“You’re fretting too much about the Gold Hill coach, old man,” said Frank.
“I’ve got a hunch that there’s something about the fellow we don’t understand,” answered the captain.
“If you’re going to worry about all the things you can’t understand,” Merry laughed, “you’re going to have your hands full.”
Just at that moment Clancy came around a corner of the house.
“Guess who’s here, Chip!” said he.
“I’m in no mood to wrestle with conundrums, Clan,” was the answer.
“All right, then. It’s Colonel Hawtrey. He just rode up. His horse is at the hitching pole and he wants to see you at once—and privately.”
“Hawtrey—to see me!” Frank muttered, as he hurried around the house and toward the trail in front.