Part 4 (1/2)

”I guess I can explain that,” said Ben. ”I was talking to my cousin about it, down at the drug store. Just as we were coming out, after having some soda, I saw Nat behind one of the part.i.tions. He must have heard all we said, and I suppose it made him mad to think we were going to have a good time, and that he wouldn't be in it.”

”Exactly,” returned Dave. ”Just as he was mad when he wasn't invited to the party, and tried to spoil the ice-cream.”

”Do you suppose they have a right to close the road?” questioned Roger.

”I don't know. I always thought this was a public highway.”

”So it is,” added Ben. ”The paper company bought the ground on one side of the road but not on the other. I don't think they can stop us from going through, even though they may stop us from going down to the Falls.”

”But if we can't go to the Falls, what is the use of keeping on this road?” asked Laura.

”We can go above the Falls, Laura,” answered her brother. ”There is a beautiful spot there called Lookout Point, where you can look out all over the valley.”

The matter was talked over for a few minutes, and the boys decided to go ahead, to show that they considered that they had a right to use the road, even if they did not go down to the Falls. The roadway was cleared sufficiently to let the cars pa.s.s, and the power was turned on once again.

”Be careful, Dave, that you don't run into more trouble!” sang out Roger.

”I'll be on the lookout!” was the answer. ”And you be prepared to stop quick, too, so as not to run into me.”

”I'll drop back to a place of safety,” returned the senator's son.

”There is no use of keeping so close together, anyway.”

The road wound in and out among the trees, and in some spots was so narrow that the boys had to run with great care, for fear of b.u.mping into the stump of a tree or on the rocks, or switching into some low-hanging branch. Dave had his foot on the brake, ready to stop quickly, should it become necessary to do so.

”Hi, there! Stop! Don't you dare to come any further!”

The call was an unexpected one, coming just as the leading automobile hove in sight of the Falls. Dave saw Nat Poole hurrying towards him, followed by Merwell and Jasniff. Pete Barnaby was nowhere in sight, and the marks on the narrow road told that his racing car had gone on ahead.

”What do you want, Nat?” asked Dave, as coolly as he could, having brought his machine to a standstill.

”Can't you read, Dave Porter?” fumed the son of the Crumville money-lender.

”Certainly I can read.”

”Well, then, what are you doing on this road? You know it is closed. You haven't any right on it at all--you or anybody else. You turn around and go back, just as quick as you can.”

”This is a public road, Nat Poole!” cried Ben. ”You hadn't any right to put up that sign.”

”Humph! A lot you know about it, Ben Ba.s.swood! This is my father's land, and I reckon he knows his rights. You are not going down to the Falls to-day to have your picnic.” And Nat's small eyes gleamed maliciously.

”We don't intend to go down to the Falls,--now that we know how matters stand,” said Dave. ”But we are going through on this road.”

”Not much you ain't--not another step!” roared Nat.

”That's right, Nat, make 'em keep off your property,” put in Link Merwell.

”Show 'em that you won't allow a poorhouse n.o.body to dictate to you,”

added Nick Jasniff, but in such a low voice that Dave did not catch all he said.