“All right. You can tell me about it some time,” interrupted Jack. “Scoot along now. If he tries to make more trouble for you, get away from him and come to me.”
And, with a smiling and reassuring nod, Jack pushed Rodney toward the stairway.
CHAPTER VI
RODNEY IS DISCOVERED
“Thanks for—for what you said to Watson,” said Rodney when, after morning school, he was once more in his room in the cottage. Kitty, pulling a heavy sweater over his touseled head—he had a theory that the sort of sweaters that buttoned up the front were not as good as the old style—emitted an unintelligible reply from the woolen folds. “It was mighty nice of you,” went on Rodney, watching with fascination the gradual appearance of Kitty’s moonlike face above the neck of the garment.
“Nothing at all,” panted Kitty. “If he touches you come to me. Overbearing fellow, Merrill.”
“Y-yes. He doesn’t seem very popular either, Kittson.”
Kitty considered. “Don’t know about that. Pretty well liked, I believe. Fellows understand him. Plays good football, you know. Too bad, though, about his lungs.”
“What’s the matter with them? You don’t mean he—he’s consumptive?”