The waiter favored the trio with another unflattering look and went to the kitchen.
“This is a gyp place,” Penny declared indignantly. “I can’t understand why anyone would come here. The waiters all seem to be French.”
“Oh, all head waiters speak French,” Jerry replied. “You can’t tell by that. I’d say they were German myself.”
Penny studied the cafe employees with new interest. She noted that the head waiter kept an alert eye upon the entire room, but particularly he watched their table.
Soon the three orders of ham sandwiches were brought by the waiter. The young people ate as slowly as they could so they would have an excuse for remaining as long as they desired.
“What time is it, Jerry?” Penny asked anxiously.
“Ten after nine,” he answered, looking at his watch.
A bell jingled, and the young people knew that another customer had arrived. Craning their necks to see around the palm tree, they watched the dining room entranceway. In a moment a young man entered and was greeted by the head waiter. Jerry and the girls stared, scarcely believing their eyes.
“Why, it’s Burt Ottman!” Penny whispered.
“And exactly on the dot of nine-fifteen,” added Louise significantly. “He must be the person who lost that billfold!”