Part 8 (1/2)
”Sure,” replied Teddy
”You won't be so anxious after you have had a week or so of them”
All hands started for the hotel
”What about your reports? I thought Mr Snowden told you to get them in at once,” asked Phil after they had left the car
”Let hirowled Billy
”But he will raise a rohen you get back, will he not?”
”He'll roar anyway, so what's the odds? We're used to that”
”A queer business, this advance car work,” said Phil thoughtfully ”I never had any idea that it was like this If ever I own or run a shoill be different--I mean the advance cars will be run on a different principle fro for you,” grinned Conley
”Here we are”
Billy's description of a contract hotel Phil decided had not been overdrawn All hands filed into the dining roo his chair
A waiter who looked as if he hter at one time shambled up to them with a soiled napkin thrown over one arm As it chanced, he approached Teddy first
”Bean soup! What'll you have,” he demanded with a suddenness that startled the Circus Boy
Teddy surveyed the waiter with large eyes, then peraze to wander about the table to the faces of the grinning billposters
”Bean soup What'll I have?” reflected the lad soberly
”Now isn't it funny that I can't think what kind of soup I want Bean soup; what'll I have?”
The waiter shi+fted his weight to the other foot, flopped the napkin to the other arerently
”Bean soup! What'll you have?” he de inflection in his voice
”Let uess I'll take bean soup if it's all the same to you,” decided Tucker, solemn as an owl
The billposters broke out into a roar of laughter They fairly hoith delight at Teddy's droll manner, but the Circus Boy did not even smile He looked at them with a hurt expression in his eyes until theto hi Tucker
The rest of the meal passed off without incident
”Well, what did you think of the contract hotel?” questioned Conley, as they were strolling back to the car
”I think I shall starve to death in a week, if I have to eat in that sort of a place,” answered Teddy ”Why didn't the contracting agent sign us up with a livery stable? I'd a sight rather feed there than at a contract hotel if they are all like this”
”Yes, the food is at least clean in a livery stable,”
laughed Phil ”But we shall get along all right If we get too hungry we can go out and buy our own meals now and then
Do you ever do that, Mr Conley?”