Phil and Roger were somewhat in advance of Dave, whose front tire was soft and needed pumping up. Passing the roadhouse, Dave came to a halt at the roadside.
"Going to pump up!" he called out. "Go ahead--I'll catch up with you." And so the others went on, leaving him alone.
He was at work with a small hand pump he carried when he heard a murmur of voices in the bushes and trees back of the roadhouse. The murmur grew louder, and presently he made out the voices of Gus Plum and Link Merwell.
"You're a fool, Gus, to act this way," Merwell was saying. "What's the use of being a softy? You are missing a whole lot of fun."
"I tell you I'm not going to do it," answered Plum. "I guess I know what is best for me."
"It won't hurt you to have one drink," went on Merwell. "Come on in, like a good fellow. I hate to drink alone. He's got some prime stuff. We've got lots of time to get back to the Hall in time for dinner."
"No, I'm done with drinking--I told you that before, Link. Now stop it and let me go."
"See here, Gus, you've got to go with me," stormed Merwell, uglily. "I'll not have you giving me the cold shoulder. If you refuse to have just one drink, do you know what I'll do? I'll let Doctor Clay know about that other time--the time you went to the granary."
"No! no!" pleaded Plum, and now his voice trembled. "Please don't do that!"
"Ha! ha! that's where I've got you, haven't I? Now, will you take a drink with me, or not?"
"I--I--I am afraid. Oh, Merwell, you know how it was before. I--I----" Gus Plum broke down completely. "Please don't ask me; please don't!"
"Of all the fools----" began Link Merwell, and then stopped short as a heavy hand was suddenly laid on his shoulder. "Dave Porter!"
"Merwell, I want to talk to you," said Dave, in a cold, hard tone that caused the big bully to start. "Come with me."
"Oh, Dave----" began Plum, and his face was red from confusion.
"Let me do the talking--and acting, Gus."
"I heard enough. Now, Merwell, come with me."
"Supposing I refuse to come?" Dave's manner began to make the bully feel uncomfortable. He felt that something very unusual was about to happen.
"Will you?" The bully tried to put a sneer in the question, but failed.
"I will. Now, are you coming or not?" And Dave doubled up his fists and drew back his right arm.