"Aw," Alec scoffed. "That's just like a girl!"
They passed doctors', dentists', and more lawyers' offices. They saw a
tent in which the _Plains City Enterprise_ had already been printed for
a week. They marveled at stores and shops, and after a while they became
tired.
"Let's eat," Mr. Simpson suggested.
"Good idea," Pete seconded.
"Wonderful!" Cindy said.
They walked back to Brown's Restaurant, seated themselves on a rough,
wooden bench at a long, wooden table, and a waiter in a clean white
apron came.
"What'll it be, folks?"
"What do you have?" Mr. Simpson asked.
"Venison steak, potatoes, and coffee."
"That's what we'll have."
Cindy shivered suddenly. It was exciting to eat in a real restaurant,
and venison steak would be a welcome change from what they'd been
eating. Why should she feel so strangely uneasy?
"Do you feel anything?" she whispered to Alec.
"Hungry," Alec said.
"Oh! I don't mean that!"
"By gosh, Pete!" Their father sounded very happy. "We've come a long way
in a short time! This afternoon we'll record. Tomorrow I'll bring Ann
up."
"I'll bet," said Pete, "that it'll be wonderful to have your wife with
you."
"I can hardly wait!"
Cindy, who still felt uneasy, turned suddenly to see three men rising
from a table behind them. Two, who looked like rogues, she had never
seen before. The third, unmistakably, was Tom LaMott. Cindy nudged Alec
in the ribs.
"Look!"
"What?" Alec asked.
"The man with cat's eyes! And he heard every word we said!"
"What of it?"
"I don't like it!" Cindy exclaimed.
"Cindy! For heavens' sake! He has a right to be here!"
"I still don't like it!"
"Maybe you don't like your dinner, either," said Alec, "but here it is."
They did full justice to the venison steaks, potatoes with brown gravy,
and mugs of hot coffee. Jed paid the bill, and they left.
"Now to record!" Jed said cheerfully. "Then we can go home!"
"Sure thing!" Pete agreed.
They made their way toward the American flag that rose over a small
land office, and stopped in their tracks.
There had been many people waiting to get into the post office and some
of the stores, but they were as nothing compared to the throng here.
They were nearly all men, with here and there a woman or girl. A soldier
appeared in the doorway, called a number, and a man left the crowd to go
into the land office. Beside the doorway stood another soldier by a
sign: "Get Your Numbers Here."
"What's it all about?" Jed asked the man standing next to him.
"You must get a number," the man said, "then wait your turn."
They went to the soldier, who gave Pete number 828 and Jed 829.
"Can we get in soon?" Pete asked.
"You must wait until your number's called," said the soldier.
"How long will it take?" Pete inquired.