HIPPY PAYS THE PIPER
“Why didn’t you get me out last night?” demanded the fat boy after his uncle had paid the fine and the party were on their way back to camp.
“I will talk with you later, young man,” answered Hippy briefly. “Elfreda, you do know how to handle a witness. Why, you could have gotten Stacy out had he not been questioned.”
Elfreda shook her head, and she and Tom walked on ahead to talk, while Lieutenant Wingate engaged his nephew in earnest conversation. When they arrived at the camp a warm welcome awaited Stacy Brown.
“Meet me with food,” shouted Chunky.
“Come, girls! Let’s kill the fatted calf in celebration of the prodigal’s return,” cried Grace.
“No, no!” protested Emma Dean with mock seriousness. “If you must sacrifice someone why not take Jim Badger? I don’t believe that either we or the world would miss him. Kill the fatted calf? Never!” finished Emma amid the laughter of her companions.
“That’s right. Abuse me all you wish, but give me something to eat. I haven’t had a thing to eat except a package of gum, since yesterday noon,” complained Stacy.
“Your breakfast is already on the fire,” answered Grace. A few moments later Stacy was eating ravenously, rolling his eyes and listening to the story of the hearing, as related by Tom Gray. In the meantime Grace and Elfreda were talking together in low tones.
“I believe, since the hearing, that your suspicions are right,” declared Miss Briggs. “I didn’t think so before the hearing, but I do now.”