Page:That Royle Girl (Balmer).pdf/48

 Goudy was investigating the door to the bedroom. "Who's in there?" he asked.

"My mother and father," Joan replied.

"I'll talk to them."

"They're asleep," said Joan. "They know nothing about it."

"Wake them up."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Dads is drunk," Joan replied. "You can't wake him now."

"He came in drunk, did he?"

"Just about. He takes more before going to bed."

"What's the matter with your mother?"

"Veronal. She puts herself to sleep with it. I'll show you. Besides, I tell you she was asleep through it all."

"One minute," Denson interrupted casually. "Your father, when did he come in?"

Joan was on guard, but she could not help gasping at the question. For Dads had entered during the critical period following Ket's departure; and what had Ket said about him?

"You two were up here when your father came in?" Denson interrogated her.

"Yes," she replied, trying to guess what Ket had said.

"He saw Ketlar here with you?"

"No," she replied; for if they got Dads awake and asked him, he must say that he had not seen Ket.

"How was that?that?" [sic]

Joan despaired. Lies, lies! How they always caught one!

She had to invent quickly, and she did her best. "My father doesn't like him. I had him hid for a few moments."

Denson smiled flatly and shook his head. "Forgot the