“And we paid twenty-five dollars for the privilege of killing a calf that had been condemned, and would have been killed, anyhow,” murmured Ned. “Well, if we weren’t——”
“Stung!” interrupted Bob. “Stung good and proper!”
“By Mr. Ebenezer Sackett,” added Jerry.
“I guess his name ought to be Mr. ‘Sock-it,’ instead of Sackett,” commented the hotel clerk. “That certainly was a swindle he worked on you, gentlemen, and he socked it to you!”
“And it ain’t the fust time Eb’s done a trick like that, nor it won’t be the last,” spoke the deputy cattle inspector. “I’m sorry for you boys, an’ if you want to go back, an’ make him give up your money, I’ll do all I can for ye.”
“I’d like to, but we haven’t time now,” replied Ned, as he thought of the necessity for hurrying on to see Mr. Jackson.
[CHAPTER VI]
AN UNLUCKY BLOWOUT
“Easy marks, that’s what we are,” commented Ned, as with his chums and Professor Snodgrass, he sat down to dinner. “Very easy marks.”