“I was fortunate in engaging it,” replied Tholbin. “I was sure that Betty would like the adjoining cabin, too.”
He indicated a door on the other side of the stateroom. It was the connection between this room and one occupied by the millionaire’s daughter.
“I think it’s wonderful — ” began Betty.
Waddell interrupted his daughter.
“The room’s all right, David,” he said. “But why did you let them put that great big trunk in there?”
“I don’t mind it, daddy,” said Betty. “It’s not in the way, at all. It’s really very light, too, for its size. It looks terribly heavy, but I had no trouble pushing it into another corner.”
A worried look came over Tholbin’s face when he heard the reference to the trunk. He laughed in a forced manner and made an explanation.
“It should have gone in the hold,” he explained, “but it was left out, and I ordered it put in my cabin. It would not go through the door. Too bulky. But Betty’s cabin has that large, locked door that opens on the promenade deck. We were able to put it through there.”
“I guess it’s all right,” grumbled Waddell. “After all, you did a good job getting these reservations on such short order. I was planning for two more weeks in Paris. Then along came that cablegram from Parker Noyes, telling me to get home quick on the Gasconne.
“It had me worried — big interests of mine going to pieces. We had to come. I feel better now, though, since that radio message two nights ago, saying that the crisis had ended.”