Page:The purple pennant (IA purplepennant00barb).pdf/221

Rh dialed, ebony-cased clock ticked with dignified deliberation, keeping perfect time with the purring of Lady Gray. On the big table a green-shaded student lamp threw a pleasant light over the neat piles of books and papers. There was little that was either new or expensive in the room, but everything, from the oldest side-chair to the few pictures on the walls, proclaimed friendliness and comfort.

Fudge was the spokesman, and he managed to tell his story with commendable brevity, although he could not help embroidering it with a few harmless frills. Dick was interested at once. If he suspected that he was not being told quite all there was to tell, he made no sign. When Fudge had reached a slightly breathless but triumphant conclusion Dick nodded. "I'll be glad to speak to Louise," he said, "and to the others as well. I don't believe that Mr. Brent is employing any surveyors just now, for I think he has done all he is going to do on the addition at present. There's talk of re-locating the trolley line that runs over to Sterling and I believe he is not going to do anything more until that has been settled. But we'll do what we can, Fudge, the lot of us. If it's as bad as you say with this chap, he ought to have some work given him. Do you suppose he