He was up at a little after six, dressed by half-past and waiting on the front porch in a patch of sunlight. Fudge, in spite of his good intentions, was late and it was almost a quarter past seven when he appeared hurrying down the street. Perry joined him on the sidewalk and Fudge, linking arms, conducted him around the corner.
“We’re going to see him,” he said determinedly. “If he hasn’t gone already maybe he can get away before they look for him.”
He hadn’t gone. Fudge’s peremptory knock was followed by the sudden opening of the door and the vision of a surprised and pajama-clad Mr. Addicks confronting them. Fudge allowed no time for questions. He pushed past the puzzled train-robber, followed by Perry, and motioned the door shut. There was no evidence of hurried flight in view. The room looked quite as usual. The screen had been removed, revealing a tumbled cot-bed evidently very recently occupied, and on a one-burner stove, connected with the gas bracket by a tube, stood a sauce-pan of water which was already bubbling about the edges. Other indications of breakfast were there; two eggs and a tiny coffee canister and a half loaf of bread adorning a corner of the table. Fudge’s voice was almost stern as he confronted Mr. Addicks.
“Why didn’t you beat it?” he demanded in a hoarse whisper. “Do you want to get pinched?”
Mr. Addicks politely controlled a yawn and viewed Fudge with puzzlement. Then he scratched his head, picked up a tattered dressing-gown and slipped into it and, seating himself on the bed, thrust his hands into the pockets of the robe and spoke.
“Look here, boys, what is this?” he asked plaintively. “I’m an awful poor performer before breakfast.”
“But—but you said you were going last night!” said Fudge accusingly. “And we saw you playing the piano at the theater! Why, they might have nabbed you any minute!”
Mr. Addicks shook his head. “I was disguised,” he replied.
“That’s no disguise,” said Fudge contemptuously. “You’re taking awful chances, sir. Couldn’t you get away now before they start to look for you?”