Tim, hurriedly questioned, shook his head, also puzzled.
Late in the evening there came a moment when Tom could free himself long
enough to run up to Perkins's room. He was uneasy about his guest--and
friend--for that the stranger seemed to have become. Perkins certainly
didn't look quite strong--could he have overdone and be ill, alone in
his room? After one hasty knock, to which he got no answer, Tom turned
the knob. Through the open balcony door he saw a leg and shoulder--and
smelled the familiar fragrance of the special brand.
"Hello, son!" was Perkins's greeting.
"You're not sick?"
"Never. Things going O. K.?"
"Oh, splendid! Such a crowd--such a jolly crowd! But--why don't you come
down?"
"To help make things go?"
"No, no--to enjoy it. You've done enough. You must know some of these
people, and if you don't--it's worth something just to look at 'em. I
didn't know ladies dressed like that--under those things they wear in
the autos. Say, Mr. Perkins, the Lieutenant-Governor's here--and his
wife!"
"So?"
"Mr.
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