Just as the girls finished their excellent dinner, Mrs. Hilliard came into the room. Pauline stood up.
“I’ll be running along, Mary Lou,” she said. “Now you have company I better leave you and get dressed.”
Mary Louise smiled. “Have a good time—and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Not too early!” warned Pauline. “I’ll probably be dancing till the small hours tonight.” She left the room, and Mrs. Hilliard sat down in her place.
“Will you stay here with me while I eat my dinner, Mary Louise?” she asked.
“Yes, indeed,” replied the girl.
“And did you enjoy your dinner?”
“It was wonderful! Just like a fine hotel.”
“I think Stoddard House is a fine hotel—on a small scale, of course.... And now I have a suggestion to offer for tonight,” she continued as she ate her dinner. “Some of the regular guests here have a book club which meets once a week. I seldom go to the meetings—I never seem to have time—but I thought I could take you tonight, and in that way you would get acquainted with some of these people. Though I don’t suppose you’ll find the person we’re looking for among them. Thieves aren’t often book lovers.”
“But it will help me to get the people sorted out, and I am so at sea,” said Mary Louise. “I think it is a fine idea, Mrs. Hilliard. What time does the club meet?”