"You needn't say anything for me!" snapped the crabbed man. "I won't sell at that price, nor any other he can offer me. I've had a better offer than his, you can tell him, but I won't do business with him. Now get away from here! This isn't war time and I don't want a couple of tin soldiers on my front steps," and once more the old man chuckled at his insulting words. Dick and Paul flushed, but made no retort. "Won't you consider any offer at all from my father?" asked the young millionaire, wondering if the other bid for the stock had come from Mr. Porter. "I will send him a message, telling him you----" "I told you that you needn't tell him anything from me!" snapped Mr. Duncaster. "I won't sell, and that's all there is to it! Now get out!" and he slammed shut the door. For a moment Dick paused irresolutely on the steps. Then, with a shrug of his shoulders, he said: "Turned down! Well I'll have to try some other way. It will be a disappointment for dad though." As the two chums walked out of the yard the chauffeur came toward them with a small pail. "What are you going to do?" asked Dick. "Get some water for the radiator. It's almost out. I see a well over here." He approached it to draw up the bucket, when a window was raised, and the head of Mr. Duncaster was thrust out. "Here! Keep away from that well!" he cried. "You shan't have any of my water for your old rip-snorting contraption. I believe you are the fellow who ran into me the other night. Get away from there and water your machine somewhere else." "Hum! You're a cheerful companion for yourself in your old age," remarked the chauffeur, as he turned back. CHAPTER XI A RIVALRY "What are you going to do?" asked Dick of the auto driver, as the three walked out of the yard of the mean man, watched all the way by the squinting eyes of Mr. Duncaster. "Oh, I'll go to some place down the road where they're not so careful of their water," was the answer. "Have you enough to run on?" asked Paul, and the chauffeur assured them that he had. The next resident was a cheerful farmer, who not only gave permission for them to take all the water they needed, but even drew it from the well for them. "And if your machine needs a drink, perhaps you will too," said the farmer's wife. "I've just made some hot coffee, and I'd like you all to come in and have some." "We will!" assented Dick, and most grateful was the beverage, for riding in the open car was chilly. "What a difference in people," commented Paul, as they started off again. The young millionaire felt almost as badly at sending the discouraging news to his father as Mr. Hamilton must have felt on receiving it. But he immediately wired back a cheerful telegram to his son. * * * * * "Don't worry," he advised, "we'll try some other way, and perhaps you may be able to get around Duncaster later. I'd come on and tackle him myself, but I can't spare the time."