“Chances are three to one that it’s got something to do with that same Braddon?” he proceeded to say, presently, when Billie failed to start explaining.
A violent nod of the other’s head announced that his first shot had hit the mark in the bull’s-eye.
“Don’t tell me he tackled you, and abused you in any way?” demanded Adrian, with a look of gathering anger on his face.
Billie shook his head, this time in the negative. Then he seemed to have reached the opinion that he had recovered enough of his breath to explain.
“No, it wasn’t that, you see; but what I managed to hear them say,” he exclaimed.
“Meaning Braddon and some of his bunch; is that it, Billie?”
“Yes, and the very pair Donald was warning us against, Shorty and Junior,” the fat boy went on to declare eagerly.
“So, they were having a nice little confab all by themselves, were they?” asked the other.
“Just what they were; and say, Ad, d’ye know the temptation was really too much for me, and I had to make the try, even if I did know what I’d
rub up against if they discovered me listenin’ to ’em talk.”