Part 24 (1/2)
”That's what I said.”
”Tell us about it,” said George.
”Why, after you fellows cleared out and left me behind, for you remember that you took all the tickets there were and left me up there sans money, sans ticket, sans everything, as Shakespeare says-”
”We don't remember anything of the kind,” interrupted George. ”We tried to get you to come along.”
”Yes, you did!” laughed John scornfully. ”You tried hard. You had just money enough to buy three tickets and I was generous enough to say that I would let you three fellows use them-”
”Go on with your story about the tramp,” interrupted Fred.
”Well, I'll tell you the truth,” said John.
”Hope it won't make you too tired,” murmured Fred.
”I'm telling you the truth,” said John, glaring at his diminutive companion as he spoke. ”The train hadn't fairly gotten out of sight with you fellows on board before up comes the tramp, driving this car. He came right up to the platform of the station and invited me to get on board. You may be sure I didn't stand on the form, or likewise on the platform, very long.”
”Where did he get it?” demanded George.
”He suspected what had happened,” explained John, ”and he said he went to another garage, hoping that there had been some mistake. He said there were two cars in trouble out there on the road, one besides ours.
The men that came out from the shop made a mistake and I guess each car was taken to the wrong garage.”
”That's a pretty good story,” laughed George.
”Well, it's all right,” declared John warmly. ”Here's your car anyway.
The tramp brought it, just as I'm telling you, and you haven't anything to say about it.”
”Maybe the tramp took the car and got scared when he saw us start off.
Probably he thought we were going for help.”
”Probably nothing!” exclaimed John disgustedly. ”I tell you that tramp is all right. He can speak the English language and he has got some brains. I asked him to-day what he was tramping around the country for and he said he didn't know.”
”He must have a lot of brains,” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Fred.
”He knows how to drive a car all right,” said John. ”He drove all the way home.”
”Where is he now?” demanded George.
”I don't know. He wouldn't stay. By the way, he did suggest before he departed that if there was any reward connected with the finding of the car he wouldn't mind taking it.”
”Probably he wouldn't,” laughed Fred.
”I think he is ent.i.tled to something,” said George, ”and I'll tell my father about it the first time he comes out.”
”Where did the tramp go?”
”He didn't tell me,” explained John, ”but I think he went over to the old Meeker House. He said that if we wanted to see something worth while and something that would beat anything we had ever experienced in the old Meeker House we had better come over there after dinner.”
”To-night?” inquired Fred.