Page:Hendryx--Connie Morgan with the Mounted.djvu/208

190 scouring the mountains for him many miles to the westward?

The boy wondered whether the man really had the nerve to visit headquarters. He glanced swiftly into the grey eyes and decided he had. They were almost at the barracks now. Upon the wooden sidewalk of Front Street a couple of officers passed them with a cheery greeting for the boy and a casual glance at his companion. Connie found himself taxed to the utmost to conceal his excitement, and as they entered the barracks side by side the boy fancied the other must certainly hear the thumping of his heart. In the big room two or three men were polishing kits. Connie motioned his companion to a seat and hurried at once toward the office where he found the Superintendent seated behind his fiat-top desk. He looked up as the boy entered and stood at attention.

"What, back already!" the commanding officer smiled as he glanced over the trim figure of his youngest constable. Connie saluted and advanced to the desk.

"Yes, sir," he answered, "here's my report." He extended the paper and as the officer took it he noticed that the small hand trembled.