A moment later, with three or four porters in their wake and each laden with bags and boxes, Mr. Mackworth and Mr. Graham piloted the strangers through the gate. Mr. Mackworth greeted the boys jovially but with no loss of time. Then the lads were presented to the strangers. This formality over, Frank and Phil took charge of a portion of the hand luggage and the men hurried forward in the big car to the hotel.
As the car sped away, the two boys faced each other and whistled—the first chance they had had to compare notes.
“I guess we got our ideas from the funny papers,” said Phil at last.
“Or the newspapers,” added Frank. “Captain Ludington hasn’t got a cap and a cane.”
“And Lord Pelton hasn’t a monocle,” added Phil. “Say,” he went on as if he himself were amazed at the idea, “we’d better not be too previous about these men—they don’t look like jokes at all.”
“But I feel like one,” said Frank as he piled the baggage into a taxicab. “Why, they don’t look at all like funny paper Englishmen; they’re just regular folks.”
[CHAPTER V]
TWO INDUCEMENTS
One of Mr. Mackworth’s peculiarities was a preference for hotels. When he could avoid it he never stopped in private homes. Just now his excuse was Captain Ludington and Lord Pelton. Mr. and Mrs. Graham were insistent that the party should stop in their big and comfortable house, but Frank’s uncle had his way about it.