Still, he thought it worth while to find out what he
could about her, and managed to waylay Ben in the corridor of the
hotel the next morning.
"Good morning, boy!" he said stiffly, not having the art of
ingratiating himself with young people.
"Good morning, man!" Ben thought of replying, but he thought this
would be hardly polite, and said: "Good morning, sir," instead.
He suspected Mr. Campbell's purpose, and resolved to answer
cautiously.
"This is a nice hotel," said the guardian, resolving to come to the
point by degrees.
"Yes, sir."
"I suppose you are too young to have traveled much?"
"I never traveled much, sir."
"Didn't I see you in the company of a young lady?"
"Very likely, sir."
"Your sister, I suppose?"
"No, sir."
"A relation, I suppose?"
"I call her Cousin Ida," said Ben truthfully.
"Indeed! And she is from Philadelphia?"
Ben was placed in a dilemma. He saw that he should be forced to
misrepresent, and this he did not like. On the other hand, he could
not tell the truth, and so betray Miss Sinclair to her persecutor.
"You can tell by looking at the hotel register," he said coldly.
Mr. Campbell judged by Ben's tone that our hero meant to rebuke his
curiosity, and, having really very little idea that he was on the
right track, he thought it best to apologize.
Pages:
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74