Garland whistled a bit.
“Then that must have happened before the unpleasantness between Hodge and Vance?” he said.
“It did,” nodded Merry. “Hodge left me in anger. He is hot-blooded and impulsive, and he did not stop to reason about the matter. He has skipped out, it is evident, but I believe he will cool down and come back when he comes to think it all over.”
“But he’ll be treating you dirty if he doesn’t come back in time for the performance to-night,” said Garland. “You would not be likely to take him back if he returned to-morrow. I’m sure you wouldn’t take back any of the rest of us if we served you such a trick.”
“You can’t be sure of anything of the sort,” said Frank, sharply. “You were not with the company when Leslie Lawrence deserted and returned to beg pardon. I did not fancy Lawrence, he was not a friend, and yet I took him back. If Bart Hodge returns to-morrow, I shall take him back.”
“Oh, you can do as you like about that,” said Garland.
“I suppose you would take him back if he had stolen your clothes from you?” asked Vance, jeeringly.
“If I chose to I certainly should,” answered Merry, his eyes seeming to bore Bart’s enemy through.
“Hodge didn’t have much money yesterday,” said Vance, staring at the open grip. “I wonder how he happened to have enough to-day to settle his hotel bill and purchase a ticket?”
“How do you know he didn’t have money yesterday?”