"Let me think. Why, I guess I'll take bean soup if it's all the same to you," decided Tucker, solemn as an owl.
The billposters broke out into a roar of laughter. They fairly howled with delight at Teddy's droll manner, but the Circus Boy did not even smile. He looked at them with a hurt expression in his eyes until the men were on the point of apologizing to him.
They did not know young Tucker.
The rest of the meal passed off without incident.
"Well, what did you think of the contract hotel?" questioned
Conley, as they were strolling back to the car.
"I think I shall starve to death in a week, if I have to eat in that sort of a place," answered Teddy. "Why didn't the contracting agent sign us up with a livery stable? I'd a sight rather feed there than at a contract hotel if they are all like this."
"Yes, the food is at least clean in a livery stable," laughed Phil. "But we shall get along all right. If we get too hungry we can go out and buy our own meals now and then. Do you ever do that, Mr. Conley?"
"I should say we do. We have to, or we shouldn't have any stomachs left. Now, you want to know something about this car work, don't you?"
"I should like to very much, if you can spare the time to tell me about it."
"Wait till I get my report made out, then we'll have a nice long talk, and I will tell you all about it."