Chapter XVI—George Early and the Giant Alcohol
Master Cacklin was perched upon a high stool, eagerly devouring a report of the match between Teddy Sneffler and The Midget, for the Bantam championship, when a succession of soft squeaky footsteps fell on his ear. As they ascended the stairs he turned his head. The paper was quickly thrust into his desk, and the Cacklin pen began to move with marvellous rapidity.
A bell rang, loudly and impatiently.
"Who's that?" said William Budd, appearing from an obscure corner.
"Guvnor," said Cacklin. "Upstairs—sharp!"
"Who said the guvnor was here?" inquired Busby, coming forward and looking at the clock, which pointed to a quarter past nine.
"It's right enough," said Cacklin; "just come in. Something on the board, I expect."
William Budd entered the upstairs room with that feeling of suppressed excitement which always arises when the "guvnor" appears in the office an hour before his usual time.
"I want Mr. Gray," said George, sharply.