We had reached the hotel by this time, 86 and with a wild “ki yi” Ptolemy dashed for the shore, dragging the delighted Diogenes with him.
“It’s only fair to Huldah to take one more off her hands,” Silvia said apologetically.
“Them Three is what bothers me,” I complained. “If they, too, follow after, Heaven help them! I won’t.”
“It’s a good arrangement all around,” declared Rob. “I judge it takes a Polydore to understand his ilk, so the kids can pair off together. Miss Wade will be company for you, while Lucien and I go fishing.”
He looked keenly at Beth as he spoke, but Beth was looking demurely down and made no sign of having heard him.
Silvia and I went with Beth to her room, and then she told her story.
“Knowing Lucien’s failing, I was not surprised at receiving no response to my 87 letter. When I got out of the cab in front of your house, a wild-looking boy, very bas-relief as to eyes, and who I felt sure must be Ptolemy of the Polydores, appeared. As soon as he saw me he gave utterance to a blood-curdling yell of––‘Here she is!’
“In response to his call three of his understudies came on with headlong greeting.
“‘You are Beth, aren’t you?’ Ptolemy asked me. Then he drew me aside and in mysterious whispers told me where you were and that you had written me to join you here. He added that stepdaddy never remembered to mail letters. I went within and interviewed Huldah who confirmed his information.
“Presently I saw a taxi stop before the house.