“Won’t you tell the boys--you’ll know just how to pass the word--that
folks are talking of having a detective to watch the village nights?”
She probably saw that I was incapable of uttering a sound and she went
on, hurrying her words. “Mr. Sidney, of course you understand that I am
not picking you out as the ringleader. That’s not why I am asking you to
pass the word. But I know you are popular among the boys. They all speak
so well of you! And I was so sorry when I heard that your dear mother
had passed on. I wanted to write a bit of a note, but they are very
strict at the boarding-school--we are not allowed to write to young
gentlemen.”
Think of two shotes, squalling their heads off, furnishing accompaniment
to that! But I’ll say this of the shotes, they had spirit enough to use
their voices--I was dumb.
“It would be terrible to have anybody arrested here in Levant for boyish
pranks--it’s all thoughtlessness, I’m sure. You and I ought to be able
to straighten everything out.”