Page:Glitter (1926).pdf/221

 "Out where?"

Bones fixed his eyes intently on a crack in the ceiling and fell into a brown study.

"Out where?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"See here!" cried Jock, exasperated. "I want to know where she is?"

Bones raised both arms in the manner of the victim of a holdup. "Search me thoroughly!" he begged. "I haven't got her. She's been here, yes. But she's not here now. She left. And who am I to question the goings and comings of lovely ladies? She'll be back, I imagine. In the meantime, pray have a chair, and give an account of yourself. I hear you've been over getting clubby with the Dean."

"Correct."

"Has he agreed to part with you?"

"Tearfully, yes."

Jock sat down; then in one swift swoop he was up again, towering over Bones' chair, holding him by the shoulders. "You big bum, quit stalling, will you? Where's that mother of mine? And what's she up to? And how come Ken and the rest are aching around about having done me wrong? Tell me that!"

"Well, they did do you wrong, didn't they?"

"But how do they know they did?"

"They've read Brad's letter," said Bones quite matter-of-factly.

There was utter stillness after that. Jock released his hold on Bones' shoulders and backed away slowly. Bones examined the ceiling once more. "Of course," he observed finally, "they should have read it weeks ago. Everybody should have. Would have, too, if I'd known there was such a thing in captivity."