“I beg pardon, but I’m not――that is, you――――” But he gave it up. He wanted to tell the boy that he preferred not to be called “sir,” but he couldn’t think of a way to do it. “Come from New York?” the boy was asking, frankly curious. “Yes, sir, but from Baltimore before that. I left there last night. I came to see Mr. Ordway; Mr. Hugh Ordway. You might know him, sir?” “Know Hobo! Well, I guess! Everyone knows Hobo Ordway!” “No, sir, Hugh, if you please, sir.” “I know; that’s him. The fellows call him Hobo on account of his initials; H. O. B. O. don’t you see? Friend of yours, sir?” “My master, sir.” “Your――I didn’t get that!” “I’m Master Hugh’s man, sir. We were a bit worried about him and my lady sent me up to see if everything was all right.” “Oh, then you’re the valet chap he brought along with him when he got here?” “Yes, sir; Bowles, sir.” “Well, what do you know about that?” “You mean, sir――――” “Why, say, Mr. Bowles――or ought I to call you just Bowles?” “Just Bowles, if you’ll be so kind, sir.” “Well, then, Bowles, you don’t need to worry your bean about Hobo. He’s as right as a trivet, or tight as a rivet or whatever you say. Only thing that’s bothering him, I guess, is that his folks butted in at the last moment and told him he couldn’t play. But I guess you know all about that?” “Oh, yes, sir. You see he telegraphed――――” Bowles stopped and coughed discreetly. “That is to say, we telegraphed――――” “Fine piece of business, I don’t think, Bowles! What’s the big idea? Think he’d get killed?” “Can’t say, sir. It was her Ladyship’s idea. It’s an extremely rough game, this football.” “Rough! Sure, it’s rough, but――who’s her ladyship?” Bowles again coughed behind his hand. “Mrs. Ordway, sir, Master Hugh’s mother. We――we always call her that. It’s a habit, sir.” “Well, say, if you want to find Hobo you’d better beat it right now. He’s on this side somewhere, I suppose. Say, Jennings, seen Hobo Ordway lately?” “Sure! He was on the bench with the subs during the first half,” responded the next boy. “Then you go down there where you see those benches and he will be back again pretty soon.” “Thank you, sir, but possibly I’d better wait now until the football is over. That is to say, if you’re quite certain he is all right.” “Was this morning, anyway. I talked to him coming out of dining hall. There they come! _Grafton! Grafton!_”