Page:The purple pennant (IA purplepennant00barb).pdf/184



HEY were two very startled youths who leaped back as the door unexpectedly opened and who, for a breathless instant, gazed speechlessly at the man confronting them. He was tall, wide-shouldered and narrow-hipped, with a frank, good-looking face, clean-shaven, on which at the moment a quizzical smile rested. He had laid aside coat and vest, and under the uprolled sleeves of his white shirt his long arms showed muscles like whip-cords. It was Fudge who found his voice first.

"I—I—W-w-we"

"No savvy, hombre. Start again."

"W-we were j-j-just list-list-list"

"Listening," said Perry helpfully.

"Well, I hope you liked it. Come on in. We're all friends together."

"No, thanks," said Perry, embarrassed. "We just happened to hear you singing"