"I'm here to throw him bodily on board at the first sign of any change of plan."
"You speak as if you had a grudge against the boy," Edith said, looking surprised.
"Not at all," Cosden demurred; "Billy is all right, but he covers too much territory. Since he landed I haven't been able to put my foot on the ground without stepping on him. His Alma Mater needs Billy more than I do, and, as Monty says, we alumni must be loyal to our Dear Mother."
"His Alma Mater will have to do without him for a few days longer unless he appears soon," Edith remarked calmly, pointing toward the dock. "The tender has just started and will be here at the pier in a moment."
Both men sprang to their feet.
"Where in the world can that boy be?" Huntington demanded with real concern.
"You go up to his room and I'll look around down here," Cosden said, taking command of the situation.
Huntington disappeared with astonishing alacrity, while his friend deserted Miss Stevens to pursue the search down-stairs.
"Why don't you find Miss Thatcher?" Cosden suggested, coming back to her as the idea struck him; "that will probably locate the boy."
"I'd rather watch the man-hunt from here," she retorted coolly. "I don't want to miss seeing you throw him bodily on board."