“Maybe. I suppose, anyway, I’d ought to see Mr. Brent and tell him what that fellow said. There’s no use putting it off. Will you come with me?”
“Not to speak of! I’d do most anything for you, Gordie, but not that!”
“Well, ride down town with me. You needn’t go in.”
“That’s fair. And I’ll try to catch you when he drops you out the window. Come on.”
CHAPTER XI
FUDGE SCENTS A SECRET
Mr. Brent was not in. The clerk, recognizing Gordon as the youth who had called previously and been admitted, explained, in answer to his look of perplexity, that Mr. Brent had been suddenly called to New York and would be gone at least overnight.
“He didn’t leave any message for me, did he?” asked the boy.
“No. He went away hurriedly. If it’s very important, you can reach him in New York by telephone this afternoon.”
Gordon departed, shaking his head. On the sidewalk he was presently joined by Fudge, who came out of Castle’s drug store, a few doors away, with a suspicious moistness about the mouth.
“You’re soon back,” he said. “Did he throw you out?”