The High School Boys Canoe Club | Page 9

veterinary can cure that," Fred declared, speaking more airily than
his feelings warranted.
"Hm!" replied Flannery dryly. "You find the veterinary, Master Fred,
and I'll show the gentleman how to make his fortune if he can cure
wind-broken horses."
"Then what good is the pony?" demanded Fred in exasperation.
"Well, the hide ought to fetch three dollars, and there are a good many
pounds of soap fat in him," replied Flannery slowly.
"And is that all the good there is in this pony?" cried Ripley. He felt

like screaming.
"It's all the good I can see in him, sir," replied Flannery.
"Then I won't take this pony," young Ripley declared, flushing hotly.
"It's a downright swindle. Here, my man, hand my money back and
take your old soap box."
"Not to-day," declared the auctioneer briefly. He and his clerk were
now preparing to depart.
"You'd better!" warned Fred.
"I won't."
"Then I'll have you arrested."
"Try it."
"Run and get a policeman," Fred ordered, turning to a crowd of small
boys.
"All right," smiled the auctioneer. "If you'll be quick about it I'll wait
for your policeman."
But Mr. Dodge, who had shaken his head toward three boys who had
shown signs of being willing to run for a policeman, now led young
Ripley to one side.
"No use making any fuss about it, I'm afraid, Fred. You saw the pony
when it was offered for sale, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"And you didn't ask to have him run? You didn't demand the privilege
of trying him yourself?"
"No, sir."

"What representations did the auctioneer make about the pony?"
pressed Mr. Dodge.
"Why, he said the pony was a fine-looking animal-----"
"And that's no lie," responded Mr. Dodge gravely. "What else?"
"That's the only representation that I did make," broke in the auctioneer,
who had strolled slowly over to them. "I also said that the pony showed
all of his good points."
"I'm afraid you'll have to swallow your loss, Fred," suggested the
banker. "I'm sorry that I had even an innocent part in this trade."
"Trade?" screamed Fred, now losing all control of himself. "It wasn't a
trade at all! It's piracy! It's highway robbery! It was a barefaced swindle,
and this swindler"
Fred glared at the auctioneer.
"Go slowly, young man," advised the salesman of the afternoon.
"You're a swindler, and a mean one, taking downright advantage of
other folks," stormed young Ripley. "But you won't get away with this
swindle. My father is a lawyer---the best lawyer in the place---and he'll
give you good reason to shiver!"
"All right, young man. Send your father after me---if he'll take the case.
But I'm going down to see him, anyway, for I must give him an
accounting of the money taken in this afternoon. Come along, Edson,"
to his clerk.
Very red in the face, Fred Ripley stood with his fists clenched, trying to
avoid the eyes of the many grinning men and boys gathered around
him.
Dick & Co. had gotten down from the truck. They did not join in the
fun-making at the enemy's expense, though naturally they did not feel
very sorry for young Ripley.

"Will you ride your pony home, sir?" asked the man who had done the
saddling.
"No," said Fred shortly. He felt tempted to tell the man to lead the
worthless animal away and shoot it. Then he changed his mind.
"Take this half dollar," he said, "and take the pony down and leave it in
our stable."
For another thought had just occurred to Fred Ripley. If he kept a close
mouth, and watched his chance, he hoped that he might yet be able to
make some sort of "trade" with the pony as an asset.
CHAPTER III
BUYING FUEL FOR A BONFIRE?
"Well, what are we going to do with our magnificent war canoe?"
asked Greg Holmes dolefully. "Does the bonfire idea go?"
"It doesn't," Dick retorted. "Although we don't know anything about
such a job, and though it is supposed to need a sure enough expert to do
it, we're at least going to try the thing out and see if we can't make this
canoe float, and carry us safely, at that!"
"We'd better decide how to get it away from here, anyway," proposed
Tom Reade. "We haven't any lease of this lot."
Over near the road a group of men and boys were laughing heartily. It
was at the lawyer's son that their mirth was directed. As for Dick & Co.,
the Gridley crowd felt only sympathy. The proceedings of the afternoon
had but emphasized the old idea that at an auction sale one must either
use great judgment or take his chances.
"Say," called Dick, "there goes the very man we ought to ask for advice.
Harry, will you run