Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/147

 races to those who could not by any possibility win them fairly; but again they were disappointed. Joe did not say a word on the subject, and the reason was because it was too serious a matter to be discussed in the presence of boys with whom he was so little acquainted.

"A dog that will fetch a bone will carry one," was Joe's mental comment. "Tom and his cousins may be friendly to us, and then again, if there is any truth in this report, they may have brought it to me on account of some spite they have against those from whom they got it. It's best to keep on the safe side, and so I will hold my tongue until I have a chance to speak to Hastings and Sheldon in private. We have received warning, and if they beat us, it will be our own fault."

"We were just going over to ask you three fellows to come out and take a spin with us," exclaimed Hastings. "We have had our eyes on you, and to tell you the truth, we don't quite like the way you handle those paddles of yours."

"Of course we don't ask you to do your best—indeed we would be foolish to expect it,"