THE GIRLS FROM CLEARWATER HALL
The Rover boys remained with the girls from Clearwater Hall for the best part of half an hour after the scare at the moving picture theater, and during that time the young folks became quite well acquainted.
"We"ll have to be getting back to our school now," said Ruth Stevenson, presently.
"Oh, what"s your hurry?" pleaded Jack. "Weren"t you going to stay to the pictures?"
"No. We were going to leave immediately after that reel they were showing when the explosion occurred," the girl replied.
"Well, we"ve got to get back to Colby Hall in time for supper; but we can make that easily enough--we are all good walkers."
"I should think you would ride in your auto-stage," put in Alice Strobell. "I"d ride if we had a stage handy."
"The stage isn"t down here now," answered Randy. "It only comes on order."
The four boys walked with the girls to the end of a side street of the town, and there the pupils from Clearwater Hall stopped to say good-bye.
"We are very thankful for what you did for us at the theater," said Ruth Stevenson. "You were very kind, indeed."
"You are regular heroes!" burst out May Powell, who by her merry eyes showed that she was almost as full of fun as were the Rover twins. "I"m going to write to Spouter and let him know all about it."
"And don"t forget to mention the rescue of my hat," added Alice Strobell with a giggle.
"I hope I have the pleasure of meeting you again, Miss Stevenson," said Jack, in an aside to the oldest girl of the party.
"Well, maybe," she returned, looking at him frankly.
"I"ve enjoyed this afternoon very much--in spite of that excitement."
"Oh, so have I!" and now she cast down her eyes while a faint flush stole into her cheeks.
"We won"t dare say much about that trouble in the theater when we get back to school," remarked Jennie Mason.
"That"s right!" burst out Annie Larkins. "If we did, maybe Miss Garwood would refuse to let us attend any more performances."
"Is Miss Garwood the head of your school?" questioned Randy.
"Yes. And let me tell you, she is a very particular and precise woman."
"I guess she isn"t as precise and particular as one of our professors,"
was Andy"s comment.
"Oh! do you mean that teacher they call old Lemon?" cried May Powell.
"Yes."
"We"ve met him a number of times. What a ridiculous man he is! I don"t understand why Colonel Colby keeps him."
"I saw you look at me when I spoke about that boat race," said Jack to Ruth Stevenson. "Maybe you like to be out on the water?"
"Oh, I do--very much! You know we have boats at the school, and I often go out with my friends."
"I like to row myself. Perhaps some day you"d like to go out with me?"
went on the oldest Rover, boldly.
"I"d have to ask permission first," answered the girl, and then dropped her eyes. Evidently, however, the tentative invitation pleased her.
As was to be expected, the parting between the boys and the girls was a rather prolonged affair, and it looked as if everybody was highly pleased with everybody else. But at last Annie Larkins looked at a wrist watch she wore and gave a little shriek.
"Oh, girls, we must be going! We ought to be at the school this minute!"
"Then here is where we start the walking act," declared May Powell.
"Good-bye, everybody!" and away she hurried, leaving the others to trail behind her.
"Don"t forget about the row," said Jack in a low tone to Ruth Stevenson.
"I"ll remember--if I get the chance," she returned; and in a moment more all of the girls were gone and the boys retraced their steps to the center of the town.
"Pretty nice bunch," was Randy"s comment.
"It"s funny that Spouter Powell never told us he had such a nice cousin," came from Fred.
"h.e.l.lo, Fred"s already smitten!" cried Jack, gaily.
"Huh! you needn"t talk," retorted the youngest Rover. "How about yourself? Didn"t I catch you trying to make a date with that Ruth Stevenson?"
"Oh, say, Fred! your ears are too big for your head," retorted Jack, growing red, while Andy and Randy looked at each other suggestively.
By this time the excitement around the moving picture theater had died away completely and the crowd had disappeared. The front doors were closed, but the manager was just hanging out a sign to the effect that the evening performances would be given as usual.
"I guess it was a big scare for nothing," was Randy"s comment.
"The audience can be thankful that they got out without anybody being hurt," returned Jack.
The boys made a few more purchases in Haven Point, and then started back for Colby Hall.
"I wonder if those girls go to church in Haven Point on Sundays,"
remarked Jack, just before the Hall was reached.
"I don"t know," answered Andy. "More than likely." His eyes began to twinkle. "Thinking of going to church yourself, Jack?"
"Didn"t we go to church when we were at home, Andy?"
"Sure," was the prompt reply.
"I think we can find out from Spouter or from some of the other cadets," answered Fred. "I know the boys are allowed to go to whatever church they please on Sundays." It may be as well to add here that on week days regular chapel exercises were held at Colby Hall before the ordinary cla.s.ses were in session.