“Well, there are some pretty good hitters among the ‘Giants,’” commented Dick gravely. Fudge snorted.
“You know wh-wh-what I mean!” he said severely.
“Of course he does,” agreed Lanny. “Dick, you oughtn’t to poke fun at Fudge’s great thoughts. Fudge is a budding genius, Fudge is, and if you’re not careful you’ll discourage him. Remember his story about the fellow who won the mile race in two minutes and forty-one seconds, Dick? That was a peach of a——”
“I didn’t!” declared Fudge passionately. “The p-p-printer made a mistake! I’ve told you that a th-th-th-thousand t-t-times! I wrote it——”
“Don’t spoil it,” begged Dick. “It was a much better story the way _The Purple_ printed it. Any fellow might run the mile in four-something, but to do it under three shows real ability, Fudge. Besides, what’s a minute or two in a story?”
“Aw, cu-cu-cut it out!” grumbled Fudge. “You f-f-fellows m-m-m-m——”
“You’ll never do it, Fudge,” said Gordon sympathetically. “I’ve noticed that if you don’t make it the first two or three times you——”
“——M-make me tired!” concluded Fudge breathlessly but triumphantly.
“Snappy work!” approved Lanny. “If at first you don’t succeed——”
“T-t-try, try again,” assisted Gordon. Fudge muttered something both unintelligible and uncomplimentary, and Gordon turned to Dick: “How did you get on with Mrs. Thingamabob at the Point, Dick?” he asked. “What’s the kid like?”
“All right. The name is Townsend. They’re at the hotel. The boy is thirteen and he’s—he’s a bit spoiled, I guess. There’s an older brother, too, a fellow about seventeen. He confided to me that I’d have a beast of a time with the youngster. His name—the brother’s—is Loring Townsend. Anybody know him?”
There was no response, and Dick continued:
“He seemed rather a nice chap, big brother did. As for the kid—his name is Harold, by the way——”
“Fancy names, what?” said Gordon. “Loring and Harold.”
“No fancier than your own,” commented Fudge, still a trifle disgruntled. “Gordon! Gee, that’s a sweet name for a grown-up fellow!”
“Not as sweet as Fudge, though,” answered Gordon.
“There, you’re getting him excited again,” said Lanny soothingly. “Move out of the moonlight, Fudge. It’s affecting your disposition. What about the kid, Dick? Is he the one you’re going to tutor?”