Part 8 (1/2)

Then the fight began

Forty-five minutes later, as they strolled across the lawn of the Te to join theirl visitor

”Where have you been?” she cried ”So for the three of you on the telephone Two or three ti for us, Sis?” said Bob ”Who is he?”

”I don't know,” she said ”He hasn't given his na from New York”

The boys looked at each other, puzzled Who could it be?

”Oh, there's Mary again,” said Della, pointing to a ed on the side veranda, overlooking the tennis court

”Mister Robert, you're wanted on the telephone,” came the maid's voice

Bob hurried indoors, Jack at his heels Frank hung behind

”Well, Mr Frank Merrick,” said Della pertly ”Give an account of yourself, if you please What were you boys doing in the city to-day?

You think you're grand, don't you, to go flying off in your airplane, on the very day I invite a girl down here to , Della?” asked Frank, anxiously ”I won't ”

Della realized he was , but she ood looking girl to be interested in you, do you?” she said

Frank laughed, then reached out to seize her by the shoulders, but she eluded his grasp and went speeding off across the laith hi and flushed, Della still in the lead There Della beckoned the other girl to theed introductions

”This is that scatter-brained Frank Merrick, I told you about, Pete,”

she said ”Frank, this is my own particular pal at Miss Sefton's School, Marjorie Faulkner, better known as Pete If you can beat her at tennis, you will have to play above your usual for into the spirit of badinage ”Give me a racquet, and I'll take you both on for a set About 6-0 ought to be right, with irl yet that could play passable tennis”

”You scalawag,” laughed Della ”When it was only ht Well, here's your racquet, all waiting for you Come on”

Della was a prophet The slender, lithe Miss Faulkner, with her tip-tilted nose, freckles, tan and all, proved to be alood a player as Della herself The result was that, although both games were hotly contested, Frank lost the first two of the set He was about to start serving for the third ga evidences of considerable excitement, approached from the house

”Hey, Frank, come here,” called Bob

Frank stood undecided, but Della called to her brother:

”He's a very busy boy, Bob You and Jack better coirl, Bob and Jack caed introductions Bob, usually rather eirls, seeent business with Frank He and Miss Faulkner fell into the gay chatter from which the others were excluded Jack seized the opportunity to pull Frank aside

”Look here,” he said ”Soovernents up in New York He said Inspector Condon had carried our inforhbors to hiht to the house Said he thought he could make the trip in about three hours, and would be here at 9 o'clock”