“But we are going to pay you good, cold cash for what we have received. That was the agreement.”
She began to demur, but Frank insisted that she had made that a part of the agreement when she took them in, and at last she consented to accept payment.
Having settled by compelling her to take twenty dollars, although she was unwilling to the very last to accept more than ten, the boys picked up and started off gayly for the hotel.
“I toldt you vot,” said Hans, as they descended the hill, “I vos glat to got dot house oudt uf. No matteration vot you say, I vos postiveness I seen a ghost last nighdt indo. Id scooted me by like a streak of vind, und id gif me der shiverings all ofer your back. Dot blace been haunted.”
Although they laughed at him, the Dutchman continued to insist that he had seen a ghost.
As they marched into town they were observed with curiosity by the people of the place. A mob of youngsters quickly gathered and followed them along the street.
At the Mansion House they found Mat Madison and several of his companions of the previous day standing on the steps. Apparently they had been waiting for Frank and his team to appear.
Madison leered at Merry.
“Say,” he cried, “you won’t prance with your head so high in the air after our team gits through with you to-morrow. We’ll take some of the starch outer you.”
“Great blizzards!” exclaimed Badger. “Does that play on Cameron’s team?”