“That’s all right,” said Willard calmly, “but we’ve got a bigger bill against you, Mr. Connors. If you want to pay the difference between our bill and yours, all right. We can settle up now as well as any time.” Mr. Connors smiled leniently. “You’re not asking me to pay for what was your own fault, are you?” he asked. “Sure, ’twas this young man ran his automobile into my wagon. Maybe ’twas unintentional; like as not ’twas just an accident, do you mind; but it played hob with the wagon.” “I didn’t run the car into your wagon,” retorted Tom warmly. “I couldn’t have because I’d stopped my engine. This man of yours, Green, drove up in front of our car and then backed against it twice and broke one of our lamps and――――” Mr. Connors shook his head gently. “That ain’t the way I got it, Benton. I had it straight from Pat Herron and Green himself, mind you. They say you ran your car――――” “How could I when I had no power on?” “Sure, I know little about automobiles, but what little I know I don’t like,” responded Mr. Connors, untroubledly. “They’re queer, unreasonable contrivances, say the least, and likely to do most anything, I’m thinking. Was there anyone saw it?” “There was no one there but your men and myself,” answered Tom. “And of course they’d swear it was my fault!” “Don’t be calling my men liars,” cautioned the liveryman quietly. “It butters no parsnips, do you mind, to call names. I’d as soon believe them as you. No offense, mind you.” “Well, anyway, it wasn’t my fault in the least,” said Tom warmly, “and we have no intention of paying that bill, Mr. Connors.” Mr. Connors sighed and shook his head again. “’Tain’t the right spirit,” he mourned. “Besides,” continued Tom, getting warmed up, “I’m pretty sure you put Green up to it! If you did it’s a fine thing to ask us to pay you damages, isn’t it?” Mr. Connors’ eyes flashed. “Me? I told Johnny to back into your wagon? I did nothing of the sort! What kind of a blackguard do you take me for? What would I be telling him to do that for?” “Well, we know very well that you fixed it so we couldn’t get a stand on Main Street,” replied Tom. “Sure I did! And what for not? That’s business, ain’t it? Why would I be inviting you to step in and take my business away from me? And I’d have kept you away from the station if I could. But I’m not a man to do dirty, underhand tricks like you say! And you can put that in your pipe and smoke it, young man!” “Well――――” began Tom belligerently. But Willard interposed. “If you didn’t put Green up to it, Mr. Connors, we’re glad to know it. But, whether you did or didn’t, it’s a fact that he deliberately backed into our car with the idea of hurting it. And all the explanations in the world won’t get around that!” Mr. Connors seemed impressed. He turned his head toward the door which stood open into the carriage room. “Is Johnny there?” he shouted. “No, sir, he’s out with the team,” was the response.