Page:The purple pennant (IA purplepennant00barb).pdf/255

Rh "Oh, Lafferty? Well, Lafferty's rather a friend of mine and sometimes drops in for a smoke. That's all." Mr. Addicks chuckled. "Lafferty would be interested if he knew! But I shan't tell him. Will you come around again and see me later?"

"Yes, sir, thank you," replied Perry. "And Fudge isn't really sorry you're not the train-robber, Mr. Addicks; are you, Fudge?"

"Of course not!" Fudge grinned. "Anyway, it was a lot of fun while it lasted!"

"That's all right, then," said their host heartily. "Glad you don't hold it against me. I know that a civil engineer isn't as interesting as a desperado, fellows, but you drop in now and then and maybe we can scare up some excitement, eh? And if you ever want a nice job of surveying done, why, you let me know, and it won't cost you a cent."

"S-s-surveying!" exclaimed Fudge. "We forgot to t-t-t-tell him!"

"That's so," Perry agreed.

"It's Mr. B-B-Brent, sir. You're to g-g-go and see him this forenoon and maybe he will have some w-w-w-work for you."

"You really mean it?" asked Mr. Addicks. "Jonathan Brent, over at the mills? What makes you think so?"