"The Go-Ahead Club?"
"Yes. We are six girls. We each own canoes. And we are just _crazy_ to spend next summer under canvas."
"You are going camping?"
"That is our intention," Wyn said, nodding.
"Oh, then! come up to Lake Honotonka," cried Polly. "I can show you beautiful places to camp, and we can have lots of fun----"
"That likewise is our intention," broke in Wyn. "We have just decided to camp for the summer on the sh.o.r.e of the lake. Rather, our parents, guardians, and the cat, have finally agreed to our plans. We shall come up there the week after the Academy closes."
"Now, we want you, Polly, to find us the very best camping place, to arrange everything for us, and don"t have it too far from your place, and from Meade"s Forge. I expect the Busters will camp on one of the islands. The Busters, you see, are our boy friends who are likewise going to the lake. They were there last year with Professor Skillings."
"I remember them," said Polly, wonderingly. "And you and your girl friends are coming?"
"Just the surest thing you know, Polly," declared Wyn. "So you are going to take this twenty dollars," and she suddenly thrust the bill into the other girl"s hand and closed her fingers over it. "Then, next summer, we shall let you pay it back in perfectly legitimate charges, for we"ll want you and your father to help us a good deal.
"Now, what say, Polly Jolly? Will you please let your face fit your name--as I have rechristened you? Smile, my dear--smile!"
"I could cry again, Wyn--you are so kind!" half sobbed the other girl.
"Now, you stop all that foolishness--a great, big girl like you!"
exclaimed Wyn. "Turn off the sprinkler, as Dave Shepard says. Get right up now and go briskly about your buying. And write to me when you get home and write just as often as you can till we meet at the lake this summer."
"You dear!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Polly.
"You"re another. How will I address you--at the Forge?"
"Yes, and you must give me your address," said the boatman"s daughter, eagerly.
Wyn did so. The two girls, such recent but already such warm friends, kissed each other and Polly Jarley went briskly away toward Market Street. Wyn stopped on the bench for several minutes and watched the girl from Lake Honotonka walk away, while a smile wreathed her lips and a warm light lingered in her brown eyes.
CHAPTER V
BESSIE LAVINE
Suddenly a gay voice hailed Wyn.
"Hi, Captain of the Go-Aheads! What are you doing, mooning here?"
"Why, Bess!" returned Wyn, turning to greet Bessie Lavine. "I didn"t see you coming along."
"No; but I saw you, my n.o.ble captain."
"Going shopping?"
"Aye, aye, Captain!" cried the other member of the Go-Ahead club. "But who was that I saw you with? Didn"t I see you talking to that girl who just crossed Benefit Street?"
"Oh, yes."
"Who was she?"
"Polly Jarley. She is daughter of a boatman up at the lake. And wasn"t it fortunate that I met her? She can find us a camping place and get everything fixed up there for our coming."
"What"s her name?" asked Bess, sharply.
"Polly Jarley."
"And she lives up there by the lake?"
"So she says."
"Her father is John Jarley, of course?" queried Bessie, looking down at Wyn, darkly.
"Yes. That is her father"s name," said Wyn, beginning to wonder at her friend"s manner.
"Well! I guess you don"t know those Jarleys very well; do you?"
"Why--I----"
Wyn hesitated to tell Bessie that she had only just now met the unfortunate boatman"s daughter. She remembered Polly"s story, and what she had overheard Mr. Erad say in the drygoods store.
"You surely _can"t_ know what and who they are, and still be friendly with that girl?" repeated Bessie, her eyes flashing with anger.
"Why, my dear," said Wyn, soothingly. "Don"t speak that way. Sit down and tell me what you mean. I certainly have not known Polly long; and I never met her father----"
"Oh, they left this town a long time ago."
"So she told me. And she said something about her father having been accused of dishonesty----"
"I should say so!" gasped Bessie. "Why, John Jarley almost ruined _my_ father. He was a traitor to him. They were in a deal together--it was when my father first tried to get into the real estate business here in Denton--and this John Jarley sold him out. Why, everybody knows it! It crippled father for a long time, and what Jarley got out of playing traitor never did him any good, I guess, for they were soon as poor as Job"s turkey, and they went to live in the woods there. He"s a poor, miserable wretch. Father says he"s never had a stroke of luck since he played him such a mean trick--and serves him right!"
Wyn stared at her in amazement, for Bessie had gone on quite breathlessly and had spoken with much heat. Finally Wyn observed:
"Well, dear, _your_ father has done well since those days. They say he is one of our richest citizens. Surely you can forgive what poor John Jarley did, for he and his daughter are now very miserable."
"I don"t see why we should forgive them," cried Bessie, hotly.
"Why, Bess! This poor girl had nothing to do with her father wronging your father----"
"I don"t care. She"s his daughter. It"s in the blood. I wouldn"t trust her a single bit. I wouldn"t speak to her. And no girl can be _her_ friend and mine, too!"
"Why, Bess! don"t say that," urged Wyn. "You and I have been friends for years and years. We wouldn"t want to have a falling out."