“Never mind how I talk, Brown. You just listen to what I’m saying, and you mind me. If you don’t, you’ll get into a whole lot of trouble, just as sure as you are born.”
By this time Fred had also left the forward car and was standing beside Jack.
“You fellows asked about my sister and about Jack’s sister,” said Fred. “Why did you do that?”
“That’s our business,” answered Nappy.
“I know why you did it,” went on Fred quickly. “You did it because you thought you might make some sort of trouble for the girls. I know you! Jack,” he continued, turning to his cousin, “I think the best thing we can do is to have them both arrested for that affair on Snowshoe Island.”
“You can’t bring up those old things—they are past and gone!” cried Nappy Martell, his face showing sudden uneasiness. “Old Barney Stevenson agreed to let the whole matter drop provided he was allowed to remain on the island.”
“Oh, he’s only bluffing, Nappy,” broke in Slugger. “They can’t do a thing, and they know it!”
“We can and we will unless you leave all the girls at Clearwater Hall alone,” declared Jack stoutly. “Not a one of them wants anything to do with you.”
“How do you know what they want?”
“Because they told us.”