“Huh! You’re making a great lot of trouble.”
Mr. Dolby picked up a heavy club off the porch and started after the dog. When the animal dodged his blows he flung the club at him, striking him on the ribs. The dog howled with pain, slunk into his kennel, and then his master chained him up.
The boys now came into the yard. They looked and groped all over the garden where Frank had backed away from the dog. Silas Dolby stood watching them.
“Give it up,” at length spoke Frank.
“Yes, we’ve gone over the ground pretty well,” said Sammy.
“Perhaps I lost the key before I came here,” added Frank. “Thank you, Mr. Dolby.”
The old miser only grunted and scowled. The boys started for home.
As they came to the next corner Bob chanced to look back. He hung behind his chatting companions for a moment or two.
“That’s queer again,” he said to himself.