When Dorothy appeared, a moment later, with Miss Dillingham, Leicester offered the pen to the newcomer with such a businesslike air that there seemed really no further room to doubt the responsibility of the hotel management. Then he rang a bell, and in a moment Mr. Hickox appeared, and with the deferential demeanor of a porter picked up Miss Dillingham's suit-case and stick.
Then Dorothy escorted the lady-tramp to her room, and returned a few moments later, to find the other children waiting for an explanation.
"Where did you catch it?" asked Leicester.
"What is it?" inquired Lilian.
"It's only for one night," explained Dorothy, laughing; "but, Less, she wants to run the hotel! She thinks we aren't responsible!"
It really seemed inevitable, so Lilian started the Dorrance groan. The others took it up, with their usual enthusiasm, and though it was of late a forbidden indulgence, they let themselves go for once, and the result was an unearthly din that brought grandma to the scene at once.
"Children!" she exclaimed. "You know you promised not to do that!"
"I know, grandma," explained Fairy, "but truly, this is a specialty occasion. You don't know what's happened, and what she wants to do."
But before Mrs. Dorrance could learn what had happened, the newly-registered guest herself, came flying down the staircase.
"What is the matter?" she cried; "is the house on fire? Has anybody been killed?"