“Whatever possessed Sim to do a thing like this?” Arden was struggling with her garments.
“She’s probably got some idea into her head. Unless she’s been kidnaped and is being held for a ransom!”
Both girls stopped their dressing, suddenly frightened, Terry no less, though she had spoken the words. They had been spoken jokingly, but the possibility of such a terrible happening was not pleasant to consider.
“Oh, Terry! Do you think we better tell Mrs. Malvern after all? The police——”
“No! No! I was only joking. I have a lot of confidence in Sim. She can take care of herself. She knows people in New York. If she isn’t in the lobby when we get there, we’ll have to decide what to do then.” Terry was putting on her hat.
“I’m ready. I’ll take her bag and mine. You shut the door.”
Arden swept a last glance around the room. She stepped into the corridor, followed by Terry, who pulled the door shut. They both quickly looked down the long hall. It was empty.
“Hurry, Arden, into the elevator, before someone sees there are only two of us when there should be three!”
By the greatest of good luck the elevator came quickly in answer to their ring. It was almost filled with chattering girls, and when it reached the ground floor it was impossible to see who got off.
The girls for Cedar Ridge were assembled in the magnificent lobby; a happy, chattering, laughing group. Terry and Arden, in unspoken agreement, worked themselves gradually as near to the center of the throng as they could, hoping Mrs. Malvern’s gimlet eyes would not note the absence of Sim.