Part 16 (1/2)
In a few brief words the Rovers explained matters.
”If you can let us have some wire, or straps, we'll pay you for them,”
went on d.i.c.k.
”I hain't got much,” replied the old man. ”I'm poor, I am--with havin' sech rheumatism I can't work the farm. But yeou kin look in the barn an' see wot there is.”
The boys waited to hear no more, but hurried to the structure indicated--a building all but ready to fall down. In a harness closet they found a few old straps and a coil of fence wire.
”I guess these will answer,” said d.i.c.k.
”Anyway, let us try them. Sam, you go back and pay the old man whatever he wants, while Tom and I do the mending.”
”All right,” answered the youngest Rover, and hurried off in the direction of the farm-house.
Sam found the old man sitting by a small table, eating a frugal meal of beans and bread and coffee.
”We found three old straps and some fence wire,” said the youth. ”What do you suppose they are worth?”
”Well, I'm a poor man, I be,” whined the old man. ”I don't think yeou be goin' to rob a poor, old man.”
”Not at all,” answered Sam, kindly. ”How much do you want?”
”Them tudder fellers wot had a breakdown give me a dollar fer wot they got,” said the old man, shrewdly.
”If I give you a dollar, will that be all right?”
”I guess so,” answered the old man. He knew what three straps and what wire were meant, and knew they were not worth half the amount offered.
”Who had the other breakdown?” asked Sam, as he handed over a dollar bill.
”Some fellers in an autymobile--a couple o' weeks ago, or so.”
”Some men in an automobile!” cried Sam, with sudden interest. ”Who were they?”
”I dunno. They left the autymobile in the barn one night an' come fer it the next day. They give me a dollar.”
”How many men?”
”Two I think there was, although one on 'em kept putty well out o'
sight, as if he didn't want to be seen.”
”How did the man look that you saw?”
”Oh, he was a tall feller, with a face that stuck out here,” and the old man pointed to his chin.
”And did he have real heavy eyebrows?”
”He sure did--eyebrows 'most as heavy as a moustache.”
”How did the other man look?”