“He is, and Dave’s father is a rich man, and so is Phil Lawrence’s father. Of course, our money has nothing to do with it, excepting that it will enable us to stand up for our rights in the courts, and get able lawyers to defend us. We are innocent of all wrongdoing. If anybody is in the wrong it is you, for you cheated Phil Lawrence out of the money he advanced to you for that spread we were to have at your hotel.”
“Cheated him!” cried the hotel-keeper.
“That is what it amounted to, for you took his money and gave him nothing in return.”
“He called the spread off––”
“He did not, and we can prove it,” said Dave, following up what he thought looked like an advantage. “Why, if he wanted to do it, Phil could have you locked up for swindling.”
“What, me? Locked up?” cried the hotel man.
“Certainly. Why not? It’s as reasonable as your charge against us—more reasonable, in fact, for you kept his money and gave him nothing in return,” went on our hero, warmly.
“Well, now what do you know about that?” grumbled Jason Sparr, turning to the driver of 177 the covered wagon. But the lockup man merely shrugged his shoulders. Privately he was of the opinion that the boys were not such rascals as had been pictured.
“If those fellows wasn’t guilty, why did they run away?” continued Jason Sparr, after an awkward pause.
“Because you scared them,” responded Roger. “I would have run away myself if it hadn’t been for Dave.”