“If the persons not members of this Board will now be so kind as to retire, this Board will go into Executive Session.
“As for you, Captain Welch, as for you—
“But pray pardon me, gentlemen, this is no time and place to take up a matter of discipline.
“Uh, before Mr. Gerald Griffin and Mr. Torrington Darby retire, will some member of this Board offer a suggestion as to a suitable manner of thanking them for—”
“Oh, please don’t, General,” begged Hike, blushing, adding, under his breath, “Aw, please cut it out!”
As they retired from the Board room, Hike knew that the General’s long words meant they had won; had won! that Martin Priest would have all the money he needed behind him, and no longer be hid from the world by Captain Welch.
But there were other things Captain Welch could do.
CHAPTER XI
THE MERRY BELL-BOY
Two boys lay a-bed till the disgracefully late hour of ten, in twin beds, at the New Willard Hotel, Washington. They didn’t feel like great aviators, not they; but like lazy youngsters.
Poodle, having waked up first, had Hike in his power, for he had crawled on Hike’s chest and was keeping Hike powerless by pitilessly tickling him under the chin.