Skippy was trying out this sound advice when they heard the familiar sound of a car chugging into the clearing. Nickie put down his coffee cup with a bang and before either one of them could make any comment, they heard Devlin rushing out of his room and down the stairway.
He came loping into the kitchen muttering, “Frost—it’s Frost,” and rushed to one of the windows and looked out.
The boys were at the other window in a second and though the evening shadows were lengthening, they could see the big, dark car rolling into the barn. They watched as Frost came out with his short, hopping stride, and they heard Devlin mumble deep in his throat.
The man made no attempt to go near the door but stood back against the wall and waited. The boys went back to the table and made a pretense of drinking their coffee. All the time, however, they too were waiting and they listened intently as Frost’s key clinked against the metal door.
Abruptly his leathern-looking face appeared in the doorway wreathed in smiles. “Howdy!” he was saying breezily. “How——” He caught the insane glint in Devlin’s eyes and stood suddenly still. “Say, you don’t look glad to see me, boss!”
“Did you expect me to?” Devlin’s voice boomed through the room.
Frost flushed up to the roots of his colorless hair. His small, shifty eyes strayed toward the boys, then back to Devlin again. “Oh, if you feel that way about it—I was thinkin’ I was helpin’ you out—givin’ you a hand....”
“Since when did I ask you to do my thinking for me, eh? Since when did you give me a hand without being told to?” There was a ring in Devlin’s voice that made his listeners quiver when he added, “Come upstairs—I’ve got plenty to say to you!”
The boys had never had any doubt that Devlin was a man of his word. Now they were learning that he went far beyond that and gave no quarter to anyone who had taken too much for granted at his expense. And from the terrible wrath with which Devlin shook the house, Frost must have been aware that he had committed the unforgivable sin in the eyes of his nefarious employer.
Devlin seemed to have thrown aside all caution in his anger. His solemn, terrible voice trailed down the stairs to where the boys were standing, absorbing it all. Frost, at first, had made a feeble protest, but was soon forced to stand back and listen.