Page:The purple pennant (IA purplepennant00barb).pdf/228

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THE PURPLE PENNANT

"Don't drag your feet, though," warned the captain humorously, "or you'll stop the car." He and Dick resumed their discussion of the catcher question and kept it up until Warner got out at his gate. When they trundled on Dick turned to the expectant Fudge.

"I spoke to Louise last night, Fudge, about your friend, and then she spoke to her father this morning. I suspect that he didn't much want to hire What's-his-name, but Louise is a very determined person and she finally got him to say that if this friend of yours would call on him at his office to-morrow morning—he's in New York to-day—he'd talk with him. Louise telephoned me at breakfast about it. She said Mr. Brent was very obstinate at first."

"That's b-b-bully!" exclaimed Fudge.

"Well, don't expect too much," warned Dick. "Mr. Brent isn't likely to hire him unless he can prove that he knows his business. I know enough about Mr. Brent to be certain of that, Fudge."

"Sure, but he does know his business! He's a very fine civil engineer."

"How do you know?" asked Dick gravely. "Has he ever done any work for you?"

Perry chuckled, and Fudge reddened a bit. "No, but—but you can t-t-t-tell he is, Dick!"

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