"No, he ain't here now," said Jenkins.
"Was he here at all to-day?" suddenly asked Billy Manners in a tone that brought attention upon him in an instant.
"Yes, he was!" said Jenkins doggedly, and all the boys gave a gasp.
CHAPTER XXI
WHAT APPEARED ON BILLY'S PLATES
The statement of Jim Jenkins that a boy wearing the uniform of the Hilltop boys had told him and others that the building of the branch line would injure them had already caused considerable excitement among the young students, and Jim's second statement to the effect that the boy had been there that very day only served to increase it.
The doctor did not seem to care about pressing this point, however, and said somewhat impatiently:
"Well, whoever it was who gave you this information, it was false, and I will prove to you that we have every authority for going on with this work and that it will not injure you in the least."
Dr. Wise then produced maps, letters and other documents and proceeded to enforce his point.
The men seemed little interested, however, and several of them went away while the doctor was stating his case, the big man at length saying in a surly tone as he turned away: