Page:The purple pennant (IA purplepennant00barb).pdf/73

Rh leave before it's over, William, because if you don't go next week you might as well see all you can this time."

"Yes'm! Thanks! Good-by!"

Fudge knew a short cut from Ivy Street to G Street, and that saved nearly a minute even though it necessitated climbing a high fence and trespassing on someone's premises. He reached Perry's and, to his vast relief, found that youth awaiting him at the gate. Perry was slightly surprised to be hailed from the direction opposite to that in which he was looking, but joined Fudge at the corner and, in response to the latter's earnest and somewhat breathless appeal to "Get a move on," accompanied him rapidly along the next block. Just as they came into sight of the brilliantly illumined front of the moving picture house, eight o'clock began to sound on the City Hall bell and Fudge broke into a run.

"Come on!" he panted. "We'll be late!"

They weren't, though. The orchestra was still dolefully tuning up as they found seats. The orchestra consisted principally of a pianist, although four other musicians were arranged lonesomely on either side. The two boys were obliged to sit well over toward the left of the house and when the orchestra began the overture Fudge's gaze, attracted to the performers, stopped interestedly at the pianist.