"
"Do you mean that I cheat?" cried Patty, in pretended rage.
"Oh, no, no! nothing like that! Only, this game is always played
with the fists in view."
So Patty held her little gloved fists in front of her, while Kenneth
chose.
"Right!" he said, and her right hand slowly opened and showed the
shining coin.
"Were you going to take me, anyway?" asked Kenneth, as they walked
off together. "And why did you turn down poor Van Reypen? He was
awfully cut up."
"Ken Harper, do you mean to insinuate that I didn't play fair?"
"Yes, my lady, just that. Oh, cheating never prospers. You have to
put up with me, you see!"
"I might do worse," and Patty flashed him a saucy glance.
"I wish you meant that."
"Oh, I do! I DO, Ken. Truly, there are lots of worse people than you
in the world."
"Who?"
"Well,--there's Eddie Perkins."
"Oh, Patty! that fop! Well, I'll bet you can't think of another."
"No; I can't."
"Patty, how dare you! Then you'll sit right here until you can."
Laughingly Kenneth stopped dancing, and led Patty to an alcove where
there were a few chairs. As they sat down, Philip Van Reypen came
toward them.
"Oh, Ken," Patty cried, "I've thought of a man worse than you are!
Oh, EVER so much worse! Here he is! And I simply adore bad men, so
I'm going to dance with him.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25