human
Why, see! cried Betty, rummaging in her bag.
gpt
Here's the piece of newspaper with the society item, or whatever it is, in it that made Ida go away so suddenly this morning. It's about her aunt, the great concert singer. Ida's gone to meet her where that says,
human
All right, he said.
gpt
Here's Markham and Boggs' place. You said you were in this store yesterday, Betty.
human
So I was. Come on, Bobby, cried the other girl, hopping out of the car.
gpt
I suppose we shall have to go to the manager or the superintendent or somebody. Dear me! if we don't find my locket I don't know what I shall do.
human
But never mind the cat, continued Bobby.
gpt
What is the matter with that boy? For boys will laugh at the most serious things. And this is serious, my poor, dear Betty.
human
Indeed it is,
gpt
Say, he drawled,
human
Mrs. Staples says she is a concert singer--a prima donna,
gpt
She's a prima donna all right, chuckled Bob.
human
Where now? Oh! To Stone's shoe shop? Well, what do you know about this notice in the paper?
gpt
What do you mean, Bob? demanded Betty, rather vexed.
human
You can read the paragraph yourself. 'The great Ida Bellethorne'. That means she is a great singer of course.
gpt
Yes, I see, replied Bob, giving some attention to the steering of the car.
human
But there is one thing about you girls--you never read the sporting page of the newspaper.
gpt
What is that?
human
This string of items you handed me is torn out of the sporting page. All the paragraphs refer to racing matters. That particular one deals with Mr. Bolter's black mare, Ida Bellethorne. Cliffdale is the place he was shipping her to far her health.
gpt
Never!
human
Oh, Bob! Is that so?
gpt
That's a good one on you and on your friend, Ida, he declared.
human
If she has gone to meet her aunt up in New York State she'll meet a horse instead. How's that for a joke?
gpt
I don't see the joke at all, she said.
human
Poor Ida! She will be sadly disappointed. And she has lost her position here with Mrs. Staples. We could see that Mrs. Staples was angry because she went away.
gpt
Why, cried Bobby, likewise sympathetic,
human
I think it is horrid--actually horrid! You needn't laugh, Bob Henderson.
gpt
Shucks! returned the boy.
human
I can't cry over it, can I? Of course it is too bad the girl has made such a mistake. But our weeping won't help her.
gpt
No, confessed Bobby,
human
I suppose that is so.
gpt
And our weeping won't find my locket, sighed Betty.
human
Dear me! If I did drop it in Stone's place I hope they have saved it for me.