Guns and Snowshoes; Or, the Winter Outing of the Young Hunters Part 23

"That's true," answered Kiddy Leech, calmly. "But he won't do it again."

"I know he won't--you won't dare to come around," jeered Carl.

"Humph! I We'll see about that, sonny. Maybe I'll call on your father to-morrow."

"The scarecrow is crazy," said Barney Hedge.

"No, I ain't crazy. But I know a thing or so, and I want to talk to you two in private," went on the tramp, and motioned again to Ham and Carl.

"What do you want?" asked Ham, curiously. He could see that the tramp was not crazy.

"Come here,--or send that other boy away."

"Gosh, got a state secret, eh?" said Barney Hedge. "All right--I'll keep out of it. If you want help, call," he added, as he circled away to a distance.

"What do you want anyway?" questioned Carl, half angrily. "We are not in the habit of a.s.sociating with tramps."

"We are gentlemen's sons," added Ham, drawing himself up proudly.

"Say, do gentlemen's sons blow up boathouses?" asked Kiddy Leech, in a low but distinct tone.

At this question consternation seemed to seize both Ham Spink and Carl Dudder, and their faces grew pale as they stared at the tramp.

"Wha--what's that?" stammered Ham, faintly.

"I asked you if gentlemen's sons blew up boathouses."

"What do you know about blowing up a boathouse?" asked Carl.

"I don't know much about doing the job. But I saw one blown up not long ago, and--"

"And what?" came eagerly from Ham and Carl.

"And I know you two boys did the job," finished Kiddy Leech, significantly.

CHAPTER XVI

AN EVIL COMPACT

For the next moment Ham Spink and Carl Dudder stared at the tramp in amazement not unmixed with terror.

"You--er--you saw us?" faltered Ham, at length.

"I did."

"You were mistaken," put in Carl. "You--"

"No, I wasn't mistaken, for I saw you with the dynamite, and I saw you go into the boathouse and then come out. And then--"

"Hush, not so loud," interrupted Ham, looking over to where Barney Hedge was skating up.

"Then don't say I don't know anything about it," insisted Kiddy Leech.

"I know all about it. You two boys did the job, and n.o.body else."

"Where were you?" asked Ham.

"Oh, I was just knocking around."

"You can't prove we did it," said Carl, a little of his courage returning.

"Can't I though? Just you try me and see. I don't know your names, but I can soon find them out. I know you belong in Fairview."

"Oh!"

Ham's face grew pale again, and if the truth were known he was trembling in his shoes.

"Say, I--er--I don't want you to say anything about this to anybody,"

he added, hastily.

"Oh, I am not the kind to tell all I know," answered the tramp.

"Thank you."

"But it will cost you a trifle."

"Eh?"

"How much money have you got with you?" went on Kiddy Leech, calmly.

"Only some change--less than a dollar."

"How much have you got?"

"What is that to you?" demanded Carl.

"I want what you've got, that's all."

"I'll not give it to you."

"All right then, I'll walk to Fairview and tell what I know about that explosion."

"We'll say you did it!" cried Carl, struck by a sudden inspiration.

"Won't do no good--I can prove you're guilty," answered Kiddy Leech.