“Oh, bother! What business is it of yours?” demanded the professor impatiently.
And, not stopping for further inquiries, he vaulted over a fence and took his way across the fields to the station.
“Here, Sam,” called the girl, her suspicions confirmed that something was wrong, “go after that man as fast as you can!”
This was addressed to a boy who was employed at the hotel to go on errands and do odd jobs.
“What’s he done?” asked Sam.
“I don’t know; but he’s either run off without paying his bill, or he’s stolen something.”
“What good’ll it do me to chase him?” asked Sam.
“If he’s cheated master, he’ll pay you for catching the man.”
“That’s so,” thought Sam. “Besides, I’ll be a detective, just like that boy I read about in the paper. I’m off!”
Fired by youthful ambition, Sam also vaulted the fence, and ran along the foot-path in pursuit of the professor.