otel, if the man in here will let us use his
'phone! Then your father will send somebody after us or do something.
Please try. I feel so queer with so many folks staring at us as if we'd
done something bad!"

By this time the hotel clerk had become more amiable. The name of Ford
had impressed him if it hadn't the hackman, and though he, too, was new
to the town he bade Leslie:

"Go ahead! Call him up, if there is such a man."

With a glance of angry contempt Leslie put the receiver to his ear and
rang up "Dad;" only to hang it up again in disgust, as the answer came
back: "Line's busy!"

CHAPTER II

A SPILL BY THE WAY

The "line" remained busy for so long that the loungers in the hotel
lobby grew amused at Leslie's impatience while the two girls became very
anxious.

"It was only an hour or so, Mr. Ford said, before Aunt Betty's train
would leave and I shall be too late to see her--to bid her good-by--and
it's for all summer--a whole long summer! I must go, I must find her, I
shall--I will!" cried poor Dorothy, her own words increasing her fear of
this calamity, and with a sudden burst of tears. For an instant she
tried to keep them back, then careless who might see her crying, darted
outward to the curbstone and to the hackman waiting there.

In so doing she collided with a gentleman entering, who staggered
backward from the impact, then quietly put his hands upon the girl's
shoulders, to steady her also.

"Beg pardon, little miss! and hello! What's wrong? Did I hurt you? Beg
pardon twice, in that case!"

The tone was kindly and to Dorothy it was a case of "any port in a
storm."

"No, no, sir, you didn't! But I'm--we're--in dreadful trouble. Do you
know--do you?--where that other hotel is, that Metropolitan?"

"Surely, I know. Why?"

"Is it far? Can I run there quick? The cabman--we haven't any money--it
was a mistake--and I must go, I must!"

Leslie laid a soothing hand on Dorothy's, which she had clasped
imploringly before the stranger, and told their story.

The effect was surprising. This gentleman was the proprietor of this
establishment and he well knew Mr. Ford, by reputation at least. With
one angry glance around the lobby and at the now obsequious clerk, he
wheeled about, strode to the cab, opened the door and lifted Dorothy
within. Then he as promptly settled Alfaretta beside her, himself took
the forward seat and motioned Leslie to follow. Then he ordered:

"Now, cabby, drive li