“Suppose we have breakfast,” suggested Hippy. “I hear our folks stirring.”
“I was just thinking. Let’s all go to the hotel for breakfast and leave Badger here to pack up.” Hippy agreed and shouted to his companions to dress for breakfast at the hotel. While they were dressing, Tom came into camp, after a long morning hike, the purpose of which he did not mention.
“Have you been looking for bear signs?” questioned Grace half teasingly.
“I may have been,” replied Tom, grinning broadly.
“We are going to the hotel for breakfast, and incidentally to report the result of our sleuthing trip this morning.”
“Did you discover anything, Grace?”
“Yes, but don’t speak of it here. I think the girls are about ready.”
When the Overland Riders entered the hotel they were regarded with rather more interest than before, for on this morning every person was an object of suspicion. Colonel Scott nodded and smiled at the newcomers.
As the party passed out of the dining room after breakfast, Hippy said in passing the colonel:
“There is something that I should like to say to you, sir, when you have finished your breakfast.”