“Mother’s fine and she always asks if I see you.  Now I’ll have a report to make,” and he stared so at Tessie she felt uncomfortable.

“What are you looking at?” she asked, her tone of voice condoning the rudeness of her words.

“I’m just thinkin’ you look a lot like some one I’ve been asked to watch for.  Did you light in from Flosston the night you crawled on this Ark without botherin’ the gong or brakes?”

For a single second Tessie felt her fright would betray her.  Then recovering her poise, with the keen necessity so obvious, she laughed a merry laugh empty in ring, but full enough in volume.

“Flosston!” she repeated.  “Say, when I get enough money I’m going on an excursion there.  I’ve always had a feeling it must be the original rest cure.  But say, Frank, if you want to know more than I can tell you about my history, I have a little book with all the facts in, and even a few baby pictures, I’d like to show you.  I have a swell place living out down in Como (opposite direction to the Elmhurst address) and if you tell me what time you’re due here tomorrow I’ll fetch along my illustrated pedigree!”

“Say, Sis, do you think you’re funny, or is it some disease you’ve got?”

“No, really, Frank, I’m not fooling.  I have an album with my name and all that in it, and when I come out for an airing to-morrow I’ll just bring it along.”

How glad she was she had hidden the scout badge and the two unsold tickets!  The velvet bag rather heavy with silver, the proceeds of ticket sales, Tessie handled carefully to avoid jingling.

Here was real danger!  If Frank should decide she was the girl from Flosston—­runaway Tessie Wartliz!

“Well, all the same,” Frank added, turning on the gas after a slow-down for an old lady with a small boy and a large bundle, “I have some regard for a girl who wants to cut loose and make good.  Can’t see why a boy always gets away with it, and a girl is slammed behind the shutters if she happens to disagree with the opinions of the town council on the sort of toothbrush best for grown girls!  Now, Alma, I promised Jim Cosgrove I’d keep a lookout, and sure thing you do tally with his illustrated funny page he’s been handin’ out every trip I made since that stowaway ride.  I’m durned glad I didn’t mention the stowaway.  He’d be apt to tear the gears apart to make sure you’re not distributed in the lubricating oil.  He is sure set on findin’ the girl who gave him the slip.  Can’t stand a little thing like that against his golden record.”

Tessie determined to slip off the car at the next side street, and make a detour to hide the route she must take to return to the Osborne home.

“Well, so long, Frank.  Here’s where I detrain.  Maybe I’ll see you to-morrow.  Give my love to your mother, and I hope you find the runaway girl,” and she waved a merry good-bye that seemed to burn the tips of the fingers she shook it from.  Tessie was frightened, she was panic stricken!  The whole situation was becoming more and more dangerous!  She was using an assumed name, she had run away from home, she had deceived the girl scouts, had sold their tickets and—­oh, what would she do now if Frank should tell that officer!