“Why! isn’t she a ‘figger’ expert?” laughed Tavia. “Now relax!” A brisk bath followed and then, at seven, the two girls stepped out of the elevator into the lobby of the hotel and found Garry Knapp waiting for them. He was likewise well tubbed and scrubbed, but he did not conform to city custom and wear evening dress. Indeed, Dorothy could not imagine him in the black and severe habiliments of society. “Not that his figure would not carry them well,” she thought. “But he would somehow seem out of place. Some of his breeziness and—and—yes!—his _nice_ kind of ‘freshness’ would be gone. That gray business suit becomes him and so does his hat.” But, of course, the hat was not in evidence at present. The captain of the waiters had evidently expected this party, for he beckoned them to a retired table the moment the trio entered the long dining-room. “How cozy!” exclaimed Dorothy. “You must have what they call a ‘pull’ with people in authority, Mr. Knapp.” “How’s that?” he asked. “Why, you can get the best table in the dining-room, and this morning you rescued us from trouble through your acquaintanceship with Mr. Schuman.” “The influence of the Almighty Dollar,” said Garry Knapp, briefly. “This morning I had just spent several hundred dollars of Bob Douglass’ good money in that store. And here at this hotel Bob’s name is as good as a gold certificate.” “Oh, money! money!” groaned Tavia, “what crimes are committed in thy name—and likewise, what benefits achieved! I wonder what the person who stole it is doing with _my_ money?” “Perhaps it was somebody who needed it more than you do,” said Dorothy, rather quizzically. “Can’t be such a person. And needy people seldom find money. Besides, needy folk are always honest—in the books. I’m honest myself, and heaven knows I’m needy!” “Was it truly all the money you had with you?” asked Garry Knapp, commiseratingly. “Honest and true, black and blue, lay me down and cut me in two!” chanted Tavia. “All but the five dollars in the bank,” Dorothy said demurely, but with dancing eyes. And for once Tavia actually blushed and was silenced—for a moment. Garry drawled: “I wonder who did get your bag, Miss Travers? Of course, there are always light-fingered people hanging about a store like that.” “And the money will be put to no good use,” declared the loser, dejectedly. “If the person finding it would only found a hospital—or something—with it, I’d feel a lot better. But I know just what will happen.” “What?” asked Dorothy. “The person who took my bag will go and blow themselves to a fancy dinner—oh! better even than _this_ one. I only hope he or she will eat so much that they will be sick——” “Don’t! don’t!” begged Dorothy, stopping her ears. “You are dreadfully mixed in your grammar.” “Do you wonder? After having been robbed so ruthlessly?” “But, certainly, dear,” cooed Dorothy, “your knowledge of grammar was not in your bag, too?”