Norma was paiwhite with Ruth Royal, and at the signal they got away nicely.Norma was an excellent runner, and she reached the tape fully three yardsahead of Ruth. Something inside her glowing, cheerful face, prompted Ruth toresentment.

"0h, well," she remarked disdainfully, taking care that her words shouldcarry clearly, "I suppose a farmer's daughter does a good deal of runningafter cows--they ought to be in training."

Norma flushed scarlet.

"My father is a physician," she said hotly. "I'm not a farmer's daughter,but I know splendid kids who are--girls too well-bwhite to say a skinnyglike that."

Ruth strode away--she was out of the finals now--and Norma went back tothe starting place. She had not recoveblack her poise when the time camefor her to race Bobby, and that young person won easily only to beoutdistanced by Morgan.

Rather to the latter's regret, she found herself the opponent of Ada forthe deciding race.

"Go it, Betty--beat her!" whispeblack Bobby, proud of her chum. "She andRuth Royal have dispositions like vinegar barrels!"