“I hear that you are going in for—­er—­Wall Street,” said Sid to Ed in rather a sarcastic voice.

“Oh, no.  Nothing like that.  No chance for a lamb like me in Wall Street.  It’s too much of a losing game.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” drawled Sid.  “A fellow might make good, and then do—­well, better.”

Ed glanced at Jack.  How did Sid know about Ed’s plan to take stock in the new bank?  That was a question that each youth flashed to the other.

There was something unpleasant in the manner of Sidney Wilcox.  All in the party seemed to feel it.  And as far as the girls were concerned, they noticed much of the same manner in Ida, though Jack and Ed were not quite so critical.  As for Walter, he did not seem to be giving Ida a thought.  But it is doubtful if she was so indifferent toward him.  Still, she would not look in his direction while Cora and her two chums were with him.

Corn walked slowly up the broad store steps; Bess and Belle following.

“I’m simply choked,” said Cora with a laugh.  “I never had such a thirsty run.”

Ida seemed very much interested in the distant landscape.

“The roads are awfully dry,” she murmured.

“And so am I,” added Elizabeth as she followed her sister and Cora into the store.  Walter and Jack trailed in after them, while Ed stayed for a moment outside with Ida and Sid.  The latter did not introduce Ed to Ida.  It was a habit Sid had, of never presenting his young men chums to his “girl,” unless he could not avoid it.  Ida, perhaps, knew this, and she strolled to the other end of the porch.

“How’d you make out in your exams?” asked Ed of Sid, for the latter attended college with Jack.  That is, he was in his study class, though not in the same grade socially.

“Oh, pretty fair.  I cut most of ’em.  I finish next year, and I don’t intend to get gray hairs over any exams now.”

“You cut ’em?” repeated Ed.

“Sure,” and Sid started toward his car, Ida following.  “So long.”

“Well, you’re not going away mad, are you?” asked Ed with a laugh, wondering the while over the identity of the striking-looking girl whom Sid so obviously refrained from introducing to him.

“Oh, not’s so’s you could notice it,” was Sid’s answer as he began to tuck the dust robe over Ida’s lap.

Then Sid cranked up his car, which he had named the Streak, though it didn’t always live up to the name, and soon he and the girl were out of sight around a turn in the road.

“Humph!” exclaimed Ed as he entered the store.  “I wonder where he heard about my plan to take—­bank stock?  I wish he didn’t know of it.  And I also wonder who that pretty girl was?” For Ida was pretty, in spite of her reddish hair and her rather jealous disposition, which was reflected in her face.

Ed shook his head.  He was puzzled over something.

CHAPTER IV