Chapter Ten.
Finding an Intruder.
“Well, old man; on the sick list?” began the Colonel, shaking hands warmly with his friend. “What’s the last bulletin?”
“Bad, bad,” said the Major, sharply. “Just heard that a man I respected is going to make a fool of himself.”
“Eh? What?” said the Colonel, flushing. “Who’s been chattering about—ahem! Are you alluding to the mine on my property, Major Jollivet?”
“No, sir,” said the Major, sitting up, “I was speaking about the hole by the cliff that was dug by a pack of greedy noodles who were not satisfied with their incomes, and I felt that I should not like to see an old friend of mine go shovelling his money down into it, and breaking his wife’s heart.”
“Then it was like your—ahem, ahem!” coughed the Colonel, checking himself. “No, no; don’t go away, boys,” for Gwyn was stealing out, followed by Joe.
“No, don’t you boys go,” cried the Major; “it will be a lesson for you both.”
“Father been very bad, Joe?” said the Colonel.
“Very bad, indeed, sir,” said the boy.