“I’ll see more of the fun than either one of you,” laughed Tucker. “Next to my chosen retreat beneath the couch, I’d choose the sink, for then I could keep the door open on a crack and watch everything that was going on.”
“This don’t seem to be a time for dignity,” said Brad, “so I’ll take the sink for mine. But, however are we going to get to our retreats, gents?”
“You’ve got sort of left me out,” observed Jones. “I suppose you think I don’t enjoy life, anyhow, and there’s no use in trying to amuse me.”
“If Maggie ever catches you stowed around the kitchen, she’ll help you out.”
“You can call her upstairs for something, Jonesy, and give us a chance to sneak into the kitchen. Will you do it? Sure you will.”
“Oh, certainly!” grunted Blessed. “That’s all I’m good for. Work me, work me.”
“If you fellows want to be sure of seeing the sport,” smiled Dick, “don’t fail to have yourselves properly concealed in the kitchen by eight o’clock. I shall arrive within five or ten minutes after the hour. That’s settled now. You chaps skidoo. Yes, I mean it. Your room is preferable to your company for the next hour. I’ve got to study.”
According to the arrangement, Jones appeared at the kitchen door some five minutes before eight that evening, and requested Maggie Swazey to do him a little favor. He was studying hard, he said, and couldn’t spare the time to run out to the nearest stationery store for a couple of notebooks. Would she mind getting them for him?
The sight of a silver quarter in the way of emolument for her services quickly banished any sign of hesitation on Maggie’s part.
“Certainly, sir—certainly I’ll git ye the books,” she smiled.
“You know what I want,” said Blessed. “If you don’t, here’s a sample—here’s one of my old books. You can take that along. When you come back bring them up to my room, but get them right away—don’t lose a minute. Time is precious with me this evening.”
The moment the door closed behind Maggie three chuckling lads scudded into the kitchen and prepared to conceal themselves. At the last moment Buckhart seemed inclined to rebel against hiding beneath the sink.
“You can sure get in there, Big,” he said. “Try it.”
Bouncer dropped on all fours and quickly demonstrated the impossibility of seeking to stow himself away beneath the sink.