"Why, you girls look as though you had been talking secrets!" he
exclaimed, not wanting to inflict too much of his family troubles on the
visitors.
"We have!" cried Betty. "You are not the only one going South, Mr.
Ford. We may go too."
"Go South? What do you mean?" he asked.
"Mr. Stonington has purchased an orange grove in Florida," Betty went
on, "and Amy has asked us all down there. Do, please, say that Grace can
go!" and she blew him a kiss, for the four chums shared their parents
and friends as they did their--well, let us say--chocolates.
"Florida," spoke Mr. Ford, musingly. "I wonder if, by any chance, Will
could have gone there? Many young men go down South in the winter to
work as waiters in the big hotels. But I hardly think he would be so
foolish. Well, of course if Grace wants to go----"
"I do want to, Daddy, but poor Will----"
"Oh, I'll find him. He has just gone off on some little trip, perhaps.
Very likely he has written to us and the letter has miscarried. Or he
may be carrying it around in his pocket, thinking he has mailed it. Yes,
I think you may go, Grace, if the others do.
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