“Wait here for a minute,” directed Pep to those in the wagon, dashing up the steps of the playhouse with his precious box.
CHAPTER XXII—A BIG REWARD
Pep burst in upon his friends filled to the brim with excitement. His impetuous nature anticipated a great welcome as he felt that he had done a big thing. As he crossed the threshold of the living room he found that his friends had apparently just returned from the scene of the fire.
Frank and Randy were at the sink washing the grime from their faces. As Pep learned later, they and Jolly and Vincent had been busy saving what goods they could from the burning building. Jolly was brushing the cinders from his coat with a whisk broom. Vincent was applying some court plaster to a burn on the back of his hand.
“There!” exclaimed Pep, planking the package down upon the table with a flourish. “It’s been some trouble, but I got it.”
“Hello, Pep,” said Jolly. “Got what, may I ask?”
Pep felt rather hurt at the cool way in which his return was greeted. He did not realize that his friends were in ignorance of the burglarious event of the hour, and his own sensational experiences. He had just been missed and all hands supposed that he was lingering at the scene of the fire.
“Why, the box, of course,” almost snapped Pep.
“What box?” questioned Randy.
Pep gave the wetted pillow case a jerk, freeing it of its enclosure, and the little cash box was disclosed.