Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/302

278 who was a prisoner. "I didn't hit him half hard enough."

"I think you were trying to cheat him out of some money," was Dave's comment. "It sounded that way to me."

"Oh, he wanted too much," was the answer, and after that the prisoner said but little about the other man.

The boys talked the matter over among themselves, and at last it was decided that Roger and Ben should skate back as far as Rockville and inform the authorities of what had happened, while Dave and Phil watched the prisoner and the unconscious man.

"And see that that fellow doesn't escape," said the senator's son, on departing.

"What are you going to do with me?" asked the man who was bound, as soon as the others had gone.

"Going to hand you over to the police," answered Dave.

"You won't gain anything by that."

"That remains to be seen."

"Tell you what I'll do, boys. Let me off and I'll make it worth your while."

"Do you want to buy us off?" queried Phil, curiously.

"You might as well make fifty dollars or so as not," and the prisoner winked suggestively.