that he was angry.

"I told you they did it," he said to Giant. Then, seeing the
others, he explained:

"I accused them of it and they admitted taking the clothes---
they said it was nothing but a little joke and they laughed at
me. Then when I said they could pay for the missing things they
told me to clear out or they'd have me locked up for trespassing
on Mr. Spink's land!"

"That's like Ham," answered Snap.

"I wish we could pay them off good," went on Whopper.

Just then Ham Spink and Carl Dudder came out of the post-office.
Snap and the others were standing behind some boxes of goods and
the dude and his chum did not at once see them.

"We'll have a celebration with those fireworks when they come," Ham
was saying. "We'll show Fairview a great sight."

"That's right," returned Carl Dudder. "We'll put them in my father's
barn until we want to use them."

Then both boys caught sight of Snap and the others and broke off
their talk. They, wanted to brush past without speaking, but Snap
and Shep blocked the way.

"We want to talk to you," said Snap.