Jimmy, too, caught Philip and said. “Good work, Phil. When do I get to hear the whole story?”
“As soon as the guests have all gone home or to bed in the Lodge,” Philip said. “It’s a long story.” He turned to Penny, “And it was your quickwittedness that made it have a happy ending.”
“I didn’t do anything but dash up to my room and call the police,” Penny said. “You’re a hero, Phil.”
By now, of course, everyone had removed his mask and all the faces were familiar ones.
Philip moved on to a space at the central table where he and Adra were going to sit together. He held her hand in a firm clasp and her fingers twined in response. Peter smiled at him and clapped his hands together for order.
Philip smiled at everybody and didn’t seem at all nervous or upset after his experience of the evening.
“I’m very sorry,” he began, “that robbers chose us for their victims tonight, and that I could not prevent your disagreeable experience.”
“It was fun,” Judy interrupted impulsively. “For the longest time I thought it was just an act Jimmy and Alf were putting on. What I’ll have to tell the girls when I get back to Cincinnati!”
Philip smiled at her and continued: “I hope that you all can forget the unpleasant part of the evening and that you will enjoy the feast Ann Mary prepared. I have here the jewelry and wallets and handbags the armed cowboys took from you. As I hold up each item will the owner please come and get his or her property?”
While the food was being served, Philip distributed the stolen articles to their owners.
“I was much too surprised to be frightened at first,” said Mrs. Curtis, calmly pouring cream into her coffee. “Indeed, like Judy, I thought for quite a while that it was some stunt the boys had thought up. The young people today are always doing some crazy thing.”
“I was nearly speechless at those guns,” said Mrs. Powell. “I don’t know what the country is coming to! But it was all over so quickly I don’t suppose I was much more frightened than I would have been trying to get across a busy street.”
“That, my dear, is slightly underestimating it--at least for me,” said Mr. Powell. “I was just plain worried one of those guns would go off.”
“I certainly hated to see my jewelry gathered in,” remarked Mrs. Sanders.