When this reached Jimmy he was nonplused. He rubbed his forehead, studied the message, reread it, and then handed it to Mary with the suggestion:
"Maybe you can make it out. I can't."
Mary knitted her brows and studied the message in turn. At length she handed it back.
"It is simple," she decided. "She is a nice, sweet girl, and she wants me to meet her mama and papa. Or maybe she wants us to be chaperoned."
So Jimmy and Mary waited in the hotel parlor until Lucy should arrive. Reminded by Mary, Jimmy went to the 'phone and told Mr. Putnam that Lucy was coming to lunch with him.
"Well, that's all right, isn't it, Jimmy?" Mr. Putnam asked.
"Yes. But she told me to telephone you."
"Why?"
"I don't know. But won't you join us?"
"Is that other matter arranged, Jimmy?"