"I am doing that already."
"I—I made up my mind I'd tell you—when I got to Crumville," faltered the money-lender's son. "I didn't want you to suffer at his hands."
"I've got my eyes open already," was Dave's reply. "Let me tell you something, Nat." And then he related the particulars of the affair at Lake Sargola, and told about the burning of the garage.
"And to think Job Haskers is with him!" cried Nat. "Say, they'll make a team, won't they!"
"Yes, for I'm thinking that Haskers is about as bad as Merwell," answered Dave.
After that came a pause, neither youth knowing exactly what to say. Then Nat cleared his throat.
"I—I'd like you to do me a favor," he stammered.
"All right, Nat. What is it?" returned our hero, promptly.
"If you get the chance will you tell Ben Basswood and the other fellows how I'm going to be—er—different after this? And will you tell your sister and Jessie, too? I don't want them to—to—think I'm wanting to do anything more that's mean. I want to be—be, well, friendly—if they'll let me," and Nat's face grew very red as he made the admission.
"I'll tell them all—the first chance I get," promised Dave. "And I am sure they will be pleased. Why, Nat, I know you can turn over a new leaf, if you want to. Look at Gus Plum, how mean he used to be, and what a bully! And look at him now. He's a first-rate fellow. You can do it if Plum can, can't you?"