Part 44 (1/2)
”Dan wasn't out to-day,” Dave announced. ”At least, if he was, he failed to see any of us. Let's walk down to his house and see if anything is wrong with him.”
d.i.c.k agreeing, the two chums turned down a dark side street on their way to Dalzell's.
At the darkest point on the street the two boys had to pa.s.s a collection of shanty like buildings, which contained a contractor's offices, a junk-shop, a second hand dealer's storehouse and a big stable in which the contractor's work-horses were kept.
”These old rookeries will go by when Gridley real estate gets to be just a little more valuable,” grunted Dave, as he picked his way gingerly in the darksome spot.
”It's really a disgrace to the town, this place,” replied d.i.c.k. ”Hullo!
Who's moving there? O-o-oh--say!”
They were just at the head of the narrow alley-way leading down to the stable. Up this alley-way a man had been picking his prowling way in the dark. At the hail from d.i.c.k Prescott the man turned, as though to glide back into the shadow.
But now, suddenly, the fellow wheeled like a flash and bounded into the path of the two Grammar School boys.
”I reckon this time will be as good as any other!” announced Mr. Fits, with an ugly laugh that showed his fang like teeth.
CHAPTER XXIV
CONCLUSION
”Jupiter! But we've got you!” flared Dave Darrin.
”Have you?” retorted Mr. Fits sarcastically. ”Hold me tight, then. But this is a lucky meeting for me. I can settle all the old scores with you two. Yell, if you think it will bring any help to you.”
”We know better,” replied d.i.c.k coolly, though he was tingling inside.
”We've got to handle you ourselves.”
”Get busy at handling me, then,” leered Mr. Fits. ”Prescott, I'm going to begin by handling you in a way that'll make Darrin run.”
”Don't you believe it!” retorted Dave angrily. ”I may be killed, but I promise you that I won't run except to chase you, you ugly brute!”
”We'll see!” chuckled the wretch.
With that he reached out for d.i.c.k, who was standing his ground. Just then a lithe figure shot in between the boys and their promised a.s.sailant.
”Stand back, you hound!” ordered the newcomer angrily. ”This is a matter for men. You and I will attend to each other!”
”Old Dut!” breathed d.i.c.k Prescott in the intensity of his astonishment.
”Yes, it's I,” announced the princ.i.p.al of the Central Grammar coolly.
”This is more in my line.”
Mr. Fits had been pushed back from the spot by the energetic fist of Mr.
E. Dutton Jones. But now the brute came back, cautiously, crouching and leering.
”Who are you, anyway!” demanded Mr. Fits.