He was about five minutes getting to the court-house. While he was bracing the motor-cycle up against the steps at the entrance, Perry came out of the building, followed by Dirk Hawley.
"Here's King," laughed Perry, "just a little bit late."
"Just a little," chuckled Hawley. "It won't do you any good to butt in here, King."
"How do you know what I'm doing here?" demanded Matt.
"Oh, I'm a pretty fair guesser. Run along home, an' tell the McReadys their little scheme wouldn't work."
Matt, however, climbed doggedly up the steps, entered the corridor, and made for the place where location notices were filed.
"Was a location notice filed here just now for Jacks and Hawley?" he asked of the clerk.
"Right you are; just about two minutes ago."
"Much obliged," said Matt. "That's all."
He went out and got on his machine, but instead of steering for Mrs. Spooner's, he made for Chub McReady's. Susie was there, and he would tell her the whole story. If he hadn't stopped to chase that runaway horse, he would have been able to beat Perry to the court-house and so save a fortune for his friends. They had to be told how he had failed and why.