“Sure, I didn’t mean anything, Ned. And as for being old, gee, I’ve seen a heap of younger folks that couldn’t have shown half her pep!”
A visit to the town hall obtained for them the information that the tract of land between road and river behind the old bulkhead was town property, and their informant assured them that no one would object to the contemplated gangway.
Laurie got back to No. 16 alone to discover Kewpie, sweatered and unkempt of hair, lolling in the Morris chair and fondling glove and ball. “Say, where the dickens have you been?” Kewpie demanded aggrievedly. “I’ve been waiting hours!”
“Hello!” said Laurie blankly. “Where—where did you drop from?”
“Came on the ten twenty, of course. Wanted to get some work in before dinner. Thought you’d be all ready for me, too!”
Laurie returned the other’s reproachful gaze with one even more reproachful, “Oh, gosh,” he sighed. “I was hoping you’d forget to come back!”
CHAPTER XVI
MR. BROSE WILKINS
There seemed nothing for it but to take Kewpie into their confidence, and this they did when, after dinner, Ned and Laurie were back in No. 16. Kewpie, still demanding a work-out and impatient at delay, proved that he was not entirely obsessed by baseball. He became quite excited about Miss Comfort and the Pequot Queen and demanded to be let in on the affair.
“Got any money?” asked Ned.