“Well, this is a smallish lake, not far from Poland Spring. And it’s a big hotel, and it’s to close tomorrow, and all the guests will leave then. And I’ve got to go up there and look after it.”
“How did you happen to acquire this white elephant?” asked Fred Fairfield, greatly interested.
“Had to take it for a debt. Man couldn’t pay,—lost his money in war stocks.—I’ll tell you all about it while Patty’s getting her bag packed.”
“What do you mean?” cried Nan, seeing Farnsworth’s apparent sincerity.
“Oh, Lord, I forgot I haven’t told you yet! Well, as I have to go up there for a week or two, and as the hotel is all in running order, and as all the guests are going off in a hurry, and the servants are still there, I thought it would be fun to have a sort of a house party up there—”
“Gorgeous!” cried Patty, clapping her hands, “Who’s going, Bill?”
“That’s the rub! I haven’t asked anybody yet, and I doubt if I can get many at this time of year.”
“Haven’t asked anybody! I thought you had planned this house party!”
“Well, you see, I just got the telegram last night, and it was on the train coming up here this morning that I planned it—so the plans aren’t—aren’t entirely completed as yet.”
“Oh, you fraud! You made it all up on the spur of the moment——”