The same thought “wave” must have surged into the stranger’s brain, for he said: 

“My name is Foster—­Edward Foster,” and he raised his wet cap.  “I was just trying to kill time by fishing, but it was a cruelty to time.  I don’t believe a fish ever saw this pond.”

“Mr. Foster, my name is—­er—­Kimball—­Cora, Kimball,” said the owner of the auto, imitating the young man’s masculine style of introduction, “and these are my friends, the Misses Robinson.”

The young man bowed twice, once for each of the twins.  Mr. Foster had a most attractive manner—­that was instantly decided by the three girls.

“I know your brother,” he remarked to Cora.  “Jack Kimball, of Exmouth College.”

“Oh, yes, of course.  I’ve heard Jack speak of you, I’m sure.”

“Yes, he was on our team—­”

“Oh, you are the great football player,” interrupted Elizabeth.  She made no secret of her admiration for “great football players.”

“Not exactly great,” answered Mr. Foster, “but I have played some.  My interest in sports has rather kept me away from society.  That accounts for me not being better acquainted in Chelton, or perhaps—­”

“Hello there!” came a hail from the road.

“Jack and Walter!” exclaimed Cora, as at that moment another machine came along and drew up alongside the fence which separated the highway from the meadow.  “Now, won’t they laugh at us!”

“Well, I declare!” exclaimed the mud-bespattered young fellow.  “If that isn’t Jack!  And Walter Pennington is with him!”

“What’s up?” called Jack, leaping from the car and running across the meadow, after a quick climb over the fence.

“A great deal is up,” said Cora.

“Well—­Ed Foster!  Where in the world did you come from?” Jack added as he saw the young man about to alight from Cora’s car.

“From the ditch,” was Ed’s laughing answer, as he looked down at his splattered garments.  “I just got but in time to—­”

“Never mind—­shake!” interrupted Jack, extending his hand.  “When I was a youngster, and our big Newfoundland dog came out With the stick from the pond—­”

“Now! now!” cautioned Ed.  “I may be big, and I may have just crawled from the pond, but I deny the stick.”

“I’m sure we would have been here forever if Mr. Foster hadn’t—­” began Cora.

“Been here first,” interrupted Jack.  “That’s all very well, sis.  But I told you so!  A brand-new, spick-and-span car like this!  And to run it into a muddy ditch!”

“Indeed!” exclaimed Elizabeth.  “We were almost killed!  Cora just saved our lives!”

“Mercy me!” cried Walter, who had left the car and joined Jack.  “Now, Cora,” he added mockingly, “when you start out to save lives, why don’t you give a fellow the tip?  There’s nothing I do so love as to see lives saved—­especially nice young ladies,” and he made a low bow.

“Oh, you may laugh,” said Cora somewhat indignantly, “but I don’t want anything like it to happen again.  The brake would not work, and—­”