The Essential Edward Stratemeyer Collection. Stratemeyer Edward

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СКАЧАТЬ to-night and I'll let you have ten dollars."

      "And I'll let you have the same," said Blodgett. "We've got to collect a trifle first."

      "All right. Twenty is little enough, but it will tide me over until I hit my streak again," answered Crandall. And after a little more talk the men arose and prepared to separate.

      "We've heard enough," whispered Dave to Gus Plum. "Come on," and he led the way out of the building and down the alley.

      "What do you think?" demanded the former bully, when they were on the street again.

      "Just as I suspected, Blodgett and Volney are nothing but sharpers. They undoubtedly swindled you. I shouldn't pay them a cent."

      "But they may expose me to the doctor, Dave."

      "I don't think they will--not after you talk to them."

      "I hardly know what to say."

      "Then suppose you let me do the talking, Gus?"

      "You?"

      "Yes, I fancy I know how to handle them," answered Dave, confidently.

      "Well, I don't want to get into any hole," said the big boy, doubtfully.

      "You won't get into any hole. When I get through with them, I'm sure they will be only too glad to leave you alone."

      The two boys talked the matter over, and at last Gus Plum agreed to let Dave conduct the affair as he thought best. Then both walked to the Oakdale depot, there to await the arrival of the two swindlers.

      CHAPTER IX

      DAVE TALKS TO THE POINT

      It was not long before Blodgett and Volney put in an appearance. They had had several glasses of liquor at the tavern, and walked along as if very well satisfied with themselves.

      "So you are here," said Blodgett, striding up to Gus Plum and holding out his hand. "Shake, my boy!"

      "I don't care to shake hands with you," replied the former bully of Oak Hall.

      "Oh, so that's your lay, is it?" sneered the man. "Very well--but I thought you were a better loser."

      "Let us have this meeting over as soon as possible," put in Volney. "Have you got the money?"

      Instead of replying, Plum looked at Dave, and then for the first time the two sharpers noticed that the lad they had come to meet was not alone.

      "Who's your friend? Thought you'd come alone," said Blodgett, somewhat roughly.

      "I believe your name is Blodgett," remarked Dave, drawing himself up and looking as businesslike as possible.

      "That's my name, yes. What of it?"

      "And your name, I believe, is Volney," went on Dave, turning to the second rascal.

      "Yes. Who are you?"

      "Never mind that just now. Both of you come from Hartford; isn't that so?"

      "What if we do?" asked Blodgett.

      "Some time ago you got this young man to gamble with you, and he lost considerable money. Now you want him to pay up."

      "Hadn't he ought to pay up?" asked Volney. He was growing uneasy.

      "He isn't going to pay you a cent."

      "What's that?" came quickly from Blodgett.

      "I say he isn't going to pay you a cent, Mr. Blodgett. Is that plain enough for you to understand?" answered Dave, sharply.

      "Who are you, I'd like to know, to interfere with our dealings!" cried Jack Blodgett.

      "Perhaps I'll tell you who I am later on. I found out about this just in time, it seems. You came from Hartford, but you have been in Albany lately. While you were in Albany you swindled a man named Dodsworth Sadler out of a large sum of money--at least twelve or fifteen hundred dollars."

      "Say, look here----" began Blodgett, and his tone became nervous.

      "You used marked cards, just as you did when you played with this young man. I think when you find yourselves in the hands of the police---- Hi! stop, don't be going in such a hurry!"

      For, turning swiftly, Blodgett had rushed from the depot. Volney followed him.

      "They are running away!" cried Gus Plum. He could scarcely believe the evidence of his senses.

      "Let us give them a good scare while we are at it," answered Dave, and he ran outside and after the swindlers, who cut across the tracks and made for the freight-house. Here a freight-train was just starting out, and the men hopped aboard and were soon out of sight.

      "There, I guess you have seen the last of them, Gus," said Dave, when he and the big youth had given up the chase.

      "Do you really think so?"

      "I feel sure of it."

      "Maybe they took you for some officer of the law."

      "I don't know as to that, but they were thoroughly scared. I don't believe they will ever show their faces near Oakdale again."

      "But they may write to Doctor Clay."

      "I shouldn't worry about that, Gus. They will make themselves as scarce as possible, for they will now know that Dodsworth Sadler is on the lookout for them."

      "Don't you think we ought to let Dodsworth Sadler know about this? I might write him an anonymous letter."

      "You won't have to, Gus. I'll write him a letter, telling of what I heard. That won't bring you into it at all, and as I had nothing to do with Blodgett and Volney, those fellows can't hurt me."

      "Oh, Dave, what a head you've got for things!" cried the former bully, admiringly. "I suppose you'll say you simply overheard the talk while you were in Oakdale."

      "Yes, and I'll add that when the swindlers found out I knew the truth, they jumped on a freight-train and ran away."

      When the two boys returned to Oak Hall, Gus Plum felt in better spirits than he had for a long time. He returned the money to Dave and thanked him over and over for all he had done. Dave penned the letter to Dodsworth Sadler without delay, and it was posted early Monday morning.

      "I hope I get a letter from my uncle to-day," said Dave to Roger. But no communication came, for Dunston Porter had gone to Boston on business, and did not return to Crumville for several days.

      The weather was now clear and bright and the wind had swept a good portion of the river СКАЧАТЬ