While waiting on the dock Dick had noticed three girls standing
near them. They were evidently from the rural district, but
pretty and well dressed. The boys took seats near the bow of the
boat, on the upper deck, and presently the girls sat down not far
away.
"He was awfully bold, Clara; I want nothing to do with him," Dick
heard the prettiest of the girls say. "He had no right to speak
to us."
"He had dropped his handkerchief, and he pretended I was stepping
on it," said another of the three. "Oh, here he comes now!" she
went on as a youth of seventeen came into view. He was large and
bold-looking, and it was easy to see that there was a good deal of
the bully about him. He was smoking a cigarette, but on seeing
the girls he threw the paper roll away.
"How do you do again?" he said, as he came up and tipped his hat.
At this all of the girls looked angry, and not one returned his
salutation. But, undaunted by this, the newcomer caught up a camp
stool and planked himself down almost directly between the
prettiest of the three and her companions.
"Splendid day for the trip," he went on.
"Won't you have some confectionery?" and he hauled from his pocket
a box of cream chocolates and held them out.
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