“He’s up against a tough proposition,” went on Merriwell, “and if he’s trying to be square I don’t want to turn him down.”
“If you’re fool enough to help him, Merriwell,” growled Blunt, “you’ll get yourself in trouble. Mark what I say.”
“Give Chip credit for having a little horse sense,” said Ballard. “Brad makes me tired. What the deuce did he want to come out here for? He might have known Chip wouldn’t have anything to do with Lenning’s affairs.”
“The trouble with Brad is, he never stops to reason a thing out,” observed Clancy. “He means all right, and I’ll bet he thought he was doing Chip a bigger favor than he was Lenning.”
“His own uncle ought to know him pretty well,” continued Ballard. “Let him handle Lenning.”
“I’m going in with Brad, anyhow,” said Merry, his face set and a resolute gleam in his eyes. “You fellows can follow along with the horses and pick up my mount at Dolliver’s.”
“What are you going in for?” demanded Ballard suspiciously.
“I want to get deeper into this business,” was the reply. “It won’t do any harm for me to have a talk with Mr. Bradlaugh.”
“Maybe not,” said Blunt, “but I’ll gamble my spurs it won’t do you any good, either. Lenning’s a cur, and he’s proved it.”
“What’s the use of jumping on a fellow when he’s down, Barzy?”