E-text prepared by Roger Frank
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
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MARJORIE DEAN POST-GRADUATE
CHAPTER I.—ON THE SANDS
“It’s too perfect a night to stay on shore, girls andboys. Let’s go for a moonlight cruise in theOriole!” Hal Macy sprang up from the white sandswhere he had been devotedly lounging at MarjorieDean’s feet and held out his hands to her.
“Oh, glorious!” Marjorie gaily accepted the profferedhands. She laughed, with the sheer pleasureof youth, as Hal swung her to her feet. “My, whata strong person you are, Hal Macy!” she lightlycommented as she freed her hands from Hal’s lingeringclasp.
“Glad you think so,” emphasized Hal. He couldnot help wishing Marjorie were not quite somatter-of-fact.
“I don’t think so,” promptly disagreed DannySeabrooke. “Macy is a weakling; a mere musclelessinfant compared to me.”
“Oh, see here, Danny Seabrooke, you’ll have to eatthat. Think I’ll stand for any such talk? Eat itnow, or else prove it,” challenged Hal.
“I can prove it,” Danny waved confidently. “Justwatch me lift Geraldine from the shifting sands.”
“Yes, just watch him,” drawled Lawrence Armitage.He took up a guitar, temporarily idle on thesands, and began to strum it lightly. His deep blueeyes rested mirthfully on Danny and Jerry.
“Wait a second,” Danny elaborately braced hisfeet in the sand. “Now, ready! Heave, heave,ho!”
Jerry suddenly let go of his hands and droppedback on the beach. “No, thank you.” She pretendeddispleasure. “I don’t care for your wonderfulassistance.” She directed a scornful glance ather would-be helper.
“You did that on purpose,” accused Danny. “Youare a cruel, cruel girl. Suppose I had lost my balanceand dug my nose into the sand?”
“Sorry you didn’t,” was the unfeeling reply.
“Squabbling again,” Laurie reached out a helpinghand to Jerry and drew her to her feet. Dannylooked sadly on.
“Please forgive me and continue to regard me asyour friend. That’s all I ask of you,” he pleadedwith stony Jerry.
“You talk like a popular song,” she criticized.She broke into smiles when he knelt on the sand beforeher and contritely offered her his hand.
“Was that a compliment?” Dan