at the chairs. "Sit down and confess all," he went on. "How's the world been treating you two?"
"All right, sir," answered Fudge hurriedly. "But that isn't it. What we want to tell you is that—that they're after you, sir."
"After me?" asked the other mildly. "Who is?"
"The—the police, sir." Fudge continued breathlessly. "We came up about a half-hour ago and he didn't hear us, I guess, and he knocked and then he tried the door. We made believe"
"Whoa! Back up! Let's have this right, Shaw. You came up here to see me a half-hour ago and saw someone knock on my door and try to open it. Who was he?"
"A policeman, Mr. Addicks; a big, fat policeman. We made believe we were looking for another room and he went out again and we stayed here to warn you."
"Why, now that was kind of you," replied Mr. Addicks gravely. "But just why did you think I ought to be warned?"
Fudge hesitated. After all, it was not a pleasant task to inform a man that you knew him to be a criminal. Perry moved uneasily in his chair, but failed to come to his chum's assistance.
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