There they looked about the big vaulted room: ticket offices on one side, a rank of telephone booths on another, a buffet restaurant, a magazine stand, a large candy booth. All of these spots were eagerly scanned without result.
Apparently just to say “hello” to friends, Terry and Arden went from one group of waiting girls to another, glimpsing the pretty, animated faces, but Sim’s was not among them. It seemed hopeless.
Now, really frightened, Arden and Terry clung together as the stentorian voice announced their train in long-drawn accents.
“We’ll have to go!” murmured Terry desperately.
“Yes. We can’t wait any longer. But she may be in the train.” It was a sort of last hope for Arden.
“We can look, if it isn’t too crowded,” Terry suggested.
But it was. In all the coaches, for most of the college girls had caught this train back, were repeated the same scenes, the same talk and laughter that had marked the going trip. The seekers could not locate Sim in the coach where they were crowded, and they did not dare pass from one car to another as the train quickly gathered speed after leaving Hoboken.
The ride back was almost a nightmare for Terry and Arden, and when the train pulled into the Morrisville station, which was the college stop, they were pale and more worried than ever.
“Maybe she is already here,” breathed Terry, as they alighted. It was a brave attempt to brighten the situation.
“Maybe. Let’s hurry and see if she has signed in.” Arden was only too glad to seize on Terry’s suggestion.