Campfire Girls at Twin Lakes | Page 9

this was pure "make-believe," but they did not communicate their conviction to each other by look or suggestion of any kind. They played their part very well, and it is quite possible that Langford, peeking through his eyewinkers, was considerably puzzled by their manner. He had no reason to believe that he was known to them by name or reputation, much less by personal appearance.
It was in fact a game of spy on both sides during most of the journey, with little but mystifying results. The train reached Twin Lakes at about sundown, and even then the girls had discovered no positive evidence as to the "squint-eyed man's" purpose in taking the trip they were taking. And Langford, as he left the train, could not confidently say to himself that he had detected any suggestion of interest on their part because of his presence on the train.
Flamingo Camp Fire rode in an omnibus to the principal hotel in the town, the Crandell house, and were assigned to rooms on the second floor. They had had their supper on the train and proceeded at once to prepare for a night's rest. Still no words were exchanged among them relative to the purpose of their visit or the mysterious, squint-eyed passenger concerning whom all of them felt an irrepressible curiosity and not a little apprehension.
Miss Ladd occupied a room with Katherine Crane. After making a general survey of the floor and noting the location of the rooms of the other girls, they entered their own apartment and closed the door. Marie Crismore and Julietta Hyde occupied the room immediately south of theirs, but to none of them had the room immediately north been assigned.
"I wonder if the next room north is occupied," Katherine remarked as she took off her hat and laid it on a shelf in the closet.
"Someone is entering now," Miss Ladd whispered, lifting her hand with a warning for low-toned conversation.
The exchange of a few indistinct words between two persons could be heard; then one of them left, and the other was heard moving about in the room.
"That's one of the hotel men who just brought a new guest up," Katherine remarked.
"And I'm going to find out who it is," the Guardian declared in a low tone, turning toward the door.
"I'll go with you," said Katherine, and together they went down to the office.
They sought the register at once and began looking over the list of arrivals. Presently Miss Ladd pointed with her finger the following registration:
"Pierce Langford, Fairberry, Room 36."
Miss Ladd and Katherine occupied Room 35.
"Anything you wish, ladies?" asked the proprietor, who stood behind the desk.
"Yes," Miss Ladd answered. "We want another room."
"I'll have to give you single rooms, if that one is not satisfactory," was the reply. "All my double rooms are filled."
"Isn't 36 a double room?" Katherine inquired.
"Yes, but it's occupied. I just sent a man up there."
"Excuse the question," Miss Ladd said curiously; "but why did you put one person in a double room when it was the only double room you had and there were vacant single rooms in the house?"
The hotel keeper smiled pleasantly, as if the question was the simplest in the world to answer.
"Because he insisted on having it and paid me double rate in advance," was the landlord's startling reply.
CHAPTER VIII.
PLANNING IN SECRET.
Without a word of comment relative to this remarkable information, Miss Ladd turned and started back upstairs, and Katherine followed. In the hall at the upper landing, the Guardian whispered thus in the ear of her roommate:
"Sh! Don't say a word or commit an act that could arouse suspicion. He's probably listening, or looking, or both. Just forget this subject and talk about the new middy-blouse you are making, or something like that. Don't gush, either, or he may suspect your motive. We want to throw him off the track if possible."
But Katherine preferred to say little, for she was tired, and made haste to get into bed. It was not long before the subject of their plans and problems and visions of spies and "jam-stained fists" were lost in the lethe of dreamland.
They were awakened in the morning by the first breakfast bell and arose at once. They dressed hurriedly and went at once to the dining-room, where they found two of the girls ahead of them. The others appeared presently.
As the second bell rang, Pierce Langford sauntered into the room and took a seat near the table occupied by Helen Nash and Violet Munday. He looked about him in a half-vacant inconsequential way and then began to "jolly" the waitress, who approached and sung off a string of alternates on the "Hooverized" bill of fare which she carried in her mind. She coldly ignored his "jollies," for it was difficult for Langford to be pleasing