“I got it hid.”
“Get it, please!”
“Junior!” broke forth Nannette’s indignant voice, “come here to me this instant.”
But Junior’s bare heels were flying up the stairs, and before his mother could pursue him he returned with a small indiscriminate bundle which he thrust over the balustrade where it disappeared inside the visitor’s coat.
“All right, Buddie, the bat is yours when you call for it tomorrow. At the old stand. You know.”
“Aw’right!” answered Junior with delight in his eyes. It was plain that his mother was nowhere in his vision while this hero was in sight.
The young man turned and walked swiftly back through the sitting room past the angry father and mother and over to the door. With the door knob firmly grasped in his hand he turned once more and faced his host:
“I happened to see Miss Radway alone on a lonely road quite late last night and was interested to know if she reached home in safety. I thought perhaps we might work together to find her if there was any necessity. But since you do not care to coöperate I will wish you good evening.”
The young man flashed a distant smile and opening the door was gone, before the man and woman realized what he was about to do.
For an instant they looked at each other speechless. Then Nannette broke forth: