“I tell you, Pep, we’re in for the best or nothing this time; eh?” questioned Randy, almost as much excited as his chums over the prospects of the new Wonderland.
“Oh, I’m ’way up in the clouds all of the time,” piped Pep. “Why, I’ll feel like a girl just going into society. I’m going to call it a short day and quit. There are some groceries to order, so I’ll attend to that and we’ll take in the beach this evening.”
“Yes, we’ve earned a little recreation, I think,” agreed Randy.
Pep started off, whistling like some happy lark. It was then five o’clock in the afternoon and he was due to return in half an hour. Double that time passed on, however, yet he did not appear.
“Wonder why Pep doesn’t show up?” ruminated Randy. “It’s time he did, as we wanted to get an early start.”
At half past six Randy was nervous and a little put out. At seven o’clock he put on his cap and started to lock up to go in quest of his missing comrade.
Just as he came out on the broad planking leading from the boardwalk to the entrance to the store, a man hailed him. He was a stout, lumbering old fellow whom Randy had seen before.
“Hi!” he hailed, “you remember me; don’t you?”
“Why yes,” nodded Randy. “You are the man Mr. Jolly traded his rig with for our furniture.”
“That’s it,” nodded the man. “I say, I thought I’d come and tell you. It was near my place that the accident happened.”