Page:The purple pennant (IA purplepennant00barb).pdf/225

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
THE OFFICER AT THE DOOR

"Sausages aren't bad," said Lanny judicially. "Getting a bit late for them, though. If I were he, I'd switch to lamb chops."

"Don't be horrid," said Louise. "Of course I'll ask papa, Dick. And I'll just insist on his finding something for the poor man to do. I dare say papa knows the railroad people well enough to get them to give him work."

"The railroad people?" asked Dick.

"Yes, you said he was an engineer, didn't you?"

"Civil engineer, not railway, Louise."

"Oh! That's different, isn't it? Civil engineers survey things, don't they?"

"Correct," replied Lanny. "Have you forgotten the famous poem written by a civil engineer? Something about 'I'm monarch of all I survey; My right there is none to dispute'; remember?"

"That was Cowper," replied Louise scathingly. "And he was a poet, not a civil engineer."

"Oh, all right! Of the two I'd rather be the engineer, though, and live on sausages."

"Lanny, you're crazy in the head," laughed Dick.

"He's just silly," corrected Louise. "Papa has a good deal of surveying done, I think, Dick, and I'm sure he could find some for this Mister——"

"Addicks is the name," prompted Dick. "I wish

207