Page:The purple pennant (IA purplepennant00barb).pdf/248

Rh tions, was late and it was almost a quarter past seven when he appeared hurrying down the street. Perry joined him on the sidewalk and Fudge, linking arms, conducted him around the corner.

"We're going to see him," he said determinedly. "If he hasn't gone already maybe he can get away before they look for him."

He hadn't gone. Fudge's peremptory knock was followed by the sudden opening of the door and the vision of a surprised and pajama-clad Mr. Addicks confronting them. Fudge allowed no time for questions. He pushed past the puzzled train-robber, followed by Perry, and motioned the door shut. There was no evidence of hurried flight in view. The room looked quite as usual. The screen had been removed, revealing a tumbled cot-bed evidently very recently occupied, and on a one-burner stove, connected with the gas bracket by a tube, stood a sauce-pan of water which was already bubbling about the edges. Other indications of breakfast were there; two eggs and a tiny coffee canister and a half loaf of bread adorning a corner of the table. Fudge's voice was almost stern as he confronted Mr. Addicks.

"Why didn't you beat it?" he demanded in a hoarse whisper. "Do you want to get pinched?"