“Give me a drink first,” pleaded Carson.
“You’ll drink when you get there, not before. Jump lively!”
With a groan, Carson followed Billy. The fellow was in a pitiable plight, but at thought of Chip, Clancy lost all pity.
He soon ascertained from Billy Mac that Brundage was a farmer living on one of the Carson farms, just outside Orton, but on the opposite side of the town from where they were at present. Also, Carson loosened up with the story.
He confessed to having lured Chip away, and stated that both he and the driver of his machine were being held at the farm in question, in order that Chip should be detained from the Franklin game. At this Clancy climbed into the Hornet with a groan of despair.
“The harm’s done, now!” he reflected bitterly. “Billy, Chip, and I will be out of the game for certain. That means that Franklin will have a walk-away, unless old Fardale comes up to the scratch, or a miracle happens.”
Billy, driving Carson’s car with the owner huddled in the tonneau, shot out on the road, while Clancy followed in the Hornet. Poor Carson was almost in a state of collapse, but Billy allowed him no sleep.
The two cars shot through Orton like a streak, giving Carson no chance to call for assistance. On the other side of town they came in sight of their goal—a large white farmhouse, set back from the road.
Billy turned in at the drive and whizzed up to the side of the house. As Clancy followed him, two men appeared, one carrying a shotgun. Clancy instantly perceived that their troubles had just begun, and took charge of the situation.
“Get a drink of water for Mr. Carson,” he cried, and the man with the shotgun leaned the weapon against the side of the house and hurried toward the well. The other came forward.