Mrs. Marley laughed and said she was thankful she didn’t have to tramp through a snowstorm to reach the meeting.
“Isn’t it lovely to have this room?” said Polly to Artie, when, a little later, they went upstairs to the warm, well-lighted, pretty clubroom. Artie had borrowed the key from Ward, because they wanted to make sure the heat was turned on before the guests arrived.
“Think how it would be out in the barn on a night like this,” remarked Artie, breathing on the window panes so that he could see out. “Gee, Polly, it’s snowing yet.”
A stamping and scuffling on the porch announced that the members and guests of the Riddle Club had arrived. The Williamsons, of course, had come from no further away than the next house and the Larues from across the street, but they were covered with the snow. They took off their coats and shook them on the porch, and even then, when Mr. Williamson took off his hat inside the house, a powdery shower of white fell to the rug.
Polly glanced at her mother as though to remind her of something.
“You’ll want to have a business meeting before we come upstairs,” said Mrs. Marley, pleasantly. “So run on up, children, and when you are ready for us, let Artie call.”
Polly led the way up to the clubroom and called the meeting to order promptly.
“This is to be a short business meeting,” she said gravely. “We have no unfinished business to consider and so there is only one thing to do.”
“What’s that?” asked the unsuspecting Fred.
“Collect the dues,” said Polly, holding out a new copper bank to the club treasurer.