He wondered if the boys would be
able to find him before they settled with him, as they had promised.
After the men had finished their meal the voice of the leader summoned
them outside. Ted could hear commands being given in a low voice, and
mumbles from the men.
It appeared from what Ted could gather from the tones of the voice,
rather than from any words that he caught, that one of the men was
protesting against what Checkers was ordering.
Suddenly there was a cry of agony.
"Don't do that, boss," said one of the men.
"Shut up, or you'll get a taste of the same knife," came the voice of
Checkers in a tone of rage. "When I say a thing must be done it is as
good as done. Now go ahead and do as I tell you."
"But, boss--"
"Go on, and do it. Are you a coward? You've done it before," Ted heard
Checkers say. "I'm going away now, and if you can't show me what I want
when I get back, well--you know."
In a moment Ted heard the chug of the motor car, then the grating of the
tires on the earth as it started away.
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