Part 16 (1/2)
”I didn't answer the letter. I kept it to think about. Then, yesterday, after my last talk with Uncle Tom, I made up my mind to wash my hands of Link Merwell, and I burned the letter up.”
CHAPTER X
DAVE AT HOME
”I'm glad you washed your hands of Merwell, Nat,” replied Dave, with warmth. ”He is not the sort for any respectable fellow to a.s.sociate with. But about that letter. Have you any idea what he was going to do?”
”No. All he said was, 'If you will join with me we can pay Dave Porter off good and get him in the biggest kind of a hole.' I guess you had better keep your eyes open, Dave.”
”I am doing that already.”
”I--I made up my mind I'd tell you--when I got to Crumville,” faltered the money-lender's son. ”I didn't want you to suffer at his hands.”
”I've got my eyes open already,” was Dave's reply. ”Let me tell you something, Nat.” And then he related the particulars of the affair at Lake Sargola, and told about the burning of the garage.
”And to think Job Haskers is with him!” cried Nat. ”Say, they'll make a team, won't they!”
”Yes, for I'm thinking that Haskers is about as bad as Merwell,”
answered Dave.
After that came a pause, neither youth knowing exactly what to say. Then Nat cleared his throat.
”I--I'd like you to do me a favor,” he stammered.
”All right, Nat. What is it?” returned our hero, promptly.
”If you get the chance will you tell Ben Ba.s.swood and the other fellows how I'm going to be--er--different after this? And will you tell your sister and Jessie, too? I don't want them to--to--think I'm wanting to do anything more that's mean. I want to be--be, well, friendly--if they'll let me,” and Nat's face grew very red as he made the admission.
”I'll tell them all--the first chance I get,” promised Dave. ”And I am sure they will be pleased. Why, Nat, I know you can turn over a new leaf, if you want to. Look at Gus Plum, how mean he used to be, and what a bully! And look at him now. He's a first-rate fellow. You can do it if Plum can, can't you?”
”I'm going to try, anyway.”
”And I'll help you all I can--and there's my hand on it,” answered Dave, and then the two lads shook hands.
A talk lasting all the way to Crumville followed. As they rolled into the station Nat left rather hastily, going to the rear of the car, while Dave went forward. The money-lender's son knew Dave expected to meet his sister and friends and he did not, just then, wish to face the party.
”There's Dave!” cried Jessie Wadsworth, as she caught sight of him through a car window.
”h.e.l.lo, everybody!” cried the youth, as he swung himself from the car steps. He gave Jessie's hand a tight squeeze and then kissed his sister.
”How are you?”
”Oh, fine!” came from both girls.
”h.e.l.lo, Davy!” cried a merry voice, and Dunston Porter, the lad's uncle, came striding forward from an automobile near by. ”How did you leave Senator Morr and his family, and are you ready for that trip through Yellowstone Park?”
”I left the senator and his family well,” was the answer. ”And I am ready for the trip--that is--part of the trip,” Dave added, hastily.
”Part of the trip?” cried Jessie. ”Why, what do you mean?”
”I'll tell you later. Oh, I've got lots and lots to tell,” went on Dave, with a smile. He caught Laura and Jessie by the arms. ”See Nat Poole over yonder?” he whispered. ”Well, you want to be nice to Nat after this, for he is going to reform.”