“Humph! I guess you don’t want any customers,” growled the other man savagely. “Well, if you don’t want to sell me any of your old magazines you can keep them! I guess I can get all the magazines I want elsewhere.” And the man stalked off in haughty anger.
The boys had watched this scene and listened to the talk with much interest. They had recognized in the would-be customer Asa Lemm, the professor who previous to his discharge from that institution had made life so miserable for them at Colby Hall.
“I’m glad the fellow didn’t let him have the magazine,” said Fred.
“Gee, I wish we could put one over on old Lemm!” whispered Andy.
“I wonder what he is doing in this town?” queried Randy.
“I think I can answer that,” replied Jack. “I once heard that he had some relative—a brother I think—living at Clappville. Maybe he came from there, or is going over to that town in the stage.”
Without allowing themselves to be noticed, Andy and Randy kept their eyes on Asa Lemm and saw him hurry over to one of the stores on the main street of the town, where a number of magazines were displayed in the window. He came out of the place, however, empty-handed, and looking more sour than ever. In the meantime Jack sauntered up to the keeper of the stand at the railroad station.
“Not a very pleasant sort of a fellow, that,” he remarked.
“Say, that fellow makes me tired!” growled the newsstand man. “I have a run-in with him nearly every time he comes here. The last time it was over a plugged ten-cent piece he tried to pass on me. When I handed it back to him and told him I wanted a good one, he was as peppery as sin.”
A minute or two later the driver of the auto-stage tooted his horn to show that he was about ready to start on the trip. At once several men and women came running from various directions and began to enter the stage. The last man to arrive was Asa Lemm. He had picked up a valise and a bundle from somewhere, and he had to stand in the rear, waiting for those ahead to enter the stage.