Part 33 (1/2)
”Those fellows must be the thieves,” whispered Andy, as he pointed to the pair beneath the tree
”I believe you are right,” returned Matt ”If so, we havemistake Neither of them is Paul Barberry, and I was almost certain he was the thief”
”So was I, Matt But never mind that now What worries me is the fact that there are two of the fellows,” returned the young auctioneer, as he surveyed the pair ”If they get ugly e claim the turn-out we may have a lively tiht, and we must stick up for our own”
”Of course we'll do that,” cried Matt deterot a stout stick? They ht if they fancy we are beyond outside aid”
”Perhaps we can bluff thee authorities at our back,” suggested Andy ”I would rather frighten the off second best in a set-to with the here?” suddenly de--what, you?”
And the speaker, none other than Paul Barberry, stepped back in amazement
”What's the trouble there, Barberry?” cried one of theup in alar fellows,” stammered the corn salve doctor He was so surprised he could hardly speak ”How did you get here?” he asked slowly
”Never ine you knoe are here for”
”No, I don't”
”Really!” returned Andy sarcastically ”Well, then, let on and stock”
”I haven't anything of yours,” returned Paul Barberry, gradually recovering fro a circle around the improvised camp he had stumbled upon them quite unexpectedly ”You talk as if I was a thief”
”Didn't you run off with that horse and wagon?” demanded Matt
”Run off with it? No, why should I? The outfit belongs to me Isn't that so, boys?” and the corn salve doctor turned to his burly companions
”Why, of course it does!” returned the men
A thunderbolt from the sky at that moment would not have taken Andy and Matt more by surprise than did this stateered them, and neither could speak for the th
”Of course”
”That's the biggest falsehood I ever heard inthere belongs to us”
”I know no such thing,” returned Barberry coldly ”I bought the outfit froentlemen know it also”
And he waved his hand toward his companions
”Certainly, we know all about it,” said one of the men
”Yes,the money paid over,” added the second fellow