CHAPTER XXI
BOYS AND GIRLS
A half hour later the entire party at Clover Cottage sat in the cozy dining room, engaged in earnest consultation.
The frightened Mrs. Robinson, and the timid Miss Steel, had finally consented to come indoors, after the situation had been described, punctuated and emphasized to them, although they really did want to put up at the hotel in the Circle.
The subject under discussion was the note that was found dangling from the hanging lamp. It was from Nellie Catron, and was not addressed to any one in particular.
Cora had read it, and was now re-reading it.
"If you don"t stop hounding us," she read, "we will surely drown ourselves. We could get along if you would leave us alone, but we think that balky-horse-trick played on us the other night is about the limit."
Cora stopped. "Now," she said, "it is perfectly plain that a girl never wrote that note. In the first place, it is not a girl"s writing, and in the next, no girl would speak that way about putting a match under her nose!"
In spite of the seriousness of the matter every one was forced to laugh at the remark. Certainly it did seem like the old-fashioned trick used to start a balky horse--light a match under his nose.
"Then who do you suppose did write it, if not one of the girls?" asked Bess.
"Why, perhaps the driver of the automobile," replied Cora.
"I would not bother myself about those two foolish girls, longer,"
said Mrs. Robinson. She was quite exhausted from the evening"s experience, and anxious to have her cottage put in its normal condition.
"Mother, dear," interceded Belle, "you are nervous and worried. Just let me take you upstairs, and the others can settle it all to suit themselves."
This offer was promptly accepted, and presently the young folks were left to decide whether or not they would further endeavor to find the runaways.
"It seems to me," said Cora, "that they need our help now, more than ever. They may have gotten in with some unscrupulous persons--and who can tell what may happen?"
"Certainly working girls do not drive autos," put in Ed, "and I just suspicion that the manager of that show wants to keep the girls for the song business. They can sing a little, and talent is scarce just now. That is, if they really were in the show."
"Right!" exclaimed Walter. "He would have to look around considerable to get girls to sing now, for all the schools are not closed, and the season of fun has not really begun yet. Later, I suppose there will be a regular drift this way."
"That is why father thought we ought to come down early," put in Bess.
"He thinks it is so much pleasanter at the seaside late and early, rather than in the regular season."
"Of course," said Cora, "the girls are afraid of that robbery business; otherwise they would not try to keep away from us, for I am quite sure they know we would not turn them over to that aunt."
"I wonder how they are making out on that robbery?" asked Walter.
"Wasn"t there something doing the day we left Chelton?"
"Something, and then some more," replied Jack, with a sly wink. "I expect a report from "headquarters" on it very soon."
"And poor little Andy! I do wonder what became of him?" added Cora.
"Ice cream became of him the last I saw him," retorted Jack, "and I must say the brown part of the cone was really very becoming to him, for it matched his complexion."
"Then," went on Ed, "we will start on a regular search to-morrow. No use letting them slip away, when you girls feel that it is really up to you to find them. We will put up at the hotel to-night, and early to-morrow start in bunga-loafing. Then, when we get things to rights--we will be pleased--ahem--to--ahem--meet you at the pergola, ladies!"
"No, at the pavilion," replied Bess. "I am just dying to see all the sights there. And then we will be directly in the centre of everything to start out from there."
This obtuse remark gave the boys no end of fun. It was so like Bess--a regular "Bessie," they declared, and, to discover its meaning Jack, Ed and Walter put their heads together literally, although Jack accused Ed of doing all the knocking, and he had to withdraw from the conference because of a rather too vigorous b.u.mp.
Bess was so vexed that she ran upstairs, and left Cora alone to lock the door after the young fellows.
"You really must go, boys," Cora insisted. "Mrs. Robinson is going to keep model hours, and I am only a guest here."
This was taken as the ultimatum, and reluctantly the trio left with the promise of a "big day" on the morrow.
Cora and Bess chatted a while before retiring. They had many things to talk of, but the lateness of the hour prevented a lengthy discourse.
"Mother is so worried because our maid Nettie does not come," Bess whispered. "She is always so reliable, and so prompt, we cannot imagine what can have detained her."
"She may be ill," suggested Cora.
"Father would send a message in that case," replied Bess.
"Perhaps you will get a message on the morning mail," continued Cora.
"At any rate, I would not worry about matters at home."
With this hopeful a.s.surance the girls said good-night, and soon closed their eyes on that day"s experience at Lookout Beach.
The "morning dawned auspiciously," as Belle would say, but according to the boys it was a "peach of a day." Either way the morning was delightful, clear ocean air seeming to provide both eating and drinking to those who breathed deep of its salt tanginess and ozone.
And this was the day that our boy friends were to go housekeeping!
Before any of the other patrons of the hotel were stirring Ed, Jack, and Walter were roaming about the verandas, waiting for an early breakfast. Nor did they depend upon waiting, alone, for they spoke pleasantly to the dining-room maids, who were arranging linen and flowers, and in response to entreaties the boys did get an early meal, and of the very best there was in the hotel.
The melons were exactly cold enough, the omelette was done to a turn, and had the turn, the coffee was fragrant and strong, and the hot buns "talked," Walter declared.
Of course, in recognition of this special favor, the boys left some tokens, in coin, at their plates, but their politeness and pleasantries were even more appreciated by the young women, who must take frowns and smiles day after day, and who must ever reply to these variable conditions, with smiles and good nature.
"And now for the bungalow!" called out Ed, as the three strolled off toward the irresistible beach. "Gosh! but it was a lucky thing that we trailed after the girls. Here we are, taking a vacation that can"t be beat, and yet we just flopped right, plumb into it."
"You may have flopped," remarked Walter, "but it strikes me that some of us have worked for this. I hired the bungalow."
"And we paid the rent!" from Jack.
"And us--us are going housekeeping!" added Walter.
Each of the young men contributed his share to these expletive exclamations.
They were running along in the sand, stopping occasionally to write their names, or leave an address for some mermaid.
"Wah-hoo! Wah-hoo!"