CHAPTER II
"BROADWAY BILL"
William Carmody had scarcely completed his careful grooming when, with a tap at the door, his father entered, closely followed by a rather burly individual in citizen's clothing, whose jaw was correctly and artistically swathed in bandages.
The two advanced a few paces into the room and paused. Father and son regarded each other in silence. At length the older man spoke:
"Where were you last night?"
William flushed at the tone and cast an inquiring glance at the man in bandages, who awkwardly shifted his weight from one foot to the other. His father motioned him to proceed.
"I was out with a bunch from Philly. Chesterton, '05; Burke, '03; little Hammond, '06; and old Busk Brater, star guard of the naughty-naughts."
"Drunk, were you?" The words sounded coldly impersonal, and the tone showed no surprise.
"Why, no, that is, I wouldn't exactly say——" his father silenced him with a gesture.
"Did you ever see this man before?"