“Now what do you make of this?” questioned Randy, as he and his brother continued on their errand.
“It looks rather suspicious to me,” answered Andy. “It looks as if Brassy had done something that wasn’t right and this man was going to expose him unless Brassy paid over some hush money.”
“Yes, and from what Brassy said, he evidently has already paid the man one hundred and ten dollars.”
On the way back to Colby Hall after their errand was finished the twins discussed the matter, but could arrive at no satisfactory conclusion. That evening they told their cousins of what they had heard, and also mentioned the matter to Gif and Spouter.
“It looks to me as if that Bud Haddon had a hold on Brassy,” remarked Jack. “But whether Brassy is really guilty or not of some wrongdoing remains to be found out.”
“I wouldn’t put it past him to do something that wasn’t right,” came from Fred.
“That remains to be seen, Fred. Brassy might do some things that we wouldn’t do; but at the same time I doubt if he’s so very bad at heart. He’s loud-mouthed and has a hasty temper, and he likes to show off, and all that sort of thing, but that doesn’t say he’s a criminal.”
“That Bud Haddon looks like a bad one,” announced Randy. “I wouldn’t trust him with a nickel.”
“It certainly is a mystery,” came from Fred. “Just the same as it’s a mystery about Professor Duke.”
“Gosh, don’t mention Duke!” broke out Gif. “I had all I could do to keep from getting into a row with him this morning. He certainly is a tart one at times.”