Gordon didn't answer. It was rather embarra.s.sing and he was glad of the darkness.

"Good-night, Gordon."

"Good-night, sir."

Mr. Merrick turned away, there was a sound of cracking and crunching china and an exclamation.

"What's this?" asked Mr. Merrick in surprise, peering down at the floor.

"It-it's a plate, sir. Mother-that is--"

"Hm," said Mr. Merrick, and then again "Hm!" He pushed the broken fragments under the bed. "I-hm-I can understand that you aren't very hungry," he said dryly. "Evidently your mother-hm-well, good-night, Gordie."

The door closed. Gordon smiled at the black and green foliage beyond the window. It was all right about that lunch. If it wasn't his father would never have called him Gordie.

CHAPTER X

GORDON BEARS A MESSAGE

Gordon was up at seven the next morning, having had, as he reckoned, a good nine hours and more of sleep. At breakfast he told again the story of the accident, this time to an interested audience of three. The third was Fudge, who, since almost an hour before, had been hanging around waiting for Gordon's appearance, and who now was seated at table with a cup of coffee and one of Mrs. Merrick's graham m.u.f.fins in front of him.

Fudge acknowledged that he had rather skimped his breakfast. Mr. Merrick mildly censured Gordon for accepting Morris Brent's invitation to ride, but it was evident that he was too proud of Gordon's part in the affair to be severe. Fudge was anxious to know what had become of the runabout and Gordon replied that so far as he knew it was just where they had left it.

"I guess," he said, "it's pretty badly smashed up. I know one wheel has about all the spokes out of it, and I think the axle is busted. Still, I dare say it can be mended."

"B-b-bet you Morris will never run it again, though," said Fudge. "Guess it's a good chance for someone to buy an auto cheap. Wish I could!"

"Why, William!" murmured Mrs. Merrick. "The idea!"

"Oh, a fellow doesn't have to run it the way Morris did," replied Fudge knowingly. "Tim Turner's father has had a car for two years and he's never had an accident yet."

"Why don't you see Mr. Brent?" suggested Gordon. "I dare say he will let you have it for almost nothing."

Fudge thrust a hand in a pocket and gravely counted the change he drew out. "If he'll let me have it for sixty-three cents I'll take it," he said.

Mr. Merrick pushed back his chair. "If I ever hear of either of you riding in an automobile without permission I'll see that you get what you deserve," he said grimly.

Fudge grinned. "You'd have to catch me first," he said.

Gordon announced his intention of running over to see d.i.c.k and his father reminded him that Mr. Brent was going to call. Gordon replied evasively that he guessed Mr. Brent had changed his mind. He secretly hoped that he had. But when, after Mr. Merrick's departure for his office, Gordon wheeled his bicycle down the steps he saw Mr. Brent coming along the street, his ivory-topped walking-stick thumping the pavement briskly. Escape was impossible and so Gordon leaned his wheel against the gate post and waited. Fudge melted into the background. Mr.

Brent was about the only person Fudge was in awe of.

"Well, my boy," greeted Mr. Brent, "you got off lucky."

"Yes, sir. I'm awfully sorry about Morris. How is he?"

"Better than he deserves," replied Mr. Brent with a snap of his jaws.

"The doctor tells me it will be six weeks or more before he will be on his feet again. I suppose he was running the thing like mad, wasn't he?"

"No, sir, he was going quite slowly. I don't know just how it happened, Mr. Brent. I think there must have been a bad place in the road."

"Of course it wasn't his fault," said the other dryly. "Well, it was a merciful thing he had you with him, my boy. His mother and I are very grateful to you, Merrick. You did a very plucky thing."

"It wasn't anything," muttered Gordon, looking longingly at his wheel.

Perhaps Mr. Brent saw that he was more than willing to avoid further expressions of grat.i.tude, for he smiled and said:

"Well, that's all. I wanted to see you and thank you. And as I told your father last night I'm ready and anxious to prove my grat.i.tude to you. If there's anything I can do, Merrick, you call on me."

"Thank you, sir, but I guess there isn't anything."

"Perhaps some day there will be. When that time comes don't forget what I say, Merrick. I wish you'd stop in at the house to-day or to-morrow and see Mrs. Brent. She wants to see you, my boy. And after Morris gets where he can talk to folks I'd like you to pay him a visit too. He doesn't deserve it, but-well, I guess he's in for a long, hard siege of it."

"Yes, sir, I will. I-I was going to call to-day and ask after him, but now that I know how he is--"

"Better go just the same. My wife is anxious to tell you how she feels about it, Merrick. She can do it better than I can, too. Your father at home?"

"No, sir, he's gone down town."

"That's where I ought to be. I waited around for the doctor to call. By the way, Merrick, there's something you can do for me if you will. See this man Stacey and get him to take that automobile away from there. If I talk to him I'll fly off the handle and tell him what I think of him.

I don't care what he does with the thing. He may burn it up or fix it up or anything he likes, but you tell him from me that he will never get another cent in payment. Will you do that?"

"Yes, sir, I'll see him right away. I guess the car will be worth quite a good deal after it's fixed up. I mean, sir, I don't think Mr. Stacey will be out much."

"I don't care if he is," replied Mr. Brent grimly. "Morris tells me he paid three hundred and fifty dollars and owes about two hundred more. He will never get it. You tell him so. If he wants to sue, let him. I wish he would!" Mr. Brent flicked angrily with his cane at a spray of leaves that peeked through the fence. "Well, I'll be grateful if you'll attend to that for me, Merrick. Good morning."

After Mr. Brent had gone Gordon summoned Fudge with a whistle and that youth sauntered around from the back yard. "I guess Stacey will be mad,"

he commented when Gordon had told him of the commission he had accepted.

"I'll go along with you. I like a sc.r.a.p."

"There isn't going to be any sc.r.a.p," said Gordon. "I'll just tell him what Mr. Brent says and come away."

"All right. Wait till I get my wheel."

Mr. Stacey's place of business was on Oak Street, a smart shop with two big plate-gla.s.s windows behind which were displayed shining new automobiles. The proprietor was a small man under thirty who affected brilliant neckties and a jovial smile. But the smile faded when Gordon delivered his message. Mr. Stacey looked angry and ugly.

"Is that so?" he demanded truculently. "Old Jonathan Brent said that, did he? Well, you tell him I hold Morris' note for two hundred and thirty-five dollars and I mean to collect it. Why, that car's no good to me, son! What would I do with it? It isn't mine, anyway. I sold it fairly and squarely. If he wants me to fetch it in and have it repaired I'll do it and charge him only what it costs, but as to taking it back and calling quits-nothing doing, son. You tell him that, see?"

"It isn't my affair," replied Gordon calmly. "I've only told you what Mr. Brent asked me to. Why don't you talk to him about it?"

"Because I haven't any dealings with him. I sold that car to his son. If he wants to talk to me let him come here or call me up on the telephone.

It's nothing to me. I've got Morris Brent's note--"

"It isn't worth anything," piped up Fudge, who found proceedings dull.

"He isn't old enough to give a note."