The Outdoor Girls in a Motor Car/Chapter 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 accommodate Mr. 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 along with 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, drawn by a bony horse, "Jim, jest look after by outfit; will you? Maybe you can leave it in Pierce's barn until I come back. That isn't far. Pierce is 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 to offer 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. "This faker come along with a wonderful soap. It would take the spots out of everything—even the sun, he said. It did do good work when he manipulated it. Well, I was foolish enough to give up some of my hard-earned savings for the secret of how to make the soap. I bought the stuff he told me, but the soap was a failure. He swindled me. Now I'm after him."
"I hope you catch him," said Jim. "Go along in the buzz-wagon. I'll look after your rig until you git back. Good-luck!"
They started off, the farmer going into details of how he had been swindled. He was very thankful for the unexpected "lift" given him, and declared that he would not have known what to do had not the auto come along.
"We are only too glad to help you," said Mollie.
"'THERE HE IS!' CRIED THE FARMER. 'THAT'S THE MAN WHO SWINDLED ME!'"
"We seem to be in the assisting business," remarked Betty, who sat beside 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 her so she won't worry. Mr. Washburn will know what to do."
"Yes, Allen is getting to be quite a lawyer," admitted Betty, with a bush.
The swung into Franklin.
"Where do you think would be a good place to look for your man?" asked Mr. Blackford of the farmer.
"I heard he was selling tooth powder in the public square. He has a stand, 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. In their 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. The auto came nearer. The vendor's face could be plainly seen.
"There he is!" cried the farmer. "That's the man who swindled me!" He stood 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 was white.
"What is it?" asked Grace in aiarm.
"That man—he—he is my guardian!" cried Carrie. "Oh, don't let him see me!" and she cowered behind Amy and Grace.