“Where are you two trottin’ off to all alone?” he asked finally.

“We’re goin’ to grandma’s,” said Tessie, so ridiculously that she almost burst out laughing.  She had no idea the answer would sound so silly.

“Oh! you be,” he returned, his voice thick with irony.  “Is the old lady expectin’ you?”

“Well, we didn’t say we would be there tonight,” Tessie had the audacity to reply.

“No, I thought not,” and he twirled that formidable stick almost into Dagmar’s scared face.  “Well, shall we send her word?”

“Oh, we can find our way,” put in Tessie again, attempting to start off.

“Maybe so.  But here in Franklin we have a curfew law, and we don’t allow little girls out alone so late.”

“No?” sneered Tessie.  “Lovely town.  We expect to take the rest cure here.”

“Now, my young lady,” in severe tones, “I’ll show you where we give that self same cure.  Come—­along—­with—­me!”

Quick as a wink Tessie grabbed her bag, and started to run.  The officer was so surprised he required a moment to realize she was running away.  When he did he sounded his whistle.

And there stood Dagmar, alone, and as the “movies” say, “Forsaken!”

“Oh, Tessie,” she called weakly.  “Come back.  You have my pocketbook!”

But the fleeing girl did not stop to listen to Dagmar’s cry or to the shrill whistle the officer again sent out into the night.  She was making tracks so successfully, the minion of the law knew very well his whistle would never summon help—­the only other officer in town being “out of town” to his personal knowledge.  So Tessie went, and with her Dagmar’s pocketbook and the Girl Scout Badge!

CHAPTER V

A FRIENDLY ENEMY

“Now, don’t you worry, little girl.  You are not like that one running away.  I can see that by your manner,” said the officer kindly, as Dagmar pressed her handkerchief to her wet eyes.  “I don’t have to take you to the calaboose, unless I set fit, and I don’t.”

He touched her arm kindly.  Jim Cosgrove hated to see anyone cry, and his kind heart never seemed to interfere with the fulfillment of his duty.  When he was kind he had reason to be, and never yet had the higher officials questioned his wisdom.

“Oh, thank you,” said Dagmar, when she could find the words.  “We haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Well, it isn’t exactly right for young girls to run away from home, and I don’t have to wait for all the particulars to decide that is what you are both aiming to do.  However, let us go along.  My wife doesn’t mind takin’ a girl in now and then, to save her name from the records.”

Dagmar breathed easier.  She might even find a place to sleep!  Why hadn’t Tessie waited?

In spite of the rather unpleasant situation, there was comfort in the thought she would not have to go to some dreadful hotel, or boarding house, and perhaps undergo all the hardships dealt out to runaways in the “pictures.”  So Dagmar walked along with the officer, unmindful of the sharp looks of the few passersby who happened to be out in that section of the rather quiet town.