“It’s all up,” muttered Casco. “Quick, help me.”
Both of the new arrivals at once fell upon Bob and Frank. The youth and the young man fought well, but they could not overcome the other three, and by the time the landlord and a number of his guests arrived the two had Casco free, and then the three assailants made off in the darkness, Casco carrying his short club with him.
“What’s the trouble?” demanded Fitt, the keeper of the road-house.
Frank and Bob related their story. All crowded around, and listened with deep interest.
“I thought that chap was up to no good,” said Fitt. “I took him to be a gambler.”
“He does play cards,” said Frank. “Do you know those other men?”
Fitt shook his head.
“The three of them landed here this afternoon,” he said. “They hired a front room, but brought no baggage. I told ’em they would have to pay in advance, and this Casco pulled out a fat roll of bills and settled on the spot. The roll of bills and his general way made me suspicious of him.”
“I wonder where he got the money?” mused the young man. “When he was discharged from our house, he was compelled to make up a deficiency in his accounts, and he then claimed he was without a dollar.”
“Maybe he didn’t give it all back, or else stole some since,” ventured Bob. “He looks thoroughly bad.”