"Wonder if we can't hear what they are saying?" said Roger. "It might help us to make out a case against them." "We can go around to that side window and listen," suggested Phil, and pointed to the window in question. This was quickly agreed upon, and the four boys left the hotel and walked out on a gravel path close to the window. As the day was warm, the window was wide open. "No, it was a frost!" they heard Job Haskers say, in harsh tones. "He wouldn't buy the stock?" queried Link Merwell. "Worse than that, Merwell. I was trapped, and I had all I could do to get away." "What do you mean?" "Do you know who was there, with that old man, when I went to see him?" "I have no idea." "Three of the boys you hate--Porter, Morr, and Lawrence." Merwell started back in consternation. "You don't mean it--you are fooling!" "It's the truth. They were there and ready to have me arrested, I suppose. I got out in a hurry." Job Haskers gave a deep sigh and wiped the perspiration from his forehead. "Did--did they follow you?" asked Link Merwell, nervously. "I don't think so--I didn't give them time. Oh, this is too bad! I expected to get a lot of money from that old man," and Job Haskers shook his head, sadly. "I told you it wasn't safe to stay around here," was Merwell's comment. "Why not go out West with me? It will be much safer there, I am sure." "My funds are low." "I'll stake you, as the miners say." "How much money have you?" asked Job Haskers, a bit more hopefully. "Enough to take us both West. I made dad come down--he sent the money order this morning, and I just got it cashed. I told him if he didn't come down I'd have to give myself up to the police, and that would disgrace the whole family." "I see." The former teacher of Oak Hall gritted his teeth. "Oh, how I wish I could do something to punish Porter and those others!" "Humph! you don't wish that any more than I do," replied Link Merwell, scowling. "I'm going to do something some day, mark my words!" he added, vindictively. At that moment the agent for a big observation car that ran around the lake approached the boys on the gravel path beneath the window. "Wouldn't you young gentlemen like to take a nice ride this afternoon?" he asked, in a business-like tone. "A fifty-mile ride in our new observation touring-car, visiting all the points of interest around the lake, and taking in Creswood, Lighton, and Tomkins' Mill--a two-hours' ride for one dollar." And he held up a handful of tickets. "We don't want any ride," answered Dave. "We have our own touring-car," added Roger, pointing to the car. "Oh, I see, all right," said the man, and passed on, to hunt for customers elsewhere. When the man had started to speak his voice had carried into the reading-room, and much surprised to think others were so near, both Haskers and Merwell had gotten up from the couch to glance out of the window. "Well, I never!" gasped Merwell.