Page:The purple pennant (IA purplepennant00barb).pdf/151

Rh "What became of me?" Lanny opened his eyes protestingly. "When do you mean?"

"Last night, of course. Where did you run to?"

"Last night? Run? I don't understand you. I went to bed quite early last night and slept very nicely. Once I thought I heard a noise, a sort of jarring, rumbling noise, but I paid no attention to it. What a beautiful morning it is! 'O Beauteous Spring, thou art'" His head settled back against the pillar again.

The others laughed, and Dick remarked soberly: "I suppose you've heard that they got Morris?"

Lanny opened his eyes once more and winked gravely. "I just had him on the phone a few minutes ago." He smiled wanly. "He couldn't get in the house when he got back and had to sleep out in the stable in a carriage."

"How about you?" asked Gordon.

Lanny waved a hand carelessly. "No trouble at all. Merely shinned up a water-spout and got in the linen closet window. Then I fell over a carpet-sweeper and went to bed. I shall insist on having a latch-key after this."

"But where the dickens did you and Morris run to?" insisted Gordon. "I never saw you once after I turned into the field."

"By that time I was shinning up the spout,"