is gradually clearing up. All I know is that there's dirty work going on and you, Mr. Carter, are in a scheme to cheat Pop Dillon out of his franchise."
Carter made a movement as if to start physical hostilities. His face grew tense and his eyes narrowed. But evidently he thought better of it, for he gave a short, unpleasant laugh, relaxed and asked, "And what would I want of this franchise? It isn't worth anything."
Jane, the peacemaker, stepped in. "Why, of course, Harold, your charges are ridiculous," she said. "We've both of us often heard granddad say the franchise isn't worth a hundred dollars. The only possibly valuable thing is the ground on which the car barn stands and that's so small that it's not much good for practical purposes."
"If you ask me, Miss Dillon," sneered Carter, encouraged by the support of Jane, "I believe, as I told you before, your friend, Mr. Swift, is jealous of me. That's the real motive for his absurd conduct."
Jane nodded in agreement. She really believed it.
She turned on Speedy. "I think Mr. Carter is right," she asserted. "And I'm ashamed of you for acting like this, after all Mr. Carter has done for us and for granddad."
Speedy gave a baffled sigh. He had expected opposition from Carter, of course, but he had not counted upon Jane lending support to the enemy. He wondered if this clever knave had actually fascinated Jane; if there was good cause for feeling
