CHAPTER XIII.
MART RAWLINS WEAKENS.
"Hello, Lorry!" said Rawlins, hesitating, just over the threshold, asthough a little undecided as to how he would be received.
"Hello, Rawlins!" answered Lorry coldly. "You want to see Motor Matt?"
"That's why I came. I hope he isn't hurt very much?"
"There he is," said Lorry, pushing a chair up to the bed; "you can askhim about that for yourself."
McGlory, feeling sure that Merton was guiltily concerned in the fire,was far from amiably disposed toward such a close friend of Merton's asRawlins. As Rawlins advanced to the bed the cowboy got up, turned hisback, and looked out of a window.
"I'm sorry you had such a rough time of it, Motor Matt," said Rawlins,visibly embarrassed.
"I was in luck to get out of the scrape as well as I did," returnedMatt. "You're a friend of Merton's?"
"I was. Early this morning we had a quarrel, so we're not quite sofriendly. Have you any idea what caused the fire?"
"Yes," said Matt bluntly; "firebugs."
"You're positive of that?"
"My friend McGlory, there, was watching outside the boathouse. He wasset upon by two negroes, knocked down, tied hand and foot, gagged anddragged off where he would not be in the way. Then the two scoundrelsset fire to the building while Lorry, the Chinese boy, and I were soundasleep inside."
Something like trepidation crossed Mart Rawlins' face.
"McGlory is sure that the men were negroes who assaulted him?" queriedRawlins in a shaking voice.
"He's positive."
"Then," breathed Rawlins, as though to himself, "there's no doubt aboutit."
"No doubt about what?" demanded McGlory sharply, whirling away from thewindow.
"Why," was the answer, "that there was a conspiracy to destroy theboathouse and the _Sprite_, and that Ollie Merton was back of it."
Rawlins had paled, and he was nervous, but he spoke deliberately.
Matt, Lorry, and McGlory were surprised at the trend Rawlins' talk wastaking. They were still a little bit suspicious of him, especiallyMcGlory.
"What makes you think that?" asked Matt, eying his caller keenly.
"Did you lose a roll of drawings a few days ago?"
"Yes."
"And did you have a disagreement with the little negro called PickerelPete?"
"Yes."
"Well, Pete stole those drawings and took them to Merton. It was justafter"--Rawlins flushed--"just after you were stopped in the woodsby Merton and the rest of us, and ordered to quit helping Lorry. Wehad got back to Merton's house, and Pete came there with the roll ofpapers. Merton bought them from Pete, gave Pete five dollars, and askedhim to come to see him Sunday afternoon at four o'clock--yesterdayafternoon. Merton said he had a plan he was going to carry out thatwould make success sure for the Winnequa boat in the race. He wouldn'ttell us what the plan was, but when I heard that the boathouse had beenburned I went over to Merton's and had a talk with him. It wasn't apleasant talk, and there was a coldness between Merton and me when Ileft."
"You think, then," said Matt, "that Merton hired Pete to get thosenegroes to set fire to the boathouse?"
"That's the way it looks to me. As a member of the Winnequa club, anda representative member, I won't stand for any such work. It's--it'sunsportsman-like, to say the least."
"It's worse than that, Mart," frowned Lorry.
"It was unsportsman-like to stop Matt, drag him off into the woods, andtry to bribe him to leave town, or to 'throw' the race, wasn't it?"cried McGlory scornfully.
Rawlins stirred uncomfortably.
"Certainly it was," he admitted.
"And yet you helped Merton in that!"
"Merton fooled me. He said Motor Matt was an unscrupulous adventurer,and a professional motorist, and that the good of the sport made itnecessary for us to get him out of that race. He didn't say he wasgoing to bribe him to 'throw' the race. I didn't know that offerwas going to be made, and I think there were some others who didn'tknow it. If we could have hired Motor Matt to leave town, I'd havebeen willing. I've got up all the money I can spare on the race, andnaturally I want our boat to win--but I won't stand for any unfairpractices. Nor will the Winnequa Club, as a whole. We're game to letour boat face the start on its own merits. If we can't win by fairmeans, I want to lose my money."
Rawlins got up.
"That's all I came here for--to find out how you are, Motor Matt, andto let you know how I stand, and how the rest of the club stands. Ihave come out flat-footed, and for the good of motor boating in thissection I hope you will not press this matter to its conclusion. We allknow what that conclusion would mean. It would go hard with Merton,and there would be a scandal. In order to avoid the scandal, it may benecessary to spare Merton."
"Sufferin' hoodlums!" cried McGlory. "That's a nice way to tune up.Here's Merton, pulling off a raw deal, and coming within one of killingmy two pards, say nothing of the way I was treated, and now you wanthim spared for the sake of avoiding a scandal!"
A silence followed this outburst.
When Rawlins continued, he turned and addressed himself to Matt.
"I think I know your calibre pretty well, Motor Matt," said he. "Theway you turned down that bribe in the woods and declared that you'dstand by Lorry at all costs, showed us all you were the right sort.Of course, I can't presume to influence you; but, if you won't spareMerton on account of the scandal and the good of the sport, or on hisown account, then think of his father and mother. They'll get back fromabroad to-morrow morning in time for the race. That's all. I'd like toshake hands with you, if you don't mind."
Rawlins stepped closer to the bed.
"You'll have to take my left hand," laughed Matt. "The right'stemporarily out of business. You're the clear quill, Rawlins," headded, as they shook hands, "and I'll take no steps against Merton,providing he acts on the square from now on. You can tell your clubmembers that."
"Thank you. I half expected you'd say that."
"Will Merton be allowed to race the boat in the contest?" inquiredLorry.
"We can't very well avoid it. It's his boat, and it's the only entryon our side. He'll have to race her, with Halloran. The club willmake that concession. After that--well, Merton will cease to act ascommodore, and will no longer be a member of the club. Good-by, MotorMatt, and may the best boat win, no matter who's at the motor!"
As Rawlins went out, Ethel Lorry and her father stepped into the room.They had heard the loud voices, and inferring that Matt was able toreceive company, had come upstairs.
"You'd hardly think there was a sick person up here," said Mr. Lorry,"from the talk that's been going on. How are you, my lad?" and hestepped toward Matt.
"Doing finely," said Matt.
"I'm glad," said Ethel, drawing close to the bed and slipping her armthrough her father's.
"He's going to race the _Sprite_ to-morrow, Uncle Dan," chirped McGlory.
"No!" exclaimed the astounded Mr. Lorry.
"Fact. You can't down him. He's in that race with only one hand--andthe left, at that."
"It will be the death of you!" cried Ethel. "You mustn't think of it."
"You know, my boy," added Mr. Lorry gravely, "it won't do to takechances."
"I know that, sir," returned Matt, "but I'm as well as ever, barring myarm. I can't lie here and let the _Sprite_ get beaten for lack of a manat the motor who understands her. I'd be in a bad way, for sure, if Ihad to do that."
"I think he's a bit flighty," grinned McGlory. "I reckon I can provethat by telling you what just happened."
"What happened?" and Mr. Lorry turned to face McGlory.
The cowboy repeated all that Rawlins had said, winding up with thepromise Matt had made to spare Merton.
A soft light crept into Ethel's eyes.
"What else could you expect from Motor Matt?" she asked.
"I shall have to shake hands with you myself, Matt," said Mr. Lorry,taking Matt's left hand and pressing it cordially.
"That was fine ofyou, but, as Ethel says, no more than we ought to expect. I hope you'llbe able to drive the _Sprite_ to victory, but you'll have to have lesstalk in the room and more rest if you're going to be able to take yourplace in the boat to-morrow. Come on, Ethel."
Mr. Lorry and his daughter left the room and Lorry and McGlory resumedtheir chairs, but gave over their conversation.
An hour later Matt called for something to eat, and a substantial mealwas served to him, piping hot.
The doctor came while he was eating.
"Well," laughed the doctor, "I guess you'll do. Don't eat too much,that's all."
"He's got to corral enough ginger to get into that race to-morrowafternoon, doc," sang out the cowboy.
"He don't intend to try that, does he?" asked the doctor aghast.
"I've got to, doctor," said Matt.
"It may be," remarked the doctor, "that action is the sort of tonicyou need. But, whatever you do, don't attempt to use that arm. That'llbe about all. If you do get into the race, though, be sure and win.You see," he added whimsically, "I live on the Fourth Lake side of thetown."