The Blue Grass Seminary Girls' Vacation Adventures Part 22

"I am the son of his old friend," said Mr. Wolfe.

"You will be very welcome," said s.h.i.+rley.

She introduced him to Mabel, who had been much interested in their talk.

Mr. Wolfe said after a few minutes, "I knew, of course, that Mr. Willing had a daughter, but I had never heard of twins."

"Twins!" repeated s.h.i.+rley.

"Yes; this troublesome brother of yours."

s.h.i.+rley blushed.

"I-we-he," she stammered.

Mr. Wolfe looked at her for a few moments, then a smile spread over his face.

"I see," he said.

"You see what?" demanded s.h.i.+rley anxiously.

"The joke," replied young Wolfe drily.

s.h.i.+rley blushed, and hid her head in her hands.

"Have no fear," said the young man, "I shall say nothing about it. If you care to tell me why you masqueraded, I shall be honored, but I shall not press you for an explanation; and I will never mention it."

"Thank you," said s.h.i.+rley. "There is no reason why I cannot tell you, if you will promise to keep the secret."

"I promise," said he.

s.h.i.+rley then gave him an account of her adventures and their cause. When she finished, young Wolfe looked at her in undisguised admiration.

"By Jove!" he exclaimed. "You are plucky. And you are doing all this for the boy you call Jimmy Smith?"

"And my father too," said s.h.i.+rley.

"Yes," said Wolfe, "you are indeed a brave girl, and I am proud to know you."

The train was now whistling for Paris.

"You will, of course, ride out with us," said s.h.i.+rley.

"I shall be pleased," returned the young man, with a bow.

Mr. Willing met them as they stepped from the train.

Then he saw the young man. He looked at him long and earnestly, and then before either of the girls could speak, he said:

"Surely this is Leonard Wolfe?"

"I am," said the young man, smiling and extending his hand.

"I thought I could not be mistaken," said Mr. Willing. "You are your father all over again."

He turned to s.h.i.+rley.

"Mr. Wolfe," he said, "allow me to introduce you to my daughter." He turned to Mabel, "and--"

"We have already met, Daddy," laughed s.h.i.+rley. "Mr. Wolfe made himself known to us on the train."

"But how--" began Mr. Willing.

"Never mind now, Daddy," said s.h.i.+rley. "It's a long story."

"Well," muttered Mr. Willing to himself, "all right, but the young people now-a-days aren't like they were in my day."

Then he climbed into the large automobile and Frank started it.

CHAPTER XIV.-JIMMY DECIDES.

"Somebody's coming, Dad."

It was s.h.i.+rley who spoke. Mr. Willing looked up from his morning paper and turned his eyes toward the distant pike. Between the fields of tall hemp, a quarter of a mile away, a solitary horseman was approaching.

"Can't make him out from here," said Mr. Willing, shading his eyes. "I wonder who he is?"

"You'll know soon enough, Dad," laughed s.h.i.+rley. "What's the use of wondering?"

"Well, set out a box of cigars," said Mr. Willing, "and make a pitcher of lemonade. He'll be thirsty after his ride."

s.h.i.+rley went towards the pantry, and returned with the lemonade just as the rider dismounted. After a glance she started back in surprise.

"Jones," she exclaimed.

For the rider was indeed Mr. Jones, the man whom s.h.i.+rley had travelled to Cincinnati to see.

s.h.i.+rley ran around the house to where Mabel and young Wolfe were swinging in the hammock, in the shade of a giant elm.

"Jones is here," she cried breathlessly, "what shall we do?"

"There is nothing to worry about," said Wolfe. "He will try no foolishness here, I'm sure."

"It's not that I am afraid of," returned s.h.i.+rley, "but if he should talk to Jimmy he is likely to find out that he has been fooled."