Page:Betty Gordon in Washington.djvu/102

92 the experiment, and they're burnt as red as the bricks from working outdoors all day."

"Uncle Dick does love to be outdoors," murmured Betty.

"He sure does," agreed Bobby. "Well, nothing would do yesterday but that he must climb up on the roof of one they've just started and take a peek at the chimney. I guess it needed looking after, for the whole thing tumbled over on him, coming down full-weight on his right foot. Forcet, the foreman, had an awful time getting him down from the roof, and instead of telephoning for the car, some nervous person sent for the ambulance and scared us all into fits."

Betty blinked again. No mention of building houses had been made in Uncle Dick's letters to her.

"Did he get my telegram?" she asked, leaning forward to look at a monument they were passing.

"A little before noon," replied Bobby. "Louise and Esther and I had such a violent argument as to which of us should come to meet you that we didn't even dare draw lots; it seemed safer for us all to come along."

Esther, who sat opposite Betty, had noticed her interest in the Washington Monument.

"We're going to take you sightseeing to-morrow," she promised. "Aren't we, Bobby? And I