Part 8 (2/2)
”Oh, I didn't mean that!” Lem hastened to add. ”It feels ever so much better. I meant I hope I won't get hurt again. The season is young yet and we've lots of games ahead of us.”
”Guess we'll have to take Alice along to look after the wounded,” said Frank. ”She'll be the mascot.”
”Somebody was mascot to-day all right,” came from Bart. ”We certainly were in luck. Stumpy, hereafter you're the regular subst.i.tute pitcher.
Sandy Merton can consider himself released.”
It was dusk when the little group left the drug store to go to their several homes.
”You must come and report to me to-morrow,” said Alice as she bade Lem good-bye. ”Be careful to keep the bandage on.”
”I will,” he promised.
His house was in the opposite direction to that which the four chums took. The chums walked on slowly together, Alice and Jennie hurrying away to do an errand for Mrs. Keene. As the boys turned a corner they almost collided with a man who was walking quickly in the opposite direction.
”I beg pardon!” he muttered as he pa.s.sed through the group of lads.
They were too surprised to respond and when Bart did think to say, ”certainly,” the man was several feet away hurrying up the street. The boys gazed after him.
”Don't you know who that is?” asked Ned suddenly.
”No; friend of yours?” inquired Fenn.
”I'm sure it's the man we met in the woods Sat.u.r.day.”
”Who, the crazy man?”
”No, the one at the hut--the King of Paprica--though he may be crazy for all I know. I recognized him as he hurried past me.”
”Are you sure?” asked Frank.
”Positive.”
”He didn't have his crown on,” spoke Bart.
”And his clothes were not the same,” put in Fenn.
”That doesn't make any difference,” insisted Ned. ”I am sure it was the same man. I'll bet there's some mystery here, and it's up to us to solve it,” he added.
”I don't see why,” said Frank.
”Why haven't we as good a right as any one?”
”I'm certain this man, if he is the one we saw at the hut, is the keeper of that poor lunatic we first met in the woods. Now what's the use of bothering them. They have troubles enough,” replied Frank.
”Well, I want to get a look inside that hut,” went on Ned, ”and I'm going to, some day.”
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