Well, Ned was right. This _was_ more fun than dining in state at Sound View with a butler and an under butler mousing around behind your chair all the time. Even Dan agreed to that. And how he did eat! And how they all ate! Each one of them sent back for “that other half chicken, Mary, and a few more of the excellentissimo potatoes.” “How do you know her name is Mary?” asked Gerald. “All waitresses are named Mary,” answered Ned gravely. “Sometimes they try to make you believe that their names are Gwendolyn or Hortense, but that’s just a fake.” “Bet you this one isn’t named Mary,” said Dan. “Bet you she is! Wait until she comes back.” And when fresh supplies had been served, and a new plate of steaming hot biscuits had been passed, Ned said: “These gentlemen don’t believe that your name is Mary. It is, isn’t it?” “Yes,” answered the waitress with a smile. “You see?” asked Ned in triumph. “Bet you you asked her,” challenged Gerald. “Nonsense! Piffle! I don’t have to ask. I can tell instantly. Have I asked you your name to-night, Mary?” “No, not to-night. You asked me the last time you were here,” replied the maid with a twinkle in her eyes. At which there was a howl of laughter, and an automobile party eating at a distant table stared disapprovingly across at them. That was a very merry supper, or dinner. Dan insisted that it was supper because they had broiled chicken and hot biscuits. Kendall sided with him. Ned and Gerald said it was dinner because they had bread pudding. “No one,” declared Ned, “ever heard of bread pudding with hard sauce for supper. The idea is utterly preposterous.” After they had eaten all they possibly could they found a room at the back of the hotel where an ancient pool table offered them diversion. It was when they were on the fifth game, Gerald and Ned playing against Dan and Kendall, that Gerald said: “I say, fellows, wouldn’t it be fun to spend the night here? We might as well, you know. We’d just have to telephone back.” “We’d get the very dickens,” said Dan. “We might try, though. Collins couldn’t any more than say no.” This from Ned. “I’ll stay if the rest will.” “I couldn’t,” said Dan. “I ought to be on hand in the morning, you see. Your shot, Tooker.” “Pshaw, no one needs you at school, Vinton! Be a sport! I tell you what I’ll do. After this game is over I’ll play you a string of fifty. If I win we stay; if you win we go back.” “Don’t be an idiot, Tooker. I tell you I ought to be there in the morning. If you fellows want to stay, all right. I’ll see if I can get a carriage to take me back. I might walk, but it’s so dark I’d probably lose my way.” “Oh, if you won’t stay we’ll all go back,” said Gerald disappointedly. “I only thought it would be a peach of a lark, Dan.” “I’d like it as well as anyone,” responded Dan, “but――” “He’s afraid I’ll beat him,” interrupted Ned sweetly, making a woefully bad shot for the corner pocket.