Several members of the company had been looking from the car window, and the arrival of Frank had been witnessed. They gave a shout as he entered the car, and all were on their feet.
“Welcome!” cried Douglas Dunton, dramatically—“welcome, most noble one! Methinks thou couldst not do it better in a play. It was great stuff—flying cab, foaming horses, moving train, and all that. Make a note of it.”
“I believe he did it on purpose,” declared Agnes Kirk, speaking to Vance, with whom she had taken a seat.
“Very likely,” admitted Lester. “Wanted to do something to attract attention.”
“I think it was mean! He fooled us.”
But several members of the company shook hands with Frank, and congratulated him.
“I told you he would not get left,” said Havener, with triumph.
At the rear end of the car was a veiled woman, who seemed to sink down behind those in front of her, as if she sought to avoid detection. Somehow, although her face could not be seen, there was in her appearance something that betokened disappointment and chagrin.
Of course Frank was pressed for explanations, but he told them that business had detained him. He did not say what kind of business.
At length, however, with Hodge, Havener and Gallup for listeners, all seated on two facing seats, he told the story of his adventure with the veiled woman, and his arrest, which ended in a discharge that barely permitted him to leap into a cab, race to the hotel, get his grip, pay his bill, and dash to the station in time to catch the train.