Part 33 (2/2)

”I am afraid you are getting sarcastic, d.i.c.k. However, not to keep you in suspense, Miss Peyton said that you were one of the wittiest young men she knew of, and you were quite the life of the house.”

”I suppose I ought to blush,” said d.i.c.k; ”but I'm a prey to hunger just now, and it's too much of an effort.”

”I'll excuse you this time,” said Fosd.i.c.k. ”As to the hunger, that's easily remedied. We shall get home to breakfast, and be in good time too.”

Fosd.i.c.k was right. They were the first to seat themselves at the table.

Mr. Clifton came in directly afterwards. d.i.c.k felt a momentary embarra.s.sment.

”What would he say,” thought our hero, ”if he knew where I pa.s.sed the night?”

”Good-morning, Hunter,” said Clifton. ”You didn't favor us with your presence at dinner last evening.”

”No,” said d.i.c.k. ”I was absent on very important business.”

”Dining with your friend, the mayor, probably?”

”Well, no, not exactly,” said d.i.c.k, ”but I had some business with the city government.”

”It seems to me that you're getting to be quite an important character.”

”Thank you,” said d.i.c.k. ”I am glad to find that genius is sometimes appreciated.”

Here Miss Peyton entered.

”Welcome, Mr. Hunter,” she said. ”We missed you last evening.”

”I hope it didn't affect your appet.i.te much,” said d.i.c.k.

”But it did. I appeal to Mr. Fosd.i.c.k whether I ate anything to speak of.”

”I thought Miss Peyton had a better appet.i.te than usual,” said Fosd.i.c.k.

”That is too bad of you, Mr. Fosd.i.c.k,” said Miss Peyton. ”I'm sure I didn't eat more than my canary bird.”

”Just the way it affected me,” said d.i.c.k. ”It always improves my appet.i.te to see you eat, Miss Peyton.”

Miss Peyton looked as if she hardly knew whether to understand this remark as complimentary or otherwise.

That evening, at the dinner-table, Clifton drew a copy of the ”Express”

from his pocket, and said, ”By Jove, Hunter, here's a capital joke on you! I'll read it. 'A boy, named Richard Hunter, was charged with picking a pocket on Chatham Street; but it appearing that the theft was committed by another party, he was released from custody.'”

d.i.c.k's heart beat a little quicker while this was being read, but he maintained his self-possession.

”Of course,” said he, ”that was the important business that detained me.

But I hope you won't mention it, for the sake of my family.”

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