Part 41 (1/2)

”I guess it will be a good job done if we part company with the Walthams,” remarked d.i.c.k, after the subject had been discussed for some time. ”He is not of our cla.s.s, even if he has money.”

”I feel rather sorry for his sister,” added Dora. ”Although once in a while she shows the same haughtiness of manner that Chester displays.

It's too bad, too, for they might be really nice company.”

With so much excitement going on, it was small wonder that the Rover party did not come downstairs that morning until quite late. Sam was the first to show himself, he being anxious to know how Grace had fared.

”Here is a letter for your brother, Mr. Rover,” said the clerk at the desk, when Sam approached him. ”It was left here by that Mr. Waltham.”

”Hand it over,” returned the youth, and then added: ”Did Mr. Waltham bring his wrecked runabout to the garage here?”

”No, sir, he just came here, got his sister, paid his bill, and went off.”

”Oh, I see.” Sam could not help but show his surprise. ”I'll take this letter to my brother,” he added, and hurried off.

The communication was a short one, yet the Rovers and the others read it with interest. In it Chester Waltham said that in consideration of the way he had been treated by some members of the party he considered it advisable for his sister and himself to continue their tour separately.

He added that he trusted Miss Laning did not feel any ill effects because of the breakdown on the road.

”And just to think that Ada went off without saying good-bye!” cried Grace, when she saw the letter. ”I didn't think she would be quite so mean as that.”

”Probably she took her brother's part. She usually did,” returned her sister. ”Well, I think we are well rid of them.”

”So do I,” put in Tom. ”Personally I don't care if we never see them again.”

”He said he was going to put a spoke in our wheel,” mused Sam. ”I wonder if he'll dare to do anything to harm us?”

”Oh, it's likely he was talking through his hat,” returned d.i.c.k; but for once the oldest Rover was mistaken.

Now that our friends were by themselves there seemed to be a general air of relief. The only one of the party who was rather quiet was Grace, but Sam did everything he could to make it pleasant for her, and before nightfall she was as jolly as ever.

The run during that day was through a particularly beautiful section of the country, and about one o'clock they stopped in a grove and partook of a lunch which had been put up for them at the Larkinburg hotel. Then they moved forward once again, with d.i.c.k and Tom at the steering wheels of the cars.

”Still seventy-three miles to go if we want to make Etoria to-day,”

announced d.i.c.k, after consulting the guide book. ”I'm afraid that will be quite a ride for you ladies,” he added, turning to Mrs. Stanhope and Mrs. Laning.

”Oh, yes, let us go on to Etoria by all means,” pleaded Sam.

”Any particular reason for going to that city?” asked Tom, quickly.

”Yes, I've got a reason, but I'm not going to tell you,” returned his younger brother. And then, as both d.i.c.k and Tom looked at him questioningly, he blushed and turned away.

”Oh, go ahead. I think I can stand it,” said Mrs. Stanhope, with a smile.

”I am getting used to traveling,” declared Mrs. Laning. ”It's much more comfortable than I at first supposed it would be.”

Nightfall found them still ten miles from Etoria and d.i.c.k asked the others if they wished to stop anywhere along the way for supper. All declared, however, that they would rather keep on until the city was reached.

”They tell me that they have got a dandy hotel there--something new,”

said Sam. ”We ought to get first-cla.s.s accommodations there.”