“Vaughn. How did you know?”
“Never mind that! Just tell us the story!”
“Will you promise not to hand me over, if I do?”
“Can’t tell till I hear the story,” replied John. Vaughn Crowell pondered this, then said:
“I guess I’ll take a chance!”
The recital was a sorry one, but he told it all. It was dark by the time he had finished. John reached forward and turned on the headlights.
“It’s the meanest trick I ever heard of, Crowell! No one with common decency would have thought of such a thing! But I’ll tell you what I’ll do. If my chum agrees, I’ll let you off provided you go with us straight to Miss Vaughn, your aunt, and tell her all you’ve told us. How about it, Jack?”
“Suits me!”
“I’ll do it!” decided Vaughn. “When do we start?”
“Right away,” answered John. “But first, please oblige me by stepping a few paces away while I have speech with my friend here. There, there, that’s far enough!”