“Gentleman here to see you,” remarked the hotel clerk when they went up to the desk to get the keys to their adjoining rooms. “He’s in the reading-room now, I think. Said he’d wait a little while for you.”
“Who is he?” asked Ned eagerly.
“He didn’t leave his name. Front!” he called to one of the bell boys, “tell that gentleman with the tall hat, in the reading-room, that the young gentlemen he was asking for have come in now.”
“Yes, sir!” exclaimed the lad whose coat was a mass of buttons.
“We’ll go in the reading-room, and talk to him,” suggested Jerry, wondering who their visitor could be. As the three lads entered the apartment they saw a familiar figure at the far end.
“Mr. Montrose!” exclaimed Ned, as he recognized the father of little Gladys, whom they had rescued from the wreck.
“Oh, boys! I’m glad to see you!” cried Mr. Montrose. “I’ve been inquiring at half the hotels in Denver for you. I came on with my wife a while ago. She is much better, and as soon as I got home with her she insisted that I look you up. Gladys wants to see you also, and, as I forgot in the excitement to ask what hotel you were going to stop at, though I heard you say you were coming to this city, and as I mislaid your cards, the only way I had to find you was to describe you to the different hotel clerks. But at last I found you. I’m so glad! I want you to come out to my house at once.”
Then, as if struck by something in the lads’ faces the gentleman asked:
“Why, what is the matter? Has anything happened?”
“Yes, there has!” exclaimed Bob impulsively. “Our airship has been taken by Noddy Nixon,” and then, in a few brief words the boys told of what had happened.