Part 33 (1/2)
”What, me? Locked up?” cried the hotel man.
”Certainly. Why not? It's as reasonable as your charge against us--more reasonable, in fact, for you kept his money and gave him nothing in return,” went on our hero, warmly.
”Well, now what do you know about that?” grumbled Jason Sparr, turning to the driver of the covered wagon. But the lockup man merely shrugged his shoulders. Privately he was of the opinion that the boys were not such rascals as had been pictured.
”If those fellows wasn't guilty, why did they run away?” continued Jason Sparr, after an awkward pause.
”Because you scared them,” responded Roger. ”I would have run away myself if it hadn't been for Dave.”
”Humph!”
All looked along the road. Constable Hickson had disappeared, having followed the runaways down to the river. Presently he came back, out of breath from his exertions.
”Did you get 'em?” queried the hotel-keeper, eagerly.
”No, they got away in a motor-boat.”
”A motor-boat!” repeated Dave and Roger, and looked at each other in astonishment.
”Yes, went up the river out of sight,” said Paul Hickson. ”Too bad!
But we've got two of 'em, anyway,” he added, looking at our hero and the senator's son.
”I wanted Lawrence more than I did the others,” grumbled Jason Sparr.
He was doing some deep thinking and his face showed that he was much disturbed.
”Mr. Sparr, just remember what I said,” remarked Dave, pointedly. ”If you go ahead, take my word for it, it will cost you dear.”
”Say, Hickson, we'll drop this matter for the present,” said the hotel-keeper, in a low tone.
”Drop it?” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the constable. ”Ain't you goin' to have these two took up?”
”Not just now. I--er--I want to get more evidence first, if I can. We can get them any time we want them.”
”But who is going to pay me for my trouble? I've got them warrants to serve right in my pocket, and----”
”I'll fix that up with you,” answered the hotel man, in a whisper.
”Come on. We can come back later.” And then the hotel man said something to the driver of the wagon. The latter merely nodded and got back to his seat. Jason Sparr climbed up beside him, and the constable slowly followed.
”I don't understand----” went on the constable; but Jason Sparr merely pinched his arm, and he stopped short.
”Just remember, this ain't settled yet!” cried the hotel-keeper, to Dave and Roger. ”I'm going to look into it a bit deeper before I make a move, that's all. I know some of you done it, and I'll have you in prison for it yet, see if I don't!” And he shook his head grimly; and then the covered wagon was turned around, and the three men drove off in the direction of Oakdale.
”Oh, Dave, do you think they'll come back?” cried Roger, when the men were out of hearing.
”There is no telling what they will do, Roger. But you can make up your mind to one thing--Sparr won't come back until he has more evidence than he has at present.”
”But how can he get evidence? Surely you don't think Phil and the others guilty, even if they did run away.”