Part 33 (1/2)
stormed the fat salesman, as he looked for comfort at the two Rovers.
”That comes from trying to be accommodating. I was headed for this place when down there at the Ludding House I met a fellow who wanted to know how to get to Stockbridge. He stuttered so that it took me about five minutes to find out what he wanted.”
”Stuttered, did he?” questioned Tom, curiously.
”He sure did! He had an awful stutter with a funny little whistle in between. I wish I hadn't waited to listen to him. I might have had that train, confound it!” went on the fat salesman, pulling down his face.
”Did you say that fellow stuttered and whistled?” broke in Sam eagerly.
”He certainly did.”
”Will you tell me what kind of a looking man he was?”
”Sure!” answered the salesman, and then started to give as good a description of the individual as his recollection would permit.
”It must have been Blackie Crowden!” cried the youngest Rover, before the man had finished.
”I don't know what his name was,” said the salesman.
”We want to catch that man the worst way,” went on Sam. ”Have you any idea where we can find him?”
”He asked me the way to Stockbridge, so I suppose he was going there,”
was the reply.
”Where is Stockbridge?”
”It's down on the road past the Ludding House. It's about five miles from here.”
”Do you suppose the man was going to walk it?”
”I don't know about that. You must remember I was in a hurry to catch the train. Hang the luck! I wish I hadn't stopped to talk to that man,”
went on the fat salesman.
”And I'm very glad that you did stop to talk to him,” returned Sam. He looked at his brother. ”Come on, Tom, let us see if we can find Blackie Crowden.”
CHAPTER XXII
ON THE TRAIL
The Ludding House was on the side street of the town, about three blocks from the hotel at which our friends were stopping. When the two Rovers arrived there they found the dining-room had just closed and only two men and an elderly woman were in sight.
”We are looking for a man who was around here--I think his name was Blackie Crowden,” said Sam. ”He is a man who stutters very badly.”
”Oh, yes, I remember that fellow,” returned one of the men who worked around the hotel, ”He was here for lunch.”
”Can you tell me where he is now?”
”No, I cannot.”