And by the time this was done, they all knew that the information was
in the American paper printed in Paris, and circulated all over the
Continent, and that the lady had read it that very morning just before
setting out.

"The only time I missed reading that paper," observed old Mr. King,
regretfully.

"And he is staying at our very hotel," finished the lady, "for I have
seen you, sir, with your party there."

"Another stroke of good luck," thought old Mr. King, "and quite easy to
obtain the information I want as to a master for Polly and Jasper."

"Now then, children," he said to the two hanging on the conversation,
"run back to your seats and enjoy the view. This news of ours will
keep."

So Polly and Jasper ran back obediently, but every step of the toilsome
ascent by which the car pushed its way to the wonderful heights above,
Polly saw everything with the words, "Herr Bauricke is at _our_
hotel," ringing through her ears; and she sat as in a maze. Jasper was
nearly as bad.

And then everybody was pouring out of the cars and rushing for the
hotel on the summit; all but Mr. King's party and a few others, who had
their rooms engaged by telegraphing up. When they reached the big
central hall there was a knot of Germans all talking together, and on
the outside fringe of this knot, people were standing around and