Alice was
more in the habit of taking "cross-cuts."
"Don't be silly!" exclaimed the younger girl. "We've just got to get
out of here and warn Russ before those men have a chance to take his
patent. You heard what they said about doing it to-night!"
"Well, I suppose we must," assented Ruth, with a sigh. "But it seems
a shame to waste all that good food."
"It won't be wasted. We can tell them to give it to some poor
person."
"Oh, Alice! You are so--so queer."
"I'd be worse than queer if I sat here and ate while Russ was being
robbed of his patent. I should think you'd want to help him. I
thought you and he----"
"Alice!" warned Ruth, with a sudden assumption of dignity. But she
blushed prettily.
"Oh, you know what I mean. Come on. Don't sit there talking any
longer, and raising objections. We've got to hurry."
"Yes, I suppose so. Oh, Alice, I hope nothing happens!"
"So do I."
"I mean to us."
"And I mean to Russ. A distinction without a difference."
The two girls drew on their gloves and left the restaurant. As Ruth
had expected, the cashier at the desk looked at them curiously as
they paid for the meal they had not eaten.
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