“Doughnuts, pumpkin pie and cider—apples thrown in, price fifteen cents,” was the prompt response. “Besides that, there’s a big veranda up at the house, with easy chairs, and hammocks and a swing.”
“I think I’ll take that in,” said the fat man, smacking his lips.
“That sounds refreshing,” observed Professor Barrington. “I declare! I have been so taken up with our business that I forgot lunch in the city.”
“I think I would like to try this home-made fare,” said Frank. “If it’s as good as it is cheap, it’s worth testing. Will you act as pilot?” he asked of the boy.
“All aboard! It’s just the walk for an appetite,” declared the lad, briskly, jumping down from the stump and starting for the road. Frank, the professor and several others followed and they soon came in sight of a pleasant old homestead. Under a towering oak tree was a long picnic table, a bench on either side. The thrifty farmer and his wife ministered to the needs of their guests.
“That was prime,” remarked Professor Barrington, after they had eaten of the plain but appetizing fare. “A great relief, this cool shady spot, after the bustle and excitement down at the railroad. There’s a rustic bower over yonder; let us rest there for a bit. I would like to get my scattered wits together.”
Frank assented to this arrangement. Others of the visitors installed themselves on the porch or went into the big “company room” of the house. The professor became talkative again. He went over the playhouse project, which brought up the loss of the precious satchel.
“We had better forget that loss,” suggested Frank, “for I don’t see any way to remedy it. If certain schemers are going to become our business rivals on what they stole from you, they won’t succeed. Such people never do in the end. I shouldn’t worry about it, if I were you. It’s your brains that have worked up this idea, and you are bound to have the best of it.
“Oh, did you want something?” Frank interrupted himself, as the boy who had piloted them from the railroad appeared at the doorway of the bower.
“Why, yes—no—I don’t know,” stammered the lad, in an embarrassed way. “Say, I don’t want you to think I’m any eavesdropper. I was resting outside here, though, and couldn’t help but hear your talk. I’m so dead gone on shows that I just had to listen, and when you spoke of the satchel——”