“I’m afraid not,” replied Brad. “He slammed the receiver and now he won’t answer the ’phone.”
Leaving the drugstore, the four boys crossed the bridge and started on the long walk back to Webster City. Their spirits depressed, they had little to say.
Chips and Red were inclined to feel slightly abused. On the other hand, Brad and Dan were worried because all the Cubs had been blamed for an innocent mistake. Without question, unless the matter were cleared up, the reputation of Den 2 would severely suffer.
At Denwood Avenue, Red and Chips took leave of their companions, going to their separate homes. Brad and Dan continued toward the residential section of Brandon Heights.
“Mr. Silverton lives somewhere in this part of the city, doesn’t he?” Dan asked thoughtfully.
“256 Eagle Road,” Brad replied, recalling the number from having read it in the telephone directory.
“That’s only two streets from here. Brad, why don’t we go there and try to see him?”
“Again?” Brad kicked a pebble across the sidewalk. “What’s the use?”
“Well, I hate to give up,” Dan said doggedly. “If we’d actually done anything so bad, I’d be in favor of taking our medicine as Dobbs said. But Silverton at least ought to listen to our side of the story.”
“All right, we can try,” Brad consented, though without enthusiasm. “Maybe if we tell him about that log jam, he’ll soften up a bit.”