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went around putting something else in some of
the glasses.

Betty gave a questioning look toward Jack,
who turned to her at that moment. "That won't
hurt you, Betty," said he. But he pulled some-
thing from his pocket and laughingly, teasingly,
poured some sort of liquid into the glass of his
cousin.

"Any good, Jack?" asked she.

"The best my bootlegger can get," laughed he
in return.

Betty felt sick at the thought. Perhaps he
was only joking. He must be. But other boys
were doing the same thing, adding something
from odd bottles around the table. There were
scarcely any boys and girls that she had known
in school, though she had met some of them at
Lucia's. Perhaps it was a good thing that Lucia
had not been able to come. Mathilde, Betty
saw, was enjoying herself thoroughly and did
not refuse any of the liquor. Jack turning away
from his cousin again, told Betty that she was
just a "little prude, but a very sweet one,"
"You'll get over it, Betty. Try a little, just to
please me."

"I'm sorry, Jack, but I can't," said Betty.
"I'm wishing you just as many happy returns,
you know."


 [[208]]