mollie asked him, sweetly ignorant.
"Oh, I don't have to carry it," he said quickly.
"Don't you? I thought on account of not being able to walk--"
"Why, Mollie--I can walk all right."
"Oh, I misunderstood you. You said twenty miles was too much."
"I meant for girls."
"Oh, then you carry the cane for dogs."
"No, indeed. I'm not afraid of dogs."
"He doesn't know she's 'spoofing' him--I believe that is the proper English word; isn't it?" whispered Grace, who was with her brother.
"Correct, Sis."
"Whatever did you want to bring him along for?"
"Couldn't help it. He fastened to me when I came out of school, and I couldn't shake him off. Is Bet mad?"
"You know she doesn't like him."
"Well, tell her it wasn't my fault, when you get the chance; will you? I don't want to get on her bad books."
"I'll tell her."
"I say, Sis, lend me a quarter; won't you? I'm broke."
"You had the same allowance that I did."
"I know, but I need just that much to get a catching glove. Go on--be a sport."
"I--"
"Don't say you haven't got it. Weren't you going to treat the crowd when I brought Percy along and let you sting him?"
"Such horrid slang!"
"Go on, be a sport! Lend me the quarter!"
Grace produced it from her purse. There were several other coins in it.
"Say, you're loaded with wealth! Where'd you get it?"
"I just didn't spend it."
"Go on! And you with a two-pound box of chocolates--or what's left of 'em--under your bed!"
"Will Ford, did you dare go snooping in my room?" and she grasped his arm, apprehensively.
"I couldn't help seeing 'em. I was looking for my ball, that rolled in there."
"Did you--did you eat them all?" she faltered.
"Only a few. There's Allen Washburn, I want to speak to him," and Will ran off uncermoniously, to join a tall, good-looking