Dick was still half asleep and dazed. "Who are you?" he cried in an unnatural voice.
"It's Bill Burton."
"Who?" he asked, amazed.
"Bill Burton."
"You're somebody trying to fool me," Dick whispered after a pause.
"No, I'm not, Harrie," said the other's deep, rich voice. "I wanted to talk to you. I couldn't wait until to-morrow, so I got permission from Prof, and here I am."
"What makes you want to see me?" asked Dick softly. "I guess I don't understand at all. I didn't think you knew me."
"You remember yesterday in the Algebra class?"
"You bet I remember," whispered Dick emphatically.
There was a moment's utter quiet. From away over in the direction of Chicken Hill came the sound of a rumpus in the Black Belt of Hainesburg. Then again quiet.