"Pickerel Pete!" went up a chorus of voices.
The colored boy was one of the town "characters," and was known by sight to everybody.
"Come here, you!" cried the exasperated Peters, pushing into the room and reaching for Pete's collar.
"Drag him out," ordered Merton. "I haven't got any time to bother with him."
"You all better bothah wif me," cried Pete, squirming in the butler's grip. "Ah kin tell yo' about dat Motor Matt, en Ah got some papahs dat yo'd lak tuh have——"
"Come along, now, and stop your howlin'," grunted the butler, making for the door.
A clamor arose from those in the room.
"Wait, Peters!"
"Hear what he's got to say about Motor Matt!"