Page:Betty Gordon in Washington.djvu/205

Rh they expect to be back about half-past seven to-night."

"All right, that excuses us," declared Bobby cheerfully, hardly waiting till the boy had left the room. "Come on, girls, we'll go to the movies. Betty, for mercy's sake, what are you staring at?"

Betty had risen and was peering through the velvet portières. She turned and put a finger to her lips, then drew Bobby close to her.

"Look out there in the corridor, over by the desk," she whispered. "See that man who is shouting at the clerk?"

"I hear him," admitted Bobby, screwing up her eyes and peeping through the curtains. "What do you suppose he is arguing about?"

"That," announced Betty, unintentionally dramatic, "is Joseph Peabody!"

The girls had heard about Joseph Peabody, a little from Betty, and more from Bob, who had spoken freely to their father. They knew about his miserly nature and they were acquainted with the fact that he believed Bob had stolen something that did not belong to him. The real story of the unrecorded deed both Bob and Betty had told only to Mr. Littell. It was characteristic of Bobby's loyal nature that her first thought should be for Betty.

"You don't suppose he is down here after you, do you?" she whispered, clutching Betty by the