"I thought it was somebody like Mr. Williamson," said Mattie Helms. "But of course I couldn't be sure."
Fred chuckled, for he had seen Mattie's face when his father removed the beard. If there was ever a surprised girl, Mattie had been surprised.
"You're mistaken, Carrie," said Mr. Williamson pleasantly. "No one knew I was going to play a trick like this—least of all myself. But the temptation to try and fool you all was too much; I couldn't resist it. I went up to the house and got into these duds and raked out the beard from Mrs. Meeker's attic. I think it must be a Hallowe'en trophy."
Carrie's face was red. She would have given anything to have acted differently.
"By the way, Ella, I'll return this to you now. I don't need it, but thank you for the kind little thought," said Mr. Williamson, handing Ella a folded bill he took from the pocket of his coat.
It was Ella's turn to blush, and she did vividly.
"I didn't think you saw me," she said diffidently, putting the five dollars back in her purse.
"I knew I was right," Fred said to himself, and when they covered the fire and made ready to go home, he was the one to suggest that they all walk to the hotel with Ella.
Ordinarily Fred troubled himself very little about social duties, and he had been known to go to some trouble to avoid them.