Page:The purple pennant (IA purplepennant00barb).pdf/271

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
ON THE TRACK

usually, although sometimes he was addressed as "Willie Rufus, the Boy Detective." Perry was variously "Alkali Ike," "Doctor Watson" or "The Apache Kid." Perry smiled as he read the missive, got Fudge on the telephone and announced his purpose of calling on Mr. Addicks after supper and instructed Fudge to join him there, and then descended hungrily on the contents of the table. He was very full of the afternoon's proceedings and, although he didn't suspect it, I fancy his father and mother were relieved when the meal was over and he grabbed his cap and disappeared.

He found Mr. Addicks working at a drawing-table in the new room into which he had moved a few days before, but his host laid aside pen and ruler, square and compass, and took him into the old apartment, now a trifle more comfortable by reason of the acquisition of a second-hand easy-chair. Into this he forced Perry and took his own position as usual on a corner of the table.

"I saw you run to-day," he announced, "and I want to talk to you about it."

"Were you there?" asked Perry. "I didn't see you. Why didn't you let me know?"

"I sat in the stand. I didn't know whether they'd want me on the field."

251