“Thank you, Prime, I won’t tell who told me,” answered Dave.
“Thet old skinflint o’ a Sparr deserved to have his buildin’ blown up.”
“Perhaps. But we didn’t do it, I can assure you of that. If Mr. Sparr has us arrested, he’ll get in hot water,” answered our hero; and then he got out of the wagon and Andy Prime drove on.
Dave at once carried the news to those immediately concerned. All were very indignant, and some were scared.
“Say, I won’t stand for being arrested!” cried Phil, in horror. “It’s too much of a disgrace!”
“My folks would never get over it,” added Ben.
“It would just about kill my mother, if I was locked up,” came from Buster.
“Well, I’ll stand it if I have to,” said Roger. “But I’ll make that fellow suffer for it later!” he added, bitterly.
All thoughts of going to school that morning were abandoned by the five boys. They talked the situation over, and determined to go down the road and await the arrival of the constable, Andy Prime having said that Hickson would come by ten o’clock. 169
“This is awful!” gasped Phil, shaking his head dolefully. “Say, Dave, I can’t stand it!”