Chapter 10 SID'S WONDERFUL EVENING
　　Sid, the paper-boy, was most amazed to find himself yanked quickly through the front door by Julian.
　　He was even more amazed to find his very lurid¹ check cap snatched off his head, and his bag ofpapers torn from his shoulder.
　　'Ere!' he said feebly. 'What you doing?'
　　'It's all right, Sid,' said Julian, holding him firmly. 'Just a joke. We've got a little treat in store for you.'
　　Sid didn't like jokes of this sort. He struggled, but soon gave it up. Julian was big and strong and verydetermined. Sid turned and watched Dick stride out with his bright check cap sideways on his head,and his paper-bag over his shoulder. He gasped² when he saw Dick leap on the bicyle that he, Sid, hadleft by the gate, and go sailing off up the lane on it.
　　'What's he doing?' he asked Julian, amazed. 'Funny sort of joke this.'
　　'I know. Hope you don't mind,' said Julian, leading him firmly into the sitting-room³.
　　'Somebody betted him he wouldn't deliver the papers, maybe?' said Sid. 'So he's taken the bet on?'
　　'You're clever, you are, Sid,' said Julian, and Sid beamed all over his round, simple face.
　　'Well, I hope he'll deliver them all right,' he said. 'Anyway, there's only two more, up at the farm.
　　Yours is the last house but one that I go to. When's he coming back?'
　　'Soon,' said Julian. 'Will you stay and have supper with us, Sid?'
　　Sid's eyes nearly fell out of his head. 'Supper with you folks?' he said. 'Coo! That'd be a rare treat!'
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　　'All right. You sit and look at these books,' said Julian, giving him two or three story books belongingto Anne. 'I'll just go and tell our cook to make a specially⁴ nice supper for you.'
　　Sid was all at sea about this unexpected treat, but quite willing to accept a free meal and sit down. Hesat beaming on the couch, turning over the pages of a fairy-story book. Coo! What would his mothersay when she heard he'd had supper at Kirrin Cottage? She wouldn't half be surprised, thought Sid.
　　And now Julian had to tackle Joan, and get her to join in their little plot. He went into the kitchen andshut the door. He looked so grave that Joan was startled.
　　'What's the matter?' she said.
　　Julian told her. He told her about the kidnapping of George, and the strange note. He gave it to her toread. She sat down, her knees beginning to shake.

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