“It’s a slick place, Brad,” he gurgled. “If I could only get in there, I’d take it in a jiffy. You can back in all right, and here’s a nice little knot hole through which you can see everything that’s going on. Cricky, that knot hole must have been made on purpose.”
“That certain is a right fine knot hole,” agreed the Texan, with a grin. “Don’t know but I’ll make use of it.”
With more or less clattering and banging, he finally succeeded in backing in amid the pots and pans and settling himself in a comfortable position with the knot hole convenient to his eye if he lifted his head a bit. But even after getting in there he was again struck by the thought that his position was most undignified, and he started to crawl out.
“No, you don’t!” spluttered Bouncer, slamming the sink door and turning the little wooden button that held it. “You just keep still. It’s me to the pantry, and I won’t have you spoiling my fun.”
“You wait till I do get out!” growled Buckhart’s smothered voice. “I sure will spank you good and plenty.”
“Hurry up, Big!” hissed Tucker, thrusting his head out from beneath the couch. “If you keep on puttering around, Maggie will come back and catch you.”
The fat boy made a dash for the pantry. Five minutes after the return of Maggie Swazey there came a familiar tapping at one of the kitchen windows.
“Good gracious!” exclaimed the girl; “it must be Dennis. I didn’t expect him to-night.”
She hastened to the door and opened it wide in a welcoming manner.
“Good avenin’, Dennis,” she laughed. “How does it happen you’re here so early?”
“It’s not Dinnis Oi am,” announced a voice, as a man wearing the uniform of an officer stepped into the room. “Me name is Patrick McGee, and Oi’ve been app’inted to the beat lately hild by me lamentid fri’nd Dinnis Maloney.”
“Your lamented friend?” gasped Maggie. “Why, what do you mean, sir? Oh, tell me, has anything terrible happened to Dennis?”
“Sure and there has,” was the sad and solemn answer.
“He isn’t dead, is he?” she almost shrieked.
“Worse than dead?” she gasped. “Why, how can that be possible? What do you mean?”
“He’s married,” said the stranger, in a heart-broken manner.
And now Maggie did utter a shriek. After swaying a moment, she fell limply into the arms of Patrick McGee, who unhesitatingly supported her.