“Uh-huh. Gee, Poodle, I’m just crazy over this. Gee, it’s great.... Out in the Hustle. Mexico. Cap’n Welch. It’s too good to be true!”
CHAPTER XXII
TROUBLE IN MEXICO
Lieutenant Jack Adeler, dressed in riding breeches and khaki Norfolk jacket, was pacing the lobby of the Palace Hotel, waiting. As he saw a tall youngster enter the revolving door, he hastened to him and, with not a word, dragged him off to his private room.
“Hike,” Jack Adeler exclaimed, “can you get away for two weeks, and come with me to Mexico, to drive the Hustle, and fight off some insurrectos? They’re attacking my rancho, down there. I can get leave from the Headmaster for you—I telegraphed him. But what about football?”
Hike thought quickly. “Well, I’ll have to miss a couple of games. They can put in Left Eared Dongan and—”
“So that’s what you call Dongan,” smiled the Lieutenant, hurried though he was.
“Sure. Pink Eye Morrison chewed his left ear for calling him ‘Glass Arm’ once!... Well, I can get back in time for the last two games— You’re sure we won’t take over two weeks?”
“Not much over, certainly.”
“Well, anyway, I can get back in time for the big Thanksgiving game with San Dinero.”
“All right; that’s settled, then. Now, listen.” And Jack Adeler explained the “why” of this jaunt to Mexico: