Part 28 (2/2)

”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. ”Gos.h.!.+ 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!”

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