human
Do you happen to know the young lady flyers, Miss Smith? inquired the clerk, for Bess had registered as
gpt
Anna Smith
human
What young ladies?
gpt
Two girls who just flew in from New York. Mighty attractive ones, too! He examined the register.
human
Linda Carlton and Louise Haydock.
gpt
Hm!
human
I've heard of them, she replied.
gpt
How long are they staying?
human
Just over night. Going over to Montreal in the morning, I believe.
gpt
I guess I'll stay here over night, after all, she concluded.
human
Night flying isn't so good, if you don't have to do it.
gpt
Wise young lady! observed the clerk.
human
If you want to meet these girls, they're still out there in the dining-room, eating. I know flyers always like to get together--for 'ground flying,' as Lindbergh calls it.
gpt
I don't care much about meeting those particular girls, replied Bess, scornfully.
human
They're only beginners--I dare say this is their first real flight. Yet the way they talk you'd think they had been pilots for years.... No, thank you. I guess I'll go up now, and take a rest. Will you have my dinner sent up to my room?
gpt
Miss Smith
human
What's your idea of a way to spend our time here? asked Louise, as they unpacked their bags.
gpt
It's only five o'clock; we can't go to bed yet.
human
Let's look for 'Hofstatters' in the phone book, suggested Linda.
gpt
Just for fun, because we probably shan't learn anything, but it wouldn't do any harm.
human
O.K. with me. I'm glad his name isn't Smith or Jones, then it wouldn't be so easy.
gpt
I've found three, she announced a minute later.
human
Amos, Charles, and Mary. But what shall we say when we call?
gpt
Say we come from the firm of J. W. Carwein, New York City--it'll be the truth, because we have just come from there--and we want to know when he will have another box of lace-work to sell.
human
Great! approved Louise, smiling at the joke.
gpt
And if we should happen to locate the man, what shall we do? Make an appointment?
human
Of course! He would have to tell us exactly where he got the goods, and if he isn't telling the truth and is smuggling them in from Canada, we can have him arrested.... But we'll never meet luck like that!
gpt
I speak for Amos, said Louise.
human
I like the name. Besides, nobody with a name like that from the Bible could be crooked.
gpt
And Mary ought to be out of it, remarked Linda.
human
Though of course she might have a son or a brother.
gpt
Act your age!
human
Who? What did you say?
gpt
You want my son? she guessed.
human
You are Miss Smith?
gpt
No, replied Linda, firmly.
human
But we are from Carwein and Co., linen importers, and we want to see him.
gpt
Oh--I--don't know where he is, stammered the other, nervously.
human
Miss Smith knows. Anna Smith. Ask her.
gpt
But where is Anna Smith?
human
I don't know anything about it at all! protested the woman.
gpt
Good-by!
human
We're on the right track, she said.
gpt
But imagine locating an Anna Smith, North America!
human
It wouldn't do much good anyway, remarked her chum.
gpt
This Hofstatter is probably some weak fellow, who will do anything for money. Our best plan is to strike out for the Convent.
human
What do you say if we cut out the stop at Montreal altogether? asked Linda, studying her map.
gpt
This Convent is between Montreal and Quebec, and I don't see why we shouldn't fly straight to it. We'll save a lot of time.
human
Time is precious, agreed Louise.
gpt
But remember what Ted said, about inquiring at the Montreal airport for a landing place.
human
I know, but we can't always do what Ted says. We're not beginners now, Lou. And I'm sure there will be a good place--the country is so open.
gpt
O.K. with me. If tomorrow is a clear day, as it looks as if it is going to be, we can fly low enough to watch the ground pretty closely.
human
Then it's settled, concluded Linda.
gpt
Give me ten minutes with this map, and I'll be finished. Then we can go to the movies, and buy a paper so that we'll have the weather prediction for tomorrow.