The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-11-05
CHAPTER Confined

"Why," said Frank, after he had
paid the taxi driver, show did you
get that impression, Mr.. Snodd?
If you are Mr.. Snodd."
81 am" said the farmer. "My
man, Joe Bemis, said you told him
you'd rather walk than ride with
him."
Merry smiled. "But that was be-
cause I wanted to stretch my legs
after a tiresome train trip. 1t wasn't
because objected to the truck,
sir"
"And that other Teller - Bert
Hodge-he said you made squawk
at the deepoe because he stepped
on Tad Jones' old dog by accident"
ooh, l see." Franks smile grew
broader. "Well, did he tell you,
also, that he kicked the dog and
slapped Tad for Directing to that?''
The mans eyebrows lifted and
came down again. "Huh? Why, no,
he didn't say anything about that,
but he did say Tad got sassy"
"Maybe, Mr.. Snodd," said Tony
Acerro, che no tell-a you he run
over that dog-a up on the hill when
Joe let-a him drive-a the truck"
"Hey? What's that, Tony?"
Snodd's eyes had widened in sur
prise. "Run over Tad's dog? No,
he never mentioned that. Did 1t
hurt the dog much?"
"Only Just kill-a him." said Tony.
"This-a boy come get-a me to
fetch-a Tad and his dead-a dog
home. Now maybe you have-a to
pay for that dog-a, Mr.. Snodd."
With which consoling remark, he
let in the cars clutch and drove
away.
''Why now, shucksl" said John
Snodd, pulling at his chin whiskers.
"That old dog was half blind, and
he wasn't licensed anyhow. He
wasn't worth two cents"
"He was worth a great deal to
that little boy, sir" said Frank.
"Tad's all broken up over it. His
mother, too"
Snodd shook his head soberly.
"Now that's too bad. Pm sorry it
happened. Bemis had no business
to let that Hodge teller drive. But
l don't believe either of them knew
the dog was run over"
maybe they didn't" allowed
Merriwell, "but Tad had to jump
for the ditch to get out Of the way
himself, and he just made it. l
didn't admire the way Hodge
grinned over that. 1t didn't seem
like joke, to me-"
you're right" agreed the farm
er. "I'll give Bemis dressing
down for letting that boy drive the
truck" He beckoned to Frank.
"Well, come on in, young teller.
I've had your trunk took up to your
room. I'll show you where it is"
It was a comfortably furnished
and pleasant room. Neatness made
up for style and taste. That was
the first thing Merry noticed. Then
he discovered there was running
water, which Snodd had piped from
a spring on higher ground. And
there were electric lights, with pow
er drawn from the line that sup
piled the academy. From the win
dows the academy buildings could
be seen amid the trees, less than a
fourth of a mile away.
Stripped to the waist, he was get
ting rid of the dust and CRIME OF
the train journey when somebody
knocked on the door. "Just mo-
ment," he called, grabbing towel
and using it vigorously.
When he opened the door little
and peered round the edge of it he
was surprised to find that the one
who had knocked was strange
boy with a whimsical, smiling face.
"Hello!" said Frank.
Hello said the other. "My
names Barney Mulloy and my
rooms the next one to this. Like
yourself, I'm here to break into
Fardale academy. I've been hear
ing you wear a high hat, and !
thought I'd like to look at tiff
you don't mind at ALL"
"Come in, Mulloy," said Merry,
opening the door wide. "But the
hats in my trunk and haven't I'M
packed it yet"
"It disagrees with the rumor that
YOU had it on when you arrived in
town." chuckled Mulloy, accepting
the invitation to enter. "But then,
/ don't believe all / hear" His
quick eyes surveyed Franks fine
torso, clean, strong arms and ge-
NAL face. "And it's not much of
sissy you look like, either" he add
ed
IF that's one of the rumors
you've heard" laughed Merry, as
he shut the door again, I'm going
A, hrnrnd $3.50. k.1.lt "a r,nGsrn -