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Page 42
"What's the trouble, Stirling?" inquired Silas Green, as Bart stood
silently thinking out the problem set before him. "You seem sort of
disappointed to find Wacker here. If you didn't think he was here, why
did you come inquiring for him?"
"I knew he came here last night," said Bart. "Mrs. Wacker told me so."
"Do you want to see him?"
"No, I think not," answered Bart after a moment's reflection.
"Then is there anything else I can do for you, or tell you? You seem
troubled. They say I'm a crabbed, treacherous old fellow. All the same,
I would do a good turn for Robert Stirling's son!"
"Thank you," said Bart, feeling easier. "If you will, you might tell me
who was with Lem Wacker last night."
"Two men--don't know them from Adam, never saw them before. Lem drove
up with them in his rig about ten o'clock. They took the horse and wagon
around to the side shed and came in, drank and talked a lot among
themselves, and finally started playing cards in the little room
yonder."
"By themselves?"
"Yes. Once, when I went in with refreshments, Wacker was in a terrible
temper. It seemed he had lost all his money, and he had staked his rig
and lost that, too. One of the two men laughed at him, and rallied him,
remarking he would have 'his share,' whatever that meant, in a day or
two, and then they would meet again and give him his revenge. By the
way, I'm off in my story--Wacker did leave here, about eleven o'clock."
"Alone?"
"Yes. He was gone half an hour, came back looking wise and excited,
joined his cronies again, and at midnight was helpless. My man and I
carried him upstairs to bed."
"What became of the two men?"
"They sat watching the clock till closing time, one o'clock, went out,
unhitched the horse, and drove off."
"I wish I knew who they were," murmured Bart.
"I suppose I might worry it out of Wacker, when he gets his head clear,"
suggested Green.
"I don't believe he would tell you the truth--and he might suspect."
"Suspect what?" demanded Green keenly.
"Never mind, Mr. Green. Can I take a look into the room where they spent
the evening?"
"Certainly--go right in."
Bart held his breath, nearly suffocated by the mixed liquor and tobacco
taint in the close, disorderly looking apartment.
His eye passed over the stained table, the broken glasses and litter of
cigar stubs. Then he came nearer to the table. One corner was covered
with chalk marks.
They apparently represented the score of the games the trio had played.
There were three columns.
At the head of one was scrawled the name "Wacker," at the second "Buck,"
at the third "Hank."
Bart wondered if he had better try to interview Lem Wacker. He decided
in the negative.
In the first place, Wacker would not be likely to talk with him--if he
did, he would be on his guard and prevaricate; and, lastly, as long as
he was asleep he was out of mischief, and helpless to interfere with
Bart.
The young express agent left the Sharp Corner without saying anything
further to Silas Green.
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