“Well——” began Tom belligerently.
But Willard interposed. “If you didn’t put Green up to it, Mr. Connors, we’re glad to know it. But, whether you did or didn’t, it’s a fact that he deliberately backed into our car with the idea of hurting it. And all the explanations in the world won’t get around that!”
Mr. Connors seemed impressed. He turned his head toward the door which stood open into the carriage room. “Is Johnny there?” he shouted.
“No, sir, he’s out with the team,” was the response.
“That’s too bad. If he was here we’d have him in and hear his story of it.” Mr. Connors frowned and played with his watch-charms. Then his face cleared and he smiled genially again. “Sure,” he said, “what’s the use quarreling about a couple of dollars, boys? Maybe you have it right, after all, or maybe it was no more your fault than Johnny’s. A couple of dollars won’t break me nor you. Say we call it quits and talk no more about it?” And Mr. Connors smiled so kindly that Willard began to feel ashamed. Tom, however, was made of sterner stuff.
“That’s all right, sir, but it cost us——”
“Never mind,” interrupted Willard. “If Mr. Connors is willing to call it square we are, I guess.”
“All right,” Tom muttered.
“That’s the way, boys,” said the liveryman heartily. “’Tis settled then, and no hard feelings on either side. Sure, when gentlemen have anything between them there’s nothing like getting together and talking it over, eh? Fair and square, boys; that’s my motto!”