“Well, I’m not looking for you,” he retorted. “I’ve no particular use for you, Piper.”
“Come now,” said Sleuth, “I wish to hold a private consultation with you on a matter of immense moment.”
“Run away and consult with yourself,” snapped Roy. “I don’t like your company, and you know the reason why.”
But Sleuth grabbed at him again as he made a move to pass on.
“Wait,” whispered Piper. “Perhaps you’d like to know what was the matter with Sage to-day? I can tell you.”
“The deuce you can!”
“I can,” insisted the other boy. “I’ve solved the mystery.”
“Well, if you know what ailed him, why don’t you tell? I’m sure I’m not the only one who would like to have the matter cleared up.”
“It’s not a subject for the public ear, Hooker; it’s something to be talked over privately and discreetly between ourselves. If you want to know what I know, you’ll just take a little walk with me to some spot where we’ll be all by our lonesomes. If you don’t want to know, if you haven’t got any interest in Sage and his affairs, you needn’t bother.”
To say the least, Roy’s curiosity was aroused.