"I shall lay the whole matter before M. Desplaines--the consular
agent of our government," cried Frank at last.
"It is too late to do that," retorted Mr. Barr, "anticipating that
there would be some trouble I have already engaged a lawyer and M.
Desplaines will keep his hands off this affair."
"Why did you anticipate trouble?" shot out Frank, "was it because
you knew that signature was false?"
For a fragment of a second the old man's pale face grew paler--or
rather turned a sickly yellow.
"Bah," he said the next minute, "this is a business matter and not
one for boys to enter into. I will see that you are well paid for
your part of the work. If you like I will write you a check now."
He drew out an ever-ready check-book and fountain pen.
"I would rather have fair play than money," was Frank's stinging
retort.
"And so say we all of us," chorused Harry, Billy and Lathrop.
Mr. Barr was plainly irritated. In a snappish tone he said at
length:
"If you can show me where I am to sleep I think I will go to bed. I
am very tired. We will discuss this matter further to-morrow."
Ben Stubbs, with a very ill grace, made up a bed for the New Yorker
at some distance from the others.
"I'd like to stuff it full of barb-wire," he confided to Frank
afterward.
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