“Am I the original provider?” demanded the captain triumphantly.
The boys of the Tramp Club tossed their hats in the air, uttering a series of wild whoops, to which was added the yell of the Meadow-Brook Girls.
The entire party was wild with delight over the good news and Captain Baker was more a hero than ever before. While Harriet and Hazel were getting the supper, to which the boys had been invited, the others passed the time in song and general congratulation. It was a merry camp.
George and one of his companions were to go to Meadow-Brook early in the morning to meet the champion tennis player at half-past seven o’clock. Jane suggested that she, too, go in and bring the visitor back in her car. This Miss Elting did not approve. George said it would be unnecessary, that he could get some one to drive out with them. It was, therefore, arranged that way, and the boys left their friends shortly before ten o’clock that evening, filled with anticipation for the morrow.
A start was made next morning before daylight, George and Charlie setting out on foot for the village, more than ten miles away. However, they did not in the least mind the long walk. They were too well used to tramping over the country.
The girls fairly counted the hours next morning. They calculated that George and his friend should reach the camp in the woods no later than half-past nine o’clock. The camp had been put in perfect order for the guest, and the Tramp Boys in their own camp had set aside a small tent for Disbrow, making the interior of the tent as comfortable as possible. If he thought best after reaching the camp to transfer operations to the village, this could be very easily accomplished. They did not know how well pleased he might be with the discomforts of life in camp there in the woods.
Half-past nine passed, then ten. At noon there was still no sign of George and his friend. The girls sat down to their noon meal, which they had hoped to share with Disbrow. The boys refused to eat with them. The former were becoming gloomy. They felt that something must have occurred to detain the party at Meadow-Brook, but what that something might be they were unable to imagine.
“There comes some one,” shouted Sam suddenly, while the girls were still at their meal.
Everybody sprang up. Just emerging from the log road that led into their camp clearing they saw Captain George Baker. The captain had lost his former springiness of step, his alert manner. He was dragging himself along as though worn out with fatigue. Charlie Mabie was not with him. Neither was the expected guest, P. Earlington Disbrow, the tennis champion of all England and part of the United States.
The boys ran forward to meet George, the girls following more slowly. Harriet knew from George Baker’s attitude that something was wrong. His dejection was apparent.