“Seen the president, did ye?” sputtered Pat. “Yez’ll see the police station, that’s what yez’ll see! Wait till I get a word with Gus Tinker!”
Off strode Pat to the agent. Willard and Tom exchanged a smile. A minute passed and Pat was still absent. Finally he returned around the corner of the station, scowling terrifically. “Wait till I tell Connors on yez!” he called, shaking a huge fist in their direction. “He’ll have yez out o’ that, begorra, before yez knows what’s happened to yez! Comin’ here an’ takin’ the bread out of me mouth, ye thieves!”
Further remarks were drowned by the shriek of the locomotive whistle and then by the roar of the express as it drew into the station, its brakes rasping and grinding. Only three passengers got off, and two of the three set off on foot. The third hesitated a moment between the impassioned eloquence of Pat Herron on one side and the overtures of Tom and Willard on the other. The passenger was a meek looking little man with a suit case many sizes too large for him to which he clung in desperation.
“It’s the hotel you’re wantin’, sir?” wheedled Pat. “Sure, I know yez well. I took yez up the last time, sir. Step right this way and——”
“Automobile waiting, sir! Only a quarter of a dollar, and get you there in a wink!” declared Tom.
“Autymobul, is it!” cried Pat. “Take a look at it, sir! It’s all I’m askin’ yez, sir; take one look at it! Would yez call that an autymobul? Sure, ’tis all your life is worth, sir, to set foot in such a thing! Ten accidents they’re after havin’ already with the thing, sir, and the Lord only knows——”
“He’s lying, sir! An automobile’s a heap safer than those horses of his. Look at them, sir! Why, the last time they ran away——”
“Safe and gentle they be, sir! Your own mother’s mother could drive them, sir! Sure, pay no more heed to them blatherskites! Give me your bag, sir, and I’ll have yez up to the hotel while we’re standin’ here talkin——”
“Whoa!” cried Willard suddenly. “Whoa! It’s that off horse again, Pat! Has he got his foot over the traces or what, Tom? Whoa!”
Pat turned in alarm and Tom made a sudden grab at the man’s suit case and got it!