CHAPTER XXIII.
AT CLOSE QUARTERS "Say, you dun let my hosses alone!" cried the colored man, in fright.
"Don't you dare to drive away until you have answered our questions," returned Dick, firmly.
"I--I don't want to git in no trouble, boss--'deed I don't!" wailed the driver of the farm wagon.
"Well, you answer our questions, and tell us the strict truth." "I--I didn't do nuffin, give you-all my word I didn't!" "But you saw the auto, with the men and the girls in it ?" cried Dick, sharply.
"Ye-as, sah, I--I did, sah," was the stammered-out reply.
"Where did you see them ?" "Down in Snagtown, sah." "What were the folks in the auto doing ?" "Da was a-waitin' fo' one of de men to fix up de wheel.

De rubber on de wheel dun got busted." "I see.

And what were the men in the auto, and the girls, doing ?" went on Dick, quickly.
"Say, boss, I don't want no trouble, 'deed I don't! I didn't do nuffin! I jess looked at' em, dat's all.

An' dat one man he said he'd mak me suffer if I opened my mouf 'bout wot I saw," explained the aged colored man, in a trembling voice.

"I'se an honest, hard-workin' man, I is! I works fo' Massah Sheldon fo' sixteen years now, an' he'll dun tole yo'-all I'se honest, an----" "All right, I believe you are honest," answered Dick, in a kindlier tone.