Part 8 (1/2)
The other girls were spellbound. Cora, too, left her place--she knew Cecilia's recklessness and felt it her duty to stand by her.
The two strange men looked first at the girls and then at the car.
”Had an accident?” asked the taller of the two politely.
”Oh, no, it's chronic,” answered Clip flippantly, much to Cora's dismay.
The men were evidently gentlemen. They were well dressed, and had the mannerisms of culture.
”Perhaps I can help you,” suggested one, taking from his pocket a wrench. ”I always carry tools--meet so many 'chronics,'” and he laughed lightly.
”Come on,” called Hazel from the Whirlwind. ”You know, Paul will be waiting, Cora.”
At this the men both started. He with the wrench ceased his attempt to open the motor hood. The other looked toward Hazel.
”Oh, I see,” he said with affected ease. ”Your friend promised to meet you, and you are late.”
”My brother,” said Hazel curtly.
”Paul Hastings,” said Cora quickly, before she knew why.
”Oh!” almost whistled the taller man. ”I see; of the Whitehall Company?”
”Do you know him?” demanded Cora rather sharply.
”Slight-ly,” drawled the stout man, he with the wrench.
”Well, we had best not detain you, young ladies,” said the other, ”as you have so important an engagement,” and with that they both turned off.
”What do you think of that?” exclaimed Cora.
”The utmost!” replied Clip, in her favorite way of expressing ”the limit.”
”They knew Paul!” gasped Hazel.
”Seemed to,” answered Cora evasively. She had her opinions and doubts as to who these gentlemen might be.
”Just my luck,” murmured Clip. ”I rather liked the tall fellow, but I noticed that the other carried a gold filigree fountain pen, had a perfectly dear watch charm, and he talked like a lawyer.”
”Oh, my!” exclaimed Cora. ”You did size him up. I only noticed that he was a joint short on his right-hand thumb.”
”That, my dear, is termed a professional thumb-mark. We will know him if we meet him in the dark,” said Clip.
Cora laughed. She felt, however, more serious than she cared to have the others know. ”Well, let's be off this time,” she said. ”We will hardly make town before dark now.”
CHAPTER VIII
JACK AND CLIP
”A deliberate trick of Cecilia's,” murmured Daisy.