"But please tell me, won't you?" pleaded Vera.
Then both girls teased him, until at last he related some of the particulars of the encounter with Job Haskers. Mary and Vera were deeply interested, Vera especially.
"I am glad you did not give in to him," said Vera. "I like a boy who can stand up for his rights."
"You can trust Dave to do that," said Ben. "He doesn't take water for anybody."
"Oh, come now, Ben——" murmured Dave.
"I believe Mr. Basswood," said Vera. "I hope Mr. Porter always does stick up for himself. I never liked a boy or a man—or a girl either—who was cowardly."
After that the boys and girls listened to the auctioneer for several minutes. Then Phil suggested soda to Mary Feversham, and all of the party walked over to a corner drug store, where hot chocolate was to be had, and there Phil and Dave treated.
The crowd was in the act of drinking the beverage, and Dave had just handed Vera her glass, when, glancing toward the doorway, he saw Link Merwell and a strange young man standing there. Link started and stared rudely at the girls. Then he whispered something to his companion, and both turned from the drug store and disappeared up the street.
"Did you see them?" whispered Dave to Phil.
"I saw somebody look in and walk away. Who was it?"