TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS

“Say, Jack,” remarked Ed a few days later, when the two were sprawled beside a brook, with rod and reel, “I believe I’ll have to get better acquainted with the young folks out here.  Honestly, I feel wobbly when I get to talking to them.  I’ve been out of touch with them so long that I’m afraid I’ll ask after some dead and gone aunt or uncle, or for some brother that has been in trouble and isn’t spoken of any more in polite society.  For instance, who is Ida—­Ida Giles?  You know—­the girl who was with Sid?  He introduced me to her last night.”

“Oh, Ida—­why—­she’s—­just Ida.  That’s all.  But that’s a good idea of yours.  I was thinking myself that you ought to begin studying up the blue-book of Chelton society.  Now, as to Ida, the red-haired girl—­”

“Not really red,” corrected Ed slowly, “but that bright, carroty shade—­so deliciously like lobster a la—­”

“Oh, pardon me,” and Jack assumed an affected manner.  “Of course, Ida’s hair is not really red—­not merely—­carroty is the very word needed.  Well, she is the daughter of the Reverend Mrs. Giles.  Don’t you remember the woman who always scolded us for everything?  Wouldn’t let us even so much as take a turnip.  And she wore such pious-looking spectacles that we dubbed her Reverend Mrs. Giles.  Well, she still is Ida’s mother.”

“Then I don’t blame Ida a bit.  I’d be Ida myself if I was brought up as she’s been, though I suppose her mother means all right.  It’s curious what queer manners some people have.  But I dare say we all have our own faults.”

“And, with all of them, I hope the girls love us still—­even Ida,” added Jack quickly.

“Now, those others—­the beautiful Robinson twins,” pursued Ed.

“Oh, yes.  Well, Bess and Belle are certainly the real thing in girls—­right up to the minute.  Besides, they have an immensely rich papa.  You’ve heard of him—­Perry Robinson, the railroad king?”

“Oh, yes.  And their mother, if one may be permitted to ask?”

“Certainly, fair sir—­Their mother is a wonderfully handsome woman, in a statuesque sort of way.  Very dignified, and all that.  Now, the twins are worth while.”

“Exactly so,” answered Ed.  “Now I think—­”

He stopped suddenly, and quickly jerked up his rod, but not quite speedily enough, for he had the pleasure of seeing a fish slip wrigglingly off the hook.

“Biggest one to-day,” he murmured as he adjusted some fresh bait.  “Now, as to the Robinson twins.  The only fault I have to find with them, from my limited acquaintance, is that they are not evenly divided.  Bess is—­er—­well, not to be too delicate about it—­too fat—­”

“No, no, I beg of you!” exclaimed Jack.  “Don’t use that word.  Say too much adiposed.”

“Sounds like indisposed,” murmured Ed; “but let it go at that.  Bess is too much adiposed, and Belle—­”

“Well?”