“What do you mean?”
“Let me explain, Colonel,” interposed Redfern, with a slight flush.
“I’m talking to this young man.”
“Well, sir,” said Jack, calmly, “the honest fact is I wanted to see George before he ran into you; and——”
“What?” cried Colonel Ellison.
“And I knew that if he saw the ‘Gray Gull’ out on the river he’d suspect something and keep out of sight. You see——”
“I never listened to such impudence in my life,” stormed the angry Colonel. “You heard that, Norman Redfern?”
“Oh, my, oh, my!” gulped Joe.
“Sh-sh,” said Fred; “be more polite.”
“You haven’t heard quite all, Colonel,” interrupted Redfern.