'd never think of our
doing that, I know."

"That's a good idea, Dolly. I do think it may work."

So, in the shadow of the trees they changed dresses, and then, while
Bessie advanced toward the track cautiously and as quietly as possible,
with her training in the woods, Dolly went back, and appeared presently
walking carelessly along toward the trolley station.

Jake looked at her suspiciously, and she smiled at him.

"Oh, hello!" she said, cheerily. "You waiting for a car, too? How soon
does the next one come along?"

"About two minutes," said Jake. He was eyeing her clothes, and evidently
suspected nothing after that scrutiny.

"That's good! I was afraid I'd miss that car. Oh, you're not going, are
you? That's your bicycle, isn't it?"

"Naw, I'm not goin'--got to stay here. Say, why don't you wait here and
talk to a feller?"

"I might," smiled Dolly. The car was really coming--it rounded a curve
just then, and came in, slowing up. Dolly saw Bessie get aboard, but
Jake was looking at her. "No, I guess I can't," she said then. And she
sprang aboard, just as the car moved off.

CHAPTER XIII

AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR

The two girls fell into one another's arms on the car, laughing almost
hysterically as it moved away. Looking back, Dolly saw Jake Hoover, a
stupid look in his round eyes, staring after them.

"Bessie! Let him see you!" she begged. "I want him to know how he was
fooled! I bet he's just the sort of boy to go around saying what poor
things girls are, and how little use he has for them!"

Bessie stood up on the back platform, and Jake saw her. The sight seemed
to drive him frantic. They saw him waving his arms, and faintly heard
his shrieks of anger as he saw his prey slipping away. But he was
helpless, of course; there was no way in which he could chase the car,
and he had sense enough, at least, to realize that.

"You're quite right about him, Dolly," said Bessie, laughing so hard
that there were tears in her eyes. "He always did go around saying that
girls were no good and that he couldn't see why any of the fellows
wanted to have anything to do with them!"

"He's the sort that always does, Bessie, and it's because the girls
won't have anything to do with them. He was pleased enough when I
started talking to him, and awfully bashful, too, just like a silly
calf. That's all he really is, anyhow, Bessie. But it's a good thing
he's as silly as he is, because he's so mean that if he were c