Read The Outdoor Girls in a Motor Car; Or, The Haunted Mansion of Shadow Valley Page 23

  CHAPTER XXIII

  "THAT'S THE MAN!"

  "What will you do with your horse and carriage?" asked Mr. Blackford,when the girls had made different seating arrangements to accommodateMr. Bailey, the farmer. "It won't do to leave it on the road; will it?"

  "No, I'll have to fix that some way. We can't very well take it alongwith us. But here comes Jim Bates. He'll look after my nag for me. Hi,Jim!" he called as a man came driving past in a dilapidated wagon, drawnby a bony horse, "Jim, jest look after my outfit; will you? Maybe youcan leave it in Pierce's barn until I come back. That isn't far. Pierceis away, but his wife will let you, I guess."

  "Where you goin'?" asked Jim. His horse had stopped of its own accord,it seemed.

  "Goin' in to Franklin."

  "In that there machine?"

  "Yep."

  "Gittin' sort of stylish; ain't ye?"

  "Mebbe. But I had an accident, and these young ladies was kind enough tooffer me a lift."

  "In a hurry?"

  "I sure am. I'm after that swindler. Heard he was in Franklin."

  "Git out! Feller that sold you the interest in that patent soap?"

  "Yep. That's how I was swindled," he explained to our friends. "Thisfaker come along with a wonderful soap. It would take the spots out ofeverything--even the sun, he said. It did do good work when hemanipulated it. Well, I was foolish enough to give up some of myhard-earned savings for the secret of how to make the soap. I bought thestuff he told me, but the soap was a failure. He swindled me. Now I'mafter him."

  "I hope you catch him," said Jim. "Go along in the buzz-wagon. I'll lookafter your rig until you git back. Good-luck!"

  They started off, the farmer going into details of how he had beenswindled. He was very thankful for the unexpected "lift" given him, anddeclared that he would not have known what to do had not the auto comealong.

  "We are only too glad to help you," said Mollie.

  "'THERE HE IS!' CRIED THE FARMER, 'THAT'S THE MAN WHOSWINDLED ME!'"

  _The Outdoor Girls in a Motor Car._ _Page 197._]

  "We seem to be in the assisting business," remarked Betty, who satbeside Mollie. "We're helping two birds with one auto."

  "You mean Carrie?"

  "Yes."

  "Poor girl! I do hope we can help her, and get someone to look after herso she won't worry. Mr. Washburn will know what to do."

  "Yes, Allen is getting to be quite a lawyer," admitted Betty, with ablush.

  They swung into Franklin.

  "Where do you think would be a good place to look for your man?" askedMr. Blackford of the farmer.

  "I heard he was selling tooth powder in the public square. He has astand, or something."

  "Then suppose you head for there," suggested Mr. Blackford to Mollie.She nodded.

  They saw a crowd of people in the square in front of the court house. Intheir midst stood a man on a raised platform--a platform gay with flags.His strident voice could be heard extoling the merits of his wares. Theauto came nearer. The vendor's face could be plainly seen.

  "There he is!" cried the farmer. "That's the man who swindled me!" Hestood up in the machine. Those in the crowd gazed wonderingly at him.

  A gasp from Carrie caused Grace to look at her. The girl's face waswhite.

  "What is it?" asked Grace in alarm.

  "That man--he--he is my guardian!" cried Carrie. "Oh, don't let him seeme!" and she cowered behind Amy and Grace.