“I told him I’d be around in the morning to close it up,” said Jimmy. “I guess there won’t be any one else after it, but it doesn’t pay to take chances. Our rent won’t begin until the first of the month and we’ll have nearly a couple of weeks to fix it up. Sort of looks, doesn’t it, as though luck was with us?” And the others agreed that it did. CHAPTER XXIII MR. CONNORS MAKES AN OFFER The next morning, however, when Willard found a note from Mr. Connors in the mail he wasn’t so sure that luck was with them. He hurried over to Tom’s and got there just as The Ark was being backed from the garage. Tom took the note and read it aloud: “DEAR SIR: “I find that we have never had a settlement for damage done to my heavy express wagon in collision with your automobile. The amount paid out by me in the way of repairs was slight and if you will kindly call at my office soon the matter can be quickly adjusted. “Respectfully, “WILLIAM CONNORS. “per W. L.” “Well, of all the cheek!” sputtered Tom indignantly. “Somehow,” said Willard, “I don’t believe he wants to see us about those damages.” “You don’t? Why?” Willard shook his head. “I don’t know why I don’t, but I just don’t, Tom. Anyway, let’s go and see him this morning. If he’s going to make more trouble for us let’s find it out.” “All right, we’ll go after the first train. If you’ve got anything disagreeable to do it’s best to do it right off and get it off your mind. I hope he chokes, though!” An hour or so later they rode around to Connors’ stable, back of the hotel, on Ash Street, and found Mr. Connors in the tiny office tucked in a front corner of the big red building. He was a small, wiry man of about fifty, with a short and stubby yellow mustache, gimlet eyes and red cheeks. His attire proclaimed the horseman; a checked suit of a somewhat loud style, a fancy vest, and a good-sized diamond horse-shoe in the scarlet tie. A gold chain with unusually large links crossed his waistcoat and was hung with several charms. In size the liveryman was not much larger than Willard, but for all of that there was something about him that commanded instant respect. Willard introduced himself and Tom and Mr. Connors smiled very nicely. When he smiled his sharp gray eyes twinkled and one sort of wanted to like him! “I’d know you from the resemblance you have to your father,” he told Tom. “Sure, him and me is great pals.” (Tom was not aware of the fact, but he didn’t question the assertion.) “Well, it’s like this, boys; I paid out two dollars and twenty-five cents on that wagon――here’s the bill to look at――and I guess you’ll call that getting off fairly easy.”