“What is it?” he inquired. “I dare not come up there. No, tempt me not. The little volume of instructions designated as the Blue Book denies the pleasure of visiting the hotel without a permit. I fear exceedingly lest I be violating some regulation by standing so near the forbidden ground.”
“I’m quite used to getting permits to visit here,” laughed Mark. “I think I’ll order them by the wholesale soon, that is if Miss Fuller stays much longer.
“I’ll bet,” Mark added, whispering to the girl, as he noticed the Parson edging off. “I’ll bet I can make him break a rule and come up here.”
“How?” inquired the girl.
“Parson! Oh, Parson!” cried Mark. “Come up here!”
“Tempt me not!” protested Stanard. “The danger is great and——”
“I’ve got a fossil to show you,” called the other.
The Parson stared incredulously for a moment at the object Mark held up. He suspected a ruse. But no, it was a fossil! And oblivious to duty, danger, demerits and all the rest of the universe, he gave a leap, dashed up the stairs, and fairly pounced upon the two.
“A fossil!” he cried. “By the immortal gods, a fossil! Yea, by Zeus, let me see it.”