"If it's true, then silver seems to be mighty scarce these days." "Richard! Ri-i-ichard!" called the elder Prescott, loudly, from the foot of the stairs that led up from the store.
"Yes, sir," cried Dick, bounding to the door and throwing it open.
"Laura Bentley has called us up on the 'phone.

She says she wants to talk to you quicker'n lightning, whatever speed that may indicate.
She adds, mysteriously, that 'it's the biggest thing that ever happened!'" "Coming, sir!" cried Dick, bounding down the stairs, snatching at his cap and reefer as he started, though he could not have told why he picked up these garments.

Dave and Greg, acting on some mysterious impulse, grabbed up their reefers and hats, and went down the stairs hot-foot after their chum and leader.
"Hullo!" called Dick, reaching the telephone instrument in the back room of the store.

"Yes, Miss Bentley, this is Prescott." "Then listen!" came the swiftly uttered words.

Dick discovered that the girl was breathless with excitement and the largeness of her news.