Part 5 (1/2)
”It isn't large at all. I don't own any of the land around here. I sold it over a year ago, all except the house, the barn, and a little plot of ground for my vegetable garden.”
”I hope you got a good price for it,” said Aunt Gertrude briskly.
”Well, the price was all right, but I didn't get much cash. Five hundred dollars down and the rest on mortgage. I sold it through my lawyer to a man named Wortman. He's living in that remodeled cottage over beyond the cow pasture.”
”Five hundred dollars down!” exclaimed Aunt Gertrude. ”You were cheated.”
Mrs. Trumper looked dismayed. ”But I got the five hundred dollars. In cash.''
”It wasn't enough. You should have received a couple thousand at the very least. Like as not the fellow will never pay you the rest, and 56 you're so good-natured you won't put him off the place. Has he been keeping up his interest payments?”
”Well,” confessed the widow, ”to tell you the truth he hasn't paid anything since he made the down payment. But I suppose he's had hard luck-----”
”Hard luck, fiddlesticks!” sniffed Aunt Gertrude. ”I ”I think I'll go and see this Wortle or think I'll go and see this Wortle or Wortbuster or whatever his name is. I'll give him a piece of my mind.''
Mrs. Trumper seemed dismayed by this suggestion. ”Please, Miss Hardy-I'd rather you didn't,” she said tremulously. ”It might only make things worse. I'm sure he'll pay me as soon as he can.”
”Well, I think you're foolish. If I were in your shoes, I'd go over there and lay down the law.
I 'd make him pay up or get out!'' Aunt Gertrude viciously speared the meat on her plate, a grim scowl on her face.
”Doesn't he make any money from the farm?” inquired Frank.
”He hasn't actually done much farming,” said Mrs. Trumper.
” Ha! I thought so!” Aunt Gertrude glared suspiciously. ”If he doesn't do any farming, why did he buy a farm?”
”He says he can't get help. It's almost impossible to find a good hired man nowadays.”
The woman did not seem to want to discuss the subject further, so they went on to other topics. After the meal, Frank and Joe sauntered into the garden. Frank gazed across the fields toward the Wortman cottage.
”Let's pay the man a visit. I'm interested in him.”
”As Aunt Gertrude says, if he doesn't do any farming, why did he buy a farm? Besides, maybe he could give us some help on the Grable case.”
'' No harm in talking to him, anyway,'' agreed Joe. ”Come on.”
They struck off across the fields. As they approached the little frame cottage, they saw a man sitting on the low porch. He eyed the boys suspiciously as they drew near.
”Mr. Wortman?” said Frank.
The man nodded. He was a hard-fisted, middle-aged person with an underslung jaw.
”That's my name,” he said in a loud voice. ”What do you want?”
”We understand you need help on the farm------”
A loud laugh interrupted Frank. It came from a man who had been standing just inside the screen door. There was something strangely familiar about that laugh.
”Look who's applyin' for a job!” The door opened, and the speaker stepped out.
”Boots!” exclaimed Joe in surprise.
It was indeed the surly man of the underwater section. He emerged from the cottage scowling.
”Don't waste any time on this pair, Hal,” he 58 said. ”They were at the S. E. F. this morning. I guess they've been fired by now. No good, either of them.”
”We haven't been fired,” Frank spoke up.
”Beat it,” said Wortman harshly. ”If I need help here, I'll ask for it.”
”Do you live here, Boots?” asked Joe, ignoring the man's insulting manner.
'' Get out of here!'' shouted Wortman. Did that old lady you're staying with send you kids over here ? Well, tell her not to send you again 1 Understand!”
CHAPTER VII.
THE EARTH TREMBLES.
”NiCE people around here!” said Frank, as the Hardy boys left Hal Wortman's place and went out toward the main road.
”I'd like to tell that man a few things,” grumbled Joe.
”It's just as well you didn't. No sense in making enemies. Don't forget,” Frank reminded him, ”that we're just a couple of stupid farmhands.”
”Maybe those men know who we are,” suggested Joe. ”Don't ask me why they want to get rid of us, but I have a feeling Boots and Wortman are a pair to watch.''
”We're going to have a fine time watching them, and Jenkins, and Mr. Grable's silkworms, all at once!”
”And don't forget the unexplained torch over by the cliffs.”
The brothers came out on the highway near the Grable place. Joe suggested that since it was still light, it might be a good idea to explore the fields around the greenhouses.
”It was too dark to look for clues last night. And after all, someone broke that window. If he came across the fields, he probably left footprints.”
”It's worth looking into,” Frank agreed. ”But I have an idea-----”
Whatever he was about to say was left unspoken, for a strange and frightening thing happened. The earth suddenly shook beneath their feet. The very trees and fences seemed to quiver and tremble.
The Hardy boys stared at each other in amazement. The quaking of the ground was not p.r.o.nounced or violent enough to throw them off balance, but there was no disputing the fact that it was real. After a few seconds the queer sensation pa.s.sed. Everything was as it had been before.
”Earthquake!” gasped Frank.
”I thought I was imagining things. You felt it, too?”
”Of course. The ground shook.”