“Gloria!” almost shrieked Trixy. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t know. Dad said he had met a young man—traveling for his health, but he gave no name.”
Trixy had snatched the message and was out the door rushing to the waiting car.
“Ben!” she cried. “It’s a message from Sherry! He’s coming back with Mr. Doane.”
This made the climax complete.
It was well for Marty Gorman that the injured ankle needed no further attention for some hours. What with running back and forth, from Trixy’s to Gloria’s, to the telephone booth for Ben to phone home, and for Tommy to send a message to his mother (he had to wait for Ben to get back to Barbend), of course Gloria had to phone Jane, who promised to be out early next morning, and then Mrs. Towers begged that they run over to Layton to tell her husband, there was no phone in his boarding place; altogether it was very late indeed before the intense excitement subsided.
They were at Mrs. Towers now. Martha had given the boys supper, while Ben and Gloria were served at Trixy’s.
“And Marty Gorman, how is your mother?” asked Aunt Hattie considerately.
“Fine,” said Marty indifferently.
“Getting on, I mean?” explained the surprised questioner.