Part 7 (1/2)
”Perhaps we can do that before this trip comes to an end,” answered d.i.c.k. ”You must remember, we have a good part of our outing before us.”
There was a parade in the town that day, and they watched this with interest. Then the girls and the ladies went back to the houseboat, leaving the boys to continue their rambles.
”I see some lumber rafts here,” said Sam. ”I wonder if that one stopped here that tried to run us down?”
”It might be,” answered Fred.
d.i.c.k was out buying some special supplies, and his errand took him to a quarter of the town which was by no means of the better sort.
As he hurried along, he heard several voices in dispute.
”You must settle that bill at the hotel,” a heavy voice was saying.
”You can't leave us until you do settle,” said a second voice.
”I paid my bill! I am not going to pay for you--I didn't invite you to come with me,” came from a third person.
d.i.c.k thought he recognized that voice, and, looking in the direction, was astonished to see Dan Baxter. The bully was in the hands of two lumbermen, who held him by the arm.
”He must be in trouble,” thought d.i.c.k, and he was right. Soon the dispute waxed hot, and one of the men hit Baxter in the face.
”Stop that!” cried d.i.c.k, running up. ”Stop it, I say!”
At the sound of his voice, the men started back in alarm.
”He must be the new sheriff,” whispered one. ”They say he looks like a boy!”
”Then we had better light out,” said the second lumberman, and on the instant both took to their heels and disappeared around a corner.
When d.i.c.k reached Dan Baxter's side, he found the former bully of Putnam Hall pale and much agitated. He, too, wanted to run away, but d.i.c.k held him.
”So we meet again, Baxter?”
”Let go of me!” growled the bully.
”What are you doing here?”
”That's my business.”
”What were the men doing?”
”They wanted me to pay their hotel bill for them, but I didn't propose to do it.”
”Do you know that Lew Flapp is under arrest?”
”I don't care.”
”I think I'll have to have you arrested, too.”
”Not much, d.i.c.k Rover!”