Like a flash a way out of it came to Joe, and that without telling an untruth.
“I play on the Silver Stars,” he said quickly. “You may have seen me at some of the games,” which was perfectly possible.
“That’s it!” exclaimed Mr. Holdney. “I knew it was somewhere. Now——”
“I’m going into Riverside,” went on Joe quickly. “If you like I’ll stop at the livery stable and tell them to send out a rig for you if you want to wait here for it.”
“The very thing!” exclaimed Mr. Benjamin. “Let him do that, Rufus. Here’s a quarter to pay for your trouble, my lad.”
“No, thank you!” exclaimed Joe with a laugh. “I’m glad to do you a favor.”
“All right,” assented Mr. Benjamin. “If you’ll send out a two-seated carriage and a man to drive it we’ll be obliged to you. Then we can drive over and see Duncan,” he added to Mr. Holdney. “We’ll fix this thing all up now.”
“Yes, and if it’s my father you’re trying to ‘fix,’” mused Joe, “I’ll do my best to put a stop to it. Now, it’s up to me to hurry home,” and telling the men that he would do the errand for them, the lad hastened off down the road, leaving the two conspirators in earnest conversation.
The livery stable keeper readily agreed to send out the carriage, and then Joe lost no time in hurrying to his house.
“Has father come home yet?” he asked of his mother, for sometimes Mr. Matson came from the harvester works earlier than the regular stopping time.