Part 25 (2/2)
Susan said irritably. ”I'll never come here again. I know that.”
”Let's go for a swim and drown our troubles,” Penny suggested. ”The Big Dipper will be open.”
Since the day had been sultry, the proposal appealed to Susan. They stopped at their homes only long enough to get their bathing suits, and a few minutes later arrived at the picturesque outdoor pool.
Penny found several of her school friends performing at the diving board and soon they were all rounded up for a vigorous game of water polo. After a fierce battle which left everyone exhausted, Penny's side conquered the opponents. The girls sat down on the edge of the pool to rest.
”Isn't that Betty Davis over there under the beach umbrella?” Susan presently inquired, indicating a girl in a black bathing suit who sat alone.
”Why, it is!” Penny agreed. ”Shall we go over and speak to her?”
”After the way she treated us this afternoon?”
”We can't be certain she was in the house when we called.”
”I think she was,” Susan maintained. ”She doesn't care for our company, that's all.”
”She seemed to like us well enough at first. Betty is the sensitive type, Sue. It may be that she's embarra.s.sed on account of all her father's trouble. I believe I'll swim over and speak to her at any rate.”
Penny arose from the side of the pool. Without having appeared to notice the action, Betty Davis hastily left the reclining chair under the umbrella and disappeared into the dressing room.
”I guess you're too late!” Susan laughed. ”She saw you first.”
Penny sat down again, a trifle nettled.
”You're right, Sue. She's deliberately avoiding us.”
”She's a queer sort anyway,” Susan said indifferently. ”Let's ignore her from now on.”
Penny gazed thoughtfully toward the dressing room door.
”There must be some reason for the way she's acting, Sue. I have a notion to corner her in the dressing room so that she'll have to say something to me.”
”You're inviting a snub if you do. Forget her, Penny! Come on, I'll race you to the end of the pool!”
She plunged in and Penny reluctantly followed. They swam two lengths and then dived a few times from the high board.
”Oh, let's go home,” Penny proposed presently. ”I've had enough.”
They stood for a few minutes under the cold shower, then entered the dressing room. To their surprise they observed a group of excited girls cl.u.s.tered around the matron's desk.
”I tell you it's my ring!” one of the bathers insisted angrily. ”This girl stole it from my locker!”
”It isn't true. The ring is my own. Why, it belonged to my mother.”
Penny and Susan pushed their way into the little group. They had recognized Betty Davis' low pitched voice but were unacquainted with the girl who was accusing her of the theft.
”Let's get to the bottom of this,” the matron said severely, turning to the first girl. ”Did you have your locker fastened securely?”
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