“Take me home,” moaned David at last, as he paid for just one more purchase. “I mustn’t buy another thing.”
“But they are so cheap,” murmured Red, arranging a whole procession of tiny elephants and regarding them with fascinated eyes. “I’ve a notion our lad here keeps a critical eye on the price tags. These storekeepers are always castin’ eyes at him.”
“Well, take your elephants, and let’s go. I know you are going to buy them.”
“This has been simply great,” David told their guide when they arrived at their hotel. “I never had a better time in my life. Thanks a lot. I wish you would tell us your name.”
The young man hesitated. “It iss most hard to speak it, that name,” he said, “but in your America, iss not Bill the often name of the chauffeur?”
The boys laughed.
“Yeah, it’s American, all right,” said Red.
“All right, Bill,” said David as he shook the young man’s hand heartily. “Whatever you say goes. Thanks a whole lot for the ride, and everything. Gee, it’s been wonderful!”
In the lobby they found Mr. Hammond waiting, as the Moonbeam people drifted in by twos and threes. The last to appear was Prince Hata, piloting his two professors. Doctor Trigg was wreathed in smiles. Doctor Sims, looking almost sprightly, clutched his precious notebook and a small parcel.
“Well, well, here’s our pretty girl!” said Doctor Trigg, smiling at Dulcie. “Thanks to Hata, here, we have had a wonderful morning—wonderful. If we were obliged to leave Japan now, at once, I should still feel repaid for the journey. Our old pupil has done so much for us,” he patted the Prince fondly.