Part 41 (1/2)
By this ti to his feet He was in a terrible rage and caly
”What do youme that way, Rover?” he howled
”You take back what you said, Davenport If you don't I'll give you another one!” exclai”
”All right, then--here goes!” And once ain the oil well proround
This time as he arose he put his hand behind him in his hip pocket But before he could draw any weapon, if such was his intention, dick Rover was on hi here, Davenport You try it, and you'll get the worst of it Now, then, you take back what you said!” and dick Rover shoved his clenched fist under the other's nose
Carson Davenport could bluster, but at heart he was more or less of a coward He tried to retreat, and as Jack's father followed hi a mistake and that he had not ined
”Poor Lorimer Spell was shot by the Huns,” said dick Rover, for the benefit of the other one on ahead of our party, and then, finding out his et back in line when the shot struck him that killed him To say that he was shot down by any of his own crowd is a wicked falsehood
Half a dozen men of our command can prove every word of what I have said”
”You'll rue the day you pitched into ood care to keep out of reach
”You brought it on yourself,” retorted Jack's father ”And now, as for this claiht pause ”As all of , even though this land may be the most valuable in oil in this vicinity But I atch the turn of affairs, and if I get a chance to prove anything I'll do it”
”You show et what is co to you,” mumbled Davenport ”But just the same, let me repeat--I don't believe there are any papers The whole thing was a faked-up story to gethis bruised chin ”And don't forget that you knocked lily
”Are you going to sink a well here?”
”That's our business”
”What's the use of trying to hide it, anyhow?” put in Jake Tate ”Yes, we're going to sink a well here just as soon as we can get ourto do it with our ownany assistance froo ahead,” said dick Rover ”I have noto the four boys and Nick Ogilvie to follow him, he withdrew
CHAPTER XXVI
NEWS OF RUTH
”I guess they are pretty sure there is oil on that land,” chuckled Andy, as the whole party got aboard the automobile and started back for town
”I hope they sink about a hundred thousand dollars in that ground and get nothing for their trouble,” added his twin
”Gee, Dad, you certainly did soak Davenport a couple!” cried Jack adly
”I did it on the spur of the moment, Son I couldn't help it,” declared dick Rover ”It was too great an insult to pass unnoticed”
”And to think he didn't have the nerve to fight back!” added Fred ”I didn't iine he was such a coward”