They Made Their Mark: Chapter 6

"Perce! Actually I can recall Ern saying his brother's real name was Percy so maybe Percival's not on the birth certificate. What's happened to our Ernie? You tell me, Larry – how do you reckon it?"

Just as he said that the intercom interrupted them. "What's up, Doc?" said Fatty

"Mr. T, I need to leave work early this afternoon so I'll go to the bank now, have a short lunch and be back here before you can say J.R. – OK?"

"A-OK. Tell Eddie to expect me, plus a friend."

"He'll know you're coming when I tell him to start working on the side of beef."

"Dot, did you hear the one about the idiot who said 'No'?"

"No!"

"Thanks, see you later!"

A snort came through the speaker, as Fatty looked over at his friend. "Well, Larry?"

Larrry, who couldn't help appreciating the friendly banter, smiled and asked, "What's with the Bugs Bunny stuff?"

"Just an in-house joke. I think the first time I ever answered Dot on the intercom I mistakenly said Doc instead of Dot. I'd been watching too much Elmer Fudd."

"I see." Larry chuckled, collected his thoughts, and then pondered for a few seconds,

"Ern has to be a blue-collar worker. You know Fatty, it's interesting how our make-up and background seem to fit us for certain types of work. I don't think I could find enough stimulation on an assembly line or working some great big machine in an engineering shop because I like to be challenged and that's why I liked the R.A.F. I wasn't satisfied with just that, however, and in my spare time I studied law as a kind of back-up for the future... and there's plenty of challenge in that as there is with the Gazette. As far as Ern is concerned though, I can't see him taking on a job that requires all that much brain-power and the initial picture that I get is that of a postman. For some reason I can see Ern plodding up and down the streets with a bag of mail over his shoulder and blowing his whistle like mad."

"Larry, that's exactly what I can see. Mail delivery would fit Ern like a glove. But no, he's never been a postman to the best of my knowledge."

"Farm-hand perhaps! Plumber's mate! Carpenter's apprentice! Ern was pretty good with his hands, wasn't he? – I'm thinking of that marvelous table he presented to you."

"Yes, I remember him coming in with it all wrapped up and it would have been round Christmas back when we were chasing those actor-people who took over the Peters' house. I still have it and Ern was tickled pink when I told him I use his table almost every day. Your guess isn't right though – it has to be something right outside the norm because when I tell you what he took up it might sound so ludicrous that you won't believe me."

"OK, Fatty, I'm prepared – tell me."

"Ern joined the Police Force."

"Sure. What's he now – a commissioner?"

"I'm serious!"

"Come on Fatty, I didn't come down with the last shower of rain."

"I tell you – it's true. Our Ernie entered the Force."

"Where's that cushion... nope, I promised I'd behave myself. Tell you what Fatty, I'll shut up... just keep going until we reach Fairyland."

"Tut-tut. We have a disbeliever in our midst. Oh, Holy Father, please allow my friend to comprehend the realities of life. Here's the gen, Larry – Ern did enter the Force. You'll remember how he loved being a Find-Outer when the occasion arose and he was actually very useful to us a few times as you well know."

"True, Fatty. I'll admit that. I remember how he organized those Woosh twins – what were their names? Momentary block, anyway he was passionate about helping us any way he could – mostly I think because he worshipped you."

"Well, I did get that impression but I didn't like to say it out loud. You know Larry; it was almost embarrassing when he was with me that time he stayed the night at my place. He had this way of hanging on to every word I spoke and he reminded me of an adoring puppy-dog waiting for the slightest order from his master. I think if a preacher had knocked on the door at that time, Ern would have asked for my hand in marriage."

Larry smiled, "You can have that one Fatty, because it's not a boast – just plain fact. He looked up to you no end and I understand exactly what you mean when you say it was almost embarrassing. I had a younger cousin who was like that... for some reason he thought I was God's Gift to the world and I think that if I'd asked him for ten ice-creams he'd have rushed out and bought them for me."

Fatty laughed, "I suppose it's nice to be idolized on the odd occasion. Incidentally, have a go at remembering the names of the Woosh twins seeing it's part of therapy."

Larry scratched his head and narrowed his eyes, "If I clear my mind and then grab the first name I receive I'll work from there – now, I've got Woosh... Goon... Policeman... Government... Queen and Country... Queen... I've got one... and now I remember the other. They were Elizabeth... No! Liz and Gladys. How's that, Fatty?"

"Not bad at all – Liz, and Glad. Congrats! Now you'll remember how the Super was quite impressed with Ern – at least he seemed to be. He may have been congratulating him much in the same way as one praises a child who's just produced a crayoned picture but, be that as it may, there was the night the lad stayed locked up in Bourne Wood and that took courage, Larry. The Super gave him a tick for that. Then there was the instance near the end of that case involving the Burmese character. You remember don't you – Ern followed me to Fairlin hall and came to the rescue."

"Yes, and then he scared the men away by knocking a pile of stuff off a shelf. Ern excelled himself in that mystery and I remember Jenks congratulating him."

"That's right," said Fatty. "Young Ern liked being acknowledged by the Superintendent of Police. It made its mark and he wanted more because Ern's an individual who received little praise in his younger days, so about a year after I joined the Police he decided that he wanted to join up as well."

"Well, I'll be..."

"Yes, you be! Can you see it – Ern wanting to follow his hero blindly into a life of continuous mystery-solving and cream-buns! He had connections of course and that made things a little easier for him."

"Connections? How do you mean, Fatty?"

"Goon, naturally. Ern was Goon's nephew and I'm sure you'll agree that TG was right behind the decision. You can just see him can't you – clapping Ern on the shoulder and offering all the required assistance and the benefit of his experience as an Exemplary Member of the Force! At least that's Goon's image of himself, wouldn't you say?"

"Of course. Yes, I can see Goon taking Ern under his wing and hoping to make him a kind of Goon the Second. Actually, I was being a little unfair to Ern with my disbelief – he was entitled to join up just like anyone else is."

"Exactly. There was no reason why Ern couldn't have a pop at it. He was of age, so he duly applied and the machinery was set in motion. Jenks hunted me out because I knew the lad better than anyone – anyone that is who's not related, and he asked me what I thought about it. I felt the same as him – no way would Ern make a cop but the Chief thought he should be given a chance seeing the lad had demonstrated his enthusiasm in our earlier days and had earned a commendation or two. He thought that the best plan would be to let him join up and the Chief's idea was that after a while the lad would find out for himself that he was unsuited. I agreed that he should be given the opportunity if only for the help he'd supplied in earlier times not to mention the Goon Connection. There was a factor in our favour though. Jenks knew it and I guessed it – can you?"

"Er... um... not yet!"

"So, it happened – another Goon entered the Constabulary. The Chief pulled some strings and managed to get him in on a kind probationary basis although Goon didn't need to be told about that side of it because it wouldn't have helped. Well, the candidate passed the physical tests quite adequately – Ern's pretty fit despite his plumpness."

"I'm tempted to say something."

"Don't, because I know exactly what you're thinking and anyway I'm no longer that way inclined – you said it yourself."

"Just getting back at you for that warped trick you played on me!"

"Revenge is sweet! Anyway, Ern was fitted out and assigned to a beat with an experienced overseer and he began pounding the streets of Marlow."

"A nice little country village."

"Yes, it had to be humble-beginnings for our Ernie. I was just about to head off for Newington and he visited me before I left and managed to convey that he wasn't all that happy just walking up and down the High Street and checking locks to make sure they were fastened. He'd thought that because of our past activities we'd be placed on the same beat and spend our time solving mysteries together."

"Poor, innocent Ern."

"Yeah. It looked like the Chief's plan was working and, after all, it was for Ern's sake although I felt sorry for him because, naturally, he had to come up against the reality of being a policeman. I was keeping tabs on him via other colleagues based in the area and it wasn't long before calamity ensued. Apparently he and his companion were called to a domestic situation over in Mill End and whilst they were there his mate was called away to another disturbance further up the street. Ern was left alone with an extremely voluble woman and her equally aggressive husband both shouting at him and threatening each other – something which P.C. Goon Junior was expected to sort out all by himself."

Fatty looked enquiringly at Larry. "Can you see it? – Ern standing between two hostile individuals and wondering what on earth he's supposed to do? Well, of course he couldn't do much at all and he ended up edging away and looking around desperately for his co-worker, who had disappeared. Then he thought he'd better call for help so he ended up having to knock on someone's door and ask if he could use their telephone. Meanwhile, the couple he'd left in the street came to blows – the husband struck the wife or something and then everything got out of hand. Fortunately, Ern's mate returned just then and he managed to do a little patching up but an ambulance had to be called and Ern ended his shift on a rather dark note. Something else happened the next night and it looked as if Ern desperately needed to get as far away from the Police Force as he could and that was easily arranged by gearing in the other factor. Guessed it yet?"

"No, I can't say I have, Fatty. What was it?"

"The I.Q. Test!"

Larry pounded his knee, "Of course!"

"Jenks had managed to defer the test until Ern had received the required sample of police life and then, I'm afraid, there was a very poor result for our Ernie. But the balance is that he realized for himself he wasn't destined to be a policeman, let alone a detective, and that was very important."

"Yes. To find out for himself."

"Exactly. So the signs were that he was quite relieved at not passing the test and he was duly routed out with the correct amount of sympathy from his colleagues."

"Goon's reaction?"

"I gathered from one source that Goon was not very happy about it but I think that after he'd read the report even he realized that Ern couldn't make the grade and it's great that it happened because Ern's life was about to take a different and a more productive turn."

"A more productive turn, eh? Now, what would that entail?"

"Someone told him about the Labour Exchange so he headed off to the local branch and after a day or two one of the people there referred him to an advertisement for a General Hand."

"What, on a farm?"

"On a ship."

"Well... Blow The Man Down!"

"Yep, Ern had found a job as a pirate on the high seas."

"Life's so full of surprises where our Ernie's concerned. How did he take to it, Fatty?"

"What do you reckon?"

Larry reflected, "I think that a job like that might go down quite well with Ern."

"Perfection with a Capital P! Ern signed up, and he took to it like a duck to water, and there was also the moving around side of it which I think he looked upon as a kind of Great Adventure. I can imagine him believing that he was traveling the world although you have to replace Rome, Hong Kong, and Rio with Clacton, Grimsby, and Hartlepool, because the ship was one of those rusty old coasters that ply their trade up and down the length of the island."

"How did you find all this out, Fatty? Did you keep in constant touch?"

"Not all that much, but after he landed the job he came to me for a reference. He needed a scrap of paper attesting to his character and he thought I'd be the best source."

"A glowing reference?"

"No, just a simple attestation to the fact that I'd known him for a number of years and found him to be industrious and honest. He was an adult now and there was no need to put down on paper any small misdemeanour he may have been guilty of in his earlier years. He was also entitled to state that he'd once been in the Police although I'm sure he didn't put down his length of service."

"I wonder what your reference would contain if it had been supplied by Goon."

"I wonder! Anyway, Ern set sail on the Good Ship Lollipop and he thrived. He loves the outdoor life and he's not a shirker which was good because you have to pull weight when you're in that environment, which means he got on well with his ship-mates."

"Ern would because he's the type – how many in the crew?"

Not sure. Maybe twenty or so. Our friend visited faraway places... if you can see Eastbourne, Portsmouth, and Cardiff as being in that category. Not faraway places to you of course, or me for that matter, but to Ern of Smallville those places must have seemed as if they were on the other side of the world."

"Understood!"

"He sailed the seas for nigh on 3 years... less than that, and whenever he remembered he'd send me a card from some port he had visited. The first time I found one in the letter-box I thought it was from a child, and then I deciphered Ern's hand-writing which you'll probably remember is rather large and untidy."

Larry grinned, "Yes, I remember reading some of his poetry Fatty and, shall we say, it was a little difficult to interpret because he writes like Goon. Is he still into his poetry or portry?"

"Now, that's something I don't know, Larry. I'd imagine he still writes the odd line or two when he's by himself because he's fairly imaginative. To continue – after the two years or so our Ernie made a break from the predictable behaviour of your average blue-collar worker and he began thinking. Some sociological studies have brought forth a factor which separates the working and professional classes to the extent that the former tend not to look all that far ahead. It's more Live for Now rather than Prepare for the Future."

"Understood, Prof."

"To finish my lecture... the white-collars tend to plan a little more, but that's also what Ern Goon did. He started thinking ahead and possibly this urge might simply be in the family because his uncle's the same way – insecurity is something the Goons loathe and this was probably what caused Ern's return to terra firma. Although he loved the sea-life, he realized he couldn't carry on forever moving from port to port and never having a life of his own. And you know, Larry, there's more to that lad than you or I ever envisaged. Ern's practical and he has hidden depths which led me to believe what I've always suspected – he's a survivor! He might be the not-very-bright, innocent babe but he knows what he wants and he has the reserves to draw on when he's up against it."

"I can see that, Fatty. You know, I'm thinking back again to that account you gave of what he did when he followed you to Fairlin Hall that time. We were all impressed because the general consensus regarding Ern in a situation like that might well be that he'd would make off like a frightened rabbit if ever he came up against villains in the dead of night."

"Yes, but instead, he scared them into the coal-cellar. So, with higher things in mind, Ern turned land-lubber again. He was given a little send-off when the ship sailed into Southend which was Ern's first and last Port of Call and he headed back to familiar territory – namely Oxfordshire. His Ma and Pa were quite happy to have him back because they were a little short of money as has always been the case, and a sturdy son is a welcome addition to any such household. Unfortunately for them, Ern wasn't staying."

"Where are they now, Fatty?"

"Ern's parents?"

"Yeah."

"They're still in the second-hand business over in Ashbury and with, or without Ern, they're survivors as well."

"So what's their enterprising son up to now?"

"He invested!"

Larry expressed surprise, "What on earth do you mean by that?"

"You look mystified! The fact, Larry, is that Ern invested in a little flat situated within the confines of our fair village."

"Well, I'll be again... Ern in his own place? His very own flat... how could he afford it, Fatty?"

"There's a reason for his flushness, and I'll explain it. Those people who throw in their lot and sail the seas are generally, though not always, of a type."

"Meaning?"

Fatty sat up in his chair and stretched his legs out in front of him, "They have one thing in common – do the work allotted and then play... and they approach the playing side of their lives with professionalism. When the ship calls into port, a score of men who have done nothing but work, eat, and sleep for days, weeks, even months, depending on the schedule, have what can be called Rest and Recreation. These chaps are past masters at Resting and Recreationing and they prove it by making for the Rest and Recreation area of whichever town they're in. Straight into the bars and clubs they go with cash spilling from their pockets and three desires in mind – Wine, Women and Song, or maybe you could place those words in a different order. They spend up big, and I mean Big. Most of them stay right away from the ship and book into hotels or rooming houses or shack up somewhere to be right next to whatever action the town or city has to offer them. Get it?"

"Got it!"

"Good! Here's the angle of interest – Ern's different in needs and desires. Being the simple lad that he is, he entertained himself in a way that could be classed as alien to his mates on the ship. He might visit the library and spend a few hours perusing books of trains and planes and machinery and anything with more than its share of pictures. He's a dreamer but only because the insulation he's experienced in his life has made him that way. He also likes the picture houses and whilst his mates were wowing it up in some bar or casino, he'd be watching the latest episode of Buffalo Bill or Trader Tom."

Larry chuckled loudly. "Trader Tom of the China Seas, that'd be right up his alley. Right-On Ern."

"He particularly likes the westerns but he's interested in anything that can supply him with a little escapism. Can you see Ern – sitting on a park-bench with a filled roll in his hand and reading the latest Pecos Bill or Roy Rodgers?"

"Yes, I can, and I'll add a bottle of lemonade to the picture."

The time was creeping inexorably by and Fatty disappeared to replenish the coffee pot. He returned after a while and they filled their cups.

"OK. So, here was Ern spending just a pound or two on movies and ice-creams when he wasn't at the library or the cinema, or perhaps sitting in the park, and at the same time the old bank-balance was also living a fairly static existence. It doesn't take much figuring to realize that when he left the ship he had a considerable amount of money hidden under his mattress – speaking metaphorically. He traveled from Southend and after being reunited with his kith and kin, he looked me up and I gave him a big welcome back. It was good to see him again and catch up on his life and when he asked for a little financial advice I supplied it and I can tell you, Larry, I was pleased for him. Ern was making a very commendable move and not falling into the trap of wasting his funds, which is very easy to do when you're alone and looking for something to do."

Fatty paused for a second and Larry saw an amused look on his face.

"What is it?"

Fatty looked at him, "I'll tell you a little story. When Ern called on me for a little advice regarding his finances he said he'd have to wait until almost midnight to get a train home. I was going out that evening with the daughter of a client who was in Peterswood for the night, and I wondered whether I should invite Ern along seeing he had nothing to do and nowhere to go until he returned home. I decided I would and to put it mildly, he was thrilled to think he'd received an invitation to go out on the town."

"Where were you going?" Larry asked,

"Twelfth Night!"

Larry laughed loudly, "You weren't! You took Ern Goon to Twelfth Night. Why?"

"Well, that's where we were going." Fatty began laughing as well. "Besides, there's a shipwreck somewhere in it and a bit of a fight... some disguising. Good Ern stuff besides what else could I do with him?"

Larry chuckled again, "Fatty, tell me what happened? How did Ernie get on at the... where was it. Lyceum?"

"London? No, we weren't going that far... Royal in Windsor. I had a word to him on the side – said it was a rather classy affair and I tried to get across that the audience would be a little different from the customers at a cowboy movie and he understood completely. He told me that one of the workers on his ship had often regaled the others with tales of his life before he'd taken up coaster work. There's always one, Larry – the character who wants to impress his mates. Apparently this fellow had been to one or two theatre performances and rather liked the atmosphere. Whether it was the glitz rather than the actual play one doesn't know but I wouldn't blame him if his attendance was chiefly for the crowds and the general razzmatazz although I've always thought that applied more to boxing and wrestling events.

"According to Ern, this patron-of-the-arts described what happens at high-class shows and how the audience reacts, and it seems that Ern listened very carefully and recorded the information for future use in his climb up the social ladder. I thought I'd better ask him if he had a jacket or something just to cover his shirt up – saying it in the nicest possible way of course and offering to loan him one should he be jacket-less. Rather unexpectedly, he did have one in his bag just in case I had wanted to take him along to a bank manager or some other money-man to discuss his funding. He showed it to me, and I didn't actually recoil... well, perhaps I did because it was a dark blue suede thing, rather threadbare round the cuffs and elbows. He was obviously proud of it and told me how he'd acquired the garment at a charity shop in Bridlington, so there you are... that was Ernie set for an evening's entertainment and, at the appointed time, we duly set off for the theatre."

Larry broke in, "How did your young lady friend take to Ern?"

"Joyce, our companion? She rather liked him. Ern has a way of attracting interest with his naivety and the odd things he comes out with in his general way."

"The spittys and swatisaids?"

"Maybe, but Ern tries hard to please and in no way is he over-bearing – just follows any direction he's given and doesn't try to take over the conversation. We sat through the show and everything went well, although I'm not sure how much of it he understood, but it was a brilliant performance and the players left the stage at the end and waited for the audience's appreciation to bring them on once more for the usual curtain-calls." Fatty looked directly at Larry. " Imagine... imagine standing there amongst a crowd all cheering and clapping and Ern beside you yelling out: "Author! Author!"

Larry burst into helpless laughter and almost fell out of his chair. "Don't, Fatty... don't. You're joking aren't you?"

The laughter that echoed round the office and permeated the reception area would undoubtedly have drawn some wry comment from Dot had she been there.

"Laughter's good for the soul," gasped Larry as he wiped his eyes. "Oh, spare me Fatty! Is it really true? What happened then?"

"I told Ern that if he calls in at Dallows he can buy the author's latest book, signed personally."

Larry looked as if he was going into something resembling an apoplectic fit. "What book?"

"The Angry Native!"

Larry fairly shouted with laughter, "The Angry Native by... by...... Fatty, cut it out. I'll have an accident in a minute!"

Fatty, who'd also been chortling uncontrollably tried to compose himself,

"Getting back to reality, Larry, a sea of faces turned and stared at us as I pulled Ern down and explained why the author was not backstage waiting to present himself. He went scarlet and slunk down in his seat hoping, no doubt, that he'd be completely absorbed into the floor, but I got him up and the three of us joined the crowd all jostling towards the exit."

"How did your date react?"

"She was giggling like anything but only from the sheer joy of it all. And as for Ern, I think he felt as if he was running a gauntlet. In truth, the crowd was very understanding and good-humoured when they'd had a proper look at him and if only he'd known they weren't the type of people who jeer and try to put one down as might be the case at other venues. I think the lad was under the apprehension that he'd never be able to lift his head up in public again, but on our way to the car I explained that the world wasn't ending just because he'd made a little mistake and by the time we arrived at Peterswood I think we'd managed to convince him that he could carry on living and benefit by just being himself and not trying too hard to impress."

"Gosh, Fatty, whenever I feel like a good laugh I'll hearken back to Ern's theatrical initiation."

"Well, at least he's over it now so let's get back to what I was saying about his attitude after sailing the seas. When an ex-seaman finds himself in Ern's position it's very tempting to lead the Good Life whilst it can be afforded, but in the long run as we know it's wise to prepare for the future and Ern had that instilled in his character. Many people from his side of the tracks take the chance of increasing their funds by a very common method – gambling. But fortunately, Ern had the little spark to which he was directing his attention ceaselessly, and he had set a course so his bank balance ended up invested in a home and he was ecstatic about it. His parents were quite happy for him apparently and, although they lost Ern's weekly board money, he still visited and assisted them every now and again with a talent that he possessed."

"Ern's handy!"

"Yes. He's handy and by that I mean he has a talent for fixing things and fashioning bits and pieces that can't be found in the junk shops. He settled into his flat and was given an old bed from his parents' shop and a few other essentials like a wardrobe and a well-used three-piece suite and then he started looking around. He got to know his neighbour in the other flat of course – an elderly lady who really took to the lad because Ern gets on well with older and more dependent people and he goes out of his way to help them if he can. Mrs. Hennessy, the neighbour, once remarked to Ern that she was going to get a plumber in to fix a tap-washer and of course the lad went straight over and fixed it for her himself. The result was that Hennessy passed it on and soon Ern was cashing in on his handyman capabilities. He put a notice on the board in the local sweetshop declaring his status and once again the money began trickling in."

The intercom pinged and Dot's voice came through,

"I'm back!"

"As if I didn't hear you lumbering in like an elephant!"

"In that case I'm an ideal companion for you, aren't I?"

"I think you're beginning to disrespect me, Dot."

Larry laughed at the exchange. "Fatty, I'm glad for Ern, but was he making enough to live comfortably?"

"Well, he was making a fairly reasonable living for one who leads the simple life, and he was well-liked by the older people who were his main customers. He charged reasonable amounts and he was honest and often did little extras for his clients. He might be employed to clear a drain and then notice a bulb gone which is a small thing for us but a person who is not too steady on the old legs would welcome assistance. No problem... no charge for the extra few minutes and then fate smiled even more widely for our lad. He discovered another Calling. What do you think?"

"Can't! Animal training?"

"Gardening! He began clearing up around his little section and then he thought he'd try growing some vegetables to save a little money, which meant he acquired an interest in tending to the soil. He planted seeds and seemed to know just what to do – I think he took such an intense interest in the progress of his lettuces and carrots because he felt a bit like their Creator. He nursed his brood though the heat of the summer and the occasional storm or gale that passes by, and he also planted a few flowers and tied each one to a stake if he thought they were being buffeted around too much. His heart and soul were in their survival, which of course brings us to one of Ern's innate qualities – his loyalty."

"Well, well, well. Ern gets better and better – so I guess that occupation followed the same route as his handyman hat."

"Yes, he's now lessened his handy-work and has a number of regular clients whose gardens he visits and nurtures. His customers are all very pleased with his work and Ern's living the life he loves – being outdoors and having people relying on him and he's developed a good sense of responsibility which is something he didn't get much opportunity to acquire in his earlier years."

Larry sat up, "Wonderful, Fatty. I'll have to catch up with him as soon as poss."

"You bet. I'll give you his address and he'd love to see you. Ern's an accommodating chap who'll drop everything if he has a visitor. He doesn't have all that many friends of his own because most of them have left the area and, of course, he's been away himself, so I'm sure you'll be given the five-star treatment. Now do you want to hear about his brothers?"

"Absolutely, Fatty, and then shall we have a spot of lunch?"

"Yep. Now, what do you think became of Sid and Perce Goon?"

"Fatty, I can't even hazard a guess apart from assuming they might have been taken on as helpers of some kind. I've got postman on the brain so maybe that's what they are. Tell me, and tell me!"

Fatty prepared to do so but suddenly they both heard a distressed cry from Reception. Fatty jumped up and spoke into the intercom...

"Dot, what's the matter?"

It appeared that something terrible had happened. Larry heard Dot's muffled voice speaking quickly and with much emphasis on a missing card.

"My Holy Aunt! I'll be right out. Larry, it looks like trouble and I hope it isn't what Dot thinks it is!"

Larry left his seat and followed Fatty out of the office.

To be continued...