“I don’t know anything about him—and I don’t care!” said Nat, and jumped up from the log upon which he was sitting and walked away.
To tell the truth, Nat was very much disturbed, and he hurried away, fearing that Phil might discover his state of mind. He and Gebauer had kept track of matters, and early that morning had learned that our hero was still missing.
“I wonder what will happen if he never turns up?” thought Nat, as he walked back to his quarters. The very idea that Dave might never return caused him to shiver.
A little later Nat ran into Gebauer and, motioning the lieutenant to one side, told him of the interview with Phil.
“I hope you didn’t give yourself away!” cried Gebauer quickly.
“Trust me for that,” answered the money lender’s son. “Just the same, Max, I think you carried things too far.”
“I carried things? You, you mean!” answered the lieutenant quickly.
“See here! You’re not going to stick it off on me like that,” stormed Nat. “It was you who gave him the crack that knocked him senseless.”
“Sh-sh! Not so loud!” interrupted Gebauer, and placed a hasty hand over his companion’s mouth. “Somebody might hear you!”
“Well then, don’t say I’m to blame.”