Part 3 (2/2)
”What do you suppose they are up to now, Dave?” asked the s.h.i.+powner's son.
”I don't know, Phil; but from the look on Nat Poole's face I should think----” And then Dave stopped short.
”What?”
”Well, never mind now. I may be wrong, and there is no use of worrying.
Come on, let us get to the Falls,--and try to forget that crowd.” And so speaking, Dave started up the touring car he was running, and followed in the direction Pete Barnaby had taken, and Roger came after him.
The meeting at the tavern had disturbed all of the girls, and the boys had hard work trying to cheer them up and make them forget the unpleasant encounter. Everybody felt that there was ”something in the air,” but each person hated to mention it to the others.
Presently Dave reached the point where they would have to take to a side road that was deep with dust and hemmed in on both sides by rocks and bushes. Here, in the dust, could plainly be seen the marks of another automobile.
”Think they came this way, Dave?” questioned Sam.
”Yes,--although some other folks may be at the Falls on an outing.”
”Oh, I hope we don't meet them again!” said Belle Endicott. The two machines were running slowly and close together.
They pa.s.sed on around a long curve, and over a small hill, and then came in sight of the river, glistening in the suns.h.i.+ne between the trees.
From a distance came the roar of the Falls, where a fairly large body of water rushed steadily over the rocks.
”Isn't it a shame that they are going to use the Falls for a mill!” said one of the girls.
”Well, this is a commercial age, and so one must expect those things,”
answered Dave. ”But I shall hate to see the Falls used for business.
They are so pretty.”
There was another turn just ahead, and it was lucky for Dave that he was running slowly, for there, across the road, were placed several logs and dead limbs of trees. As it was, he ran directly on top of some of the tree limbs before he could come to a stop, and Roger, so close behind, had to turn into some bushes to avoid ramming the car in front.
”Well, of all things!” burst out Phil, while several of the girls screamed in fright.
”Who did this?” demanded the senator's son.
”It is easy to see who did it,” answered Dave. ”See the sign?” And he pointed to a big white card, tacked to a post propped up among the logs and tree limbs. On the card was painted, in red, the following:
THIS ROAD CLOSED
_By Order of Aaron Poole Pres. Eureka Paper Co._
”This is some of Nat's work!” burst out Phil. ”That is why he was in such a hurry to get ahead of us.”
”I believe you,” answered Dave. ”I was afraid he was up to some trick, but I didn't want to say anything about it until I was sure.”
”But if Nat is guilty, how did he know we were coming here?” asked Roger.
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