"The poor fish," remarked Ferd jocularly, but be it said to their credit that no one laughed at this feeble attempt at a joke. They only stared.
As the car swept into the village again Billie had a sudden and rather conscience-stricken memory of her chums. For the first time in her life she had forgotten them completely. But then one doesn't lose five thousand dollars and recover it every day!
As the car stopped at the station it was surrounded by an eager crowd of people, among whom was the owner of the car. But for his generosity they would never have been able to recover the trunk.
"Did you get it?"
"Did you bring back the thief?"
"Say, you must have done some speeding!"
These and other like remarks greeted the adventurers as they climbed from the car, and under cover of the confusion Billie made her escape.
Teddy, looking around for her a moment later, missed her and started in pursuit.
"You're always running away," he protested plaintively, when he overtook her just a little way from the cottage, the owner of which had shown them such generous hospitality.
Billie wrinkled up her nose in surprise.