"She's found it under the seat in the old market wagon," he blurted.
"I recollect I put it there for safe-keeping, meaning to take it over
to the deposit box the next day. Well, I've wasted more time an'
money in Washington than I like to think of. Got to go home and make
up for it."
Without another word or glance, without the shadow of an apology to
Bob, he swung out of the room and strode over to the desk. In a
moment they heard his harsh voice demanding the amount of his bill.
Bob looked at Betty, who stared back. Louise and Bobby were equally
silent. Then Betty snickered, and the tension was broken. Peal after
peal of laughter rang out, and they dropped helplessly into chairs
and laughed till they could laugh no longer.
"Oh, dear!" Betty sat up, wiping her eyes. "Did you ever see
anything like that? He never said good-by, or admitted that he'd made
a mistake, or--or anything! What do you suppose people in the hotel
must think of him?"
That reminded Bobby of the girl they had come to see and who was
really responsible for their visit to the hotel.
"The first kind thing Ruth Royal ever did for me," she declared
frankly. "I wouldn't have missed seeing Mr. Peabody for worlds.
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