“Oh, fellows,” he exclaimed, as he extended a hand to each of them. “Would you believe——”
“We know all about it, and are ready to believe almost anything,” interrupted Mack. “But how did you get the dinner back? That’s what we should like to have you explain.”
“Can’t stop to do it now—story’s too long,” answered Blake, hurriedly, at the same time pulling out his watch. “But this much I can say to you: We’ve not a single instant to lose, but if we work fast and don’t get in one another’s way, we can make the dinner go off as if nothing bad happened.”
“Blake, you deserve a commission,” exclaimed the president.
“That’s what I think,” was the modest reply. “By the way, where is the company?”
“Down to the other depot.”
“All mad, I suppose?”
“That’s not the word to use; they are more than mad. I hope you have not brought Lester or any of his crowd back with you.”
“Not by a long shot,” answered Blake, with a laugh. “We did not want to see them whipped. Now, you two get an omnibus, put the band into it and go down and march up the company. Leave the rest to me. The hall will be ready by the time you get there.”
Blake had given abundant proof that he was equal to any emergency, and consequently Mack and his companion did not linger to offer advice or assistance. They found an omnibus and an express wagon, and as soon as the band had been crowded into them, the vehicles were driven at full speed toward the lower depot.