l right," answered the young girl at the desk. "We often give
what is left over to charity, and I'm sure the food on your table
won't come amiss. If you like I'll speak to the manager, and see if
he'll give you a rebate----"

"No, we haven't time for that--too much of a hurry," answered Alice.
"Come along, Ruth."

They hurried outside, and Alice glanced quickly up and down the
street for a glimpse of the two men. They were not in sight.

"I wish we were rich!" suddenly exclaimed Alice, as she took her
sister's arm, and hurried in the direction of the elevated that would
take them home.

"Why?" asked Ruth.

"Because then we could afford to take a taxicab. We ought to warn
Russ as soon as possible. How much money have you, Ruth?"

"Not enough for a taxicab, I'm afraid." She hastily counted it over.
Alice did the same.

"No," decided the younger girl, with a sigh. "I guess we'd better
not. At least--not yet. We may have to--later."

"What do you mean?" asked Ruth.

"I mean we can't tell what will happen before we are able to tell
Russ. He's hardly likely to be at home now, and we may have to
search for him."

"But we can go home and tell his mother and Billy. One of them could
find him, and warn him. Billy knows New York even better than we do."

"Yes, I suppose so. Well, we'll go to the apartment and see what
happens there."

But at the Fenmore the girls had their first disappointment, for none
of the Dalwoods was at home. Nor did any of the neighbors know where
they had gone. For persons in New York, even in the same apartment
house, are not very likely to become acquainted with one another, and
often families may live in adjoining flats for a long time, without
passing beyond the bowing stage. As for keeping track of the comings
and goings of their neighbors, it is never thought of, unless
something out of the ordinary occurs.

Echoes only answered the knocking of Ruth and Alice, and the two
girls faced each other in the hallway with anxious looks on their
faces.

"What shall we do?" asked Ruth. "None of them is home. How can we
warn Russ?"

"I don't know. I've got to think!" exclaimed Alice. "Come in our
place and let's sit down a minute. We can make a cup of tea. I was so
hungry, and to leave that nice little meal--well, we just had to do
it, that's all."

Tea was soon in process of making, and while the girls set out some
cakes and a jar of jam for a hasty meal they did some rapid thinking.