Part 9 (2/2)
”Because I don't want the thing talked about in public. The more you talk about such things the worse off you are. Let me tell you that I have suffered more than you have, and other folks have suffered too.”
”Do you mean to say that some other fellows did this and gave my name and Plum's first and yours and Morr's afterwards?” asked Nat, curiously.
”Exactly.”
”Why?”
”For a twofold reason; first to blacken your character and that of Plum, and, secondly, to cause trouble between all of us.”
”What fellows would be mean enough to do that?”
”Two fellows who used to be your friends, but who have had to run away, to keep from being arrested.”
”Say, you don't mean Link Merwell and Nick Jasniff!” burst out the money-lender's son.
”Those are the chaps I do mean, Nat.”
”But I thought they had left these parts. They were in Crumville, I know,” and now the bully looked knowingly at our hero.
”You have heard the reports from home then?” asked Dave, and he felt his face burn.
”Sure.”
”Nat, those reports are all false-as false as this report of your doings at Leesburgh. They are gotten up by Jasniff and Merwell solely to injure my friends and my family and me. My sister and Jessie Wadsworth would refuse to even recognize those fellows, much less go auto-riding with them. Let me tell you something.” And in as few words as possible our hero related how things had been sent to him and his friends without being ordered by them, and of the other trouble Jasniff and Merwell were causing. The money-lender's son was incredulous at first, but gradually his face relaxed.
”And is all that really so?” he asked, at last.
”Every word is absolutely true,” answered Dave.
”Then Nick and Link ought to be in jail!” burst out Nat. ”It's an outrage to let them do such things. Why don't you have 'em locked up-that is what I'd do!”
”We've got to catch them first.”
”Do you mean to say you are trying to do that?”
”We are.”
”Well, you catch 'em, and if you want me to appear against 'em, I'll do it-and I'll catch 'em myself if I can.”
There was a pause, and Nat started for the doorway of the freight room.
But Ben still barred the way.
”Nat, don't you think you were rather hasty in accusing Dave?” he asked, bluntly.
”Well-er-maybe I was,” answered the money-lender's son, growing a bit red.
<script>