“Let’s go down this street and see what it runs into,” suggested Tessie.  “Hope it doesn’t flop off into a ditch.”

“I think we ought to ask someone,” put in Dagmar.

“Ask them what?” rudely demanded Tessie.

“Where we can go for the night?  Are you sure we can’t get a train?  We could sleep in the cars.”

“Oh, say, you want a Pullman, you do, the kind we see go by the factory with the coons all dolled up in dish towels,” she sneered, now seemingly set upon making things as unpleasant as possible for poor, little, frightened Dagmar.  But the latter was not altogether a coward, and the blustering tone of Tessie was not too deep to penetrate.  Dagmar pulled herself together and dropped the “telescope.”

“You may do as you please, Miss Wartliz,” she exclaimed.  “But I am not going to tramp these streets all night.  I don’t want to end up in a nice little rat-ridden police cell.  We don’t have rats over our way.”

“And I suppose we do.  Well, Miss Smarty, what do you propose to do?  Maybe you wouldn’t mind letting your friend in on the game!”

“You know, Tessie, I don’t mind slang, and I am not a goody-good, but I am nervous, and I think we would get along better if we both dropped that street stuff.  It gets on my nerves.”

“Oh, my sakes alive!  Gettin’ nerves!” and she dropped her voice into the deepest tones of contempt.  “I might-a known it.  You would be apt to have them with that face.  Well, kid, what do you want to do?  I don’t see no hospital for nerves out this way.”

“Tessie!  See that man!”

“Sure I do.  He’s a cop, too.  Stop your whimpering and trot along.  We’re goin’ to grandma’s,” and Tessie grabbed the arm of the trembling Dagmar as she started off with a determined step, indicating a particular objective being sought for.

But the officer of the law could distinguish runaway girls without a full confession from their painted lips.  And he promptly started after them.

“He’s followin’ us,” whispered Dagmar.

“As if I thought he was playin’ hop-scotch,” scoffed the tantalizing one.  “Keep movin’, we will give his legs a treat, even if he intends to beat us out.”

And they did walk very briskly indeed—­all the more reason why the officer should follow them!

“Makes me think of tryin’ to get away from a strange dog,” Tessie had the temerity to interject.  “The faster we ran the surer he is to keep snappin’.”

“He is sure to catch us,” Dagmar said.  “Why don’t you stop and ask him where we can go?”

“You poor simp.  Want him to tell you?” and she almost laughed outright.

“Wait—­a minute—­wait—­a minute!” came the summons.  “What’s your big hurry?”

They both stopped.  Each knew enough for that.  The man of the law, shaking that treacherous stick on its red cord, was now beside them.  He pushed his cap back to make sure nothing interfered with his gaze.  This he fixed scrutinizingly on the two girls.  Dagmar flinched, but Tessie smiled in a foolish attempt to gain his good will.