Read The Book Stops Here: A Mobile Library Mystery for Free Online

And he did. And he did.
    'I don't gamble,' repeated Ted. 'Unless I know I'm going to win.'
    'Ha ha,' said Israel.
    Israel could see a glint in Ted's eye.
    'A bet,' Ted said to himself. 'The van to win the…What did you call it?'
    'Concours D'Elégance.'
    'Concord De Elephants,' repeated Ted.
    'That's it,' said Israel.
    'Are ye serious?'
    'Yes, absolutely I'm serious.'
    Israel could see Ted thinking through the proposition. 'Well?' he said gingerly.
    'I tell you what, son,' said Ted, pausing dramatically. Big pause. 'Seeing as you've asked.' Another pause. 'You're on.'
    'No. Really? Honestly?'
    'Yes,' said Ted.
    'Really?' said Israel.
    'I said yes.'
    'Great!' said Israel. 'How much? A couple of pounds?'
    'Couple of pounds!' said Ted, bellowing with laughter. 'Couple of pounds! Ach, ye're a quare geg. No, no, no. No. If I'm going all the way over to the mainland I want to get my money's worth out of you. We'll do it properly. I'll get JP to open up a book on it.'
    'JP?'
    'The bookie on Main Street. He'll see us right.'
    'Erm.'
    'Yer bet's definitely on now; ye're not going to back out?'
    'No. Definitely. Absolutely,' said Israel. 'Game on.'
    'You don't want to change yer mind?'
    'Nope.'
    'Ye know ye don't back out of a bet, now?'
    'Quite.'
    Ted reached a hand across. 'Five hundred pounds,' said Ted.
    'Five hundred pounds!' said Israel.
    'You're right,' said Ted. 'Five hundred's not enough. One thousand says we win the…What did you call it?'
    'Concours D'Elégance. But I haven't got one thousand pounds, Ted. The van's not worth a thousand pounds.'
    'I thought you wanted a bet?'
    'I do, but—'
    'Aye, right, that's typical, so it is. You're trying to wriggle out of it now.'
    'No, I am not trying to wriggle out of it.'
    'Ach, you are, so you are. Ye're not prepared to put your money where your mouth is. Typical Englishman.'
    'I am not trying to wriggle out of it, Ted.'
    'Well, then, are youse in, or are youse out?'
    'All right,' said Israel, trying to suppress a grin. 'One thousand pounds says you won't win the Concours D'Elégance at this year's Mobile Meet.' He knew his money was safe.
    The rest of the journey continued in silence, with Israel elated and exhausted from his negotiations and Ted already planning the few little tweaks and alterations he needed to get the van into top condition. Eventually, Ted pulled up outside the Devines' farm, where Israel was a lodger, and Israel clambered down wearily from the van.
    'Hey!' called Ted, as Israel was about to shut the door. 'Did ye not forget something?'
    'No,' said Israel, patting his pockets, patting the seat. 'I don't think so.'
    'I think you did,' said Ted.
    'What? "Thank you" for the lift?'
    'No,' said Ted.
    'What? The bet?'
    'No. The bet's on—we've shaken.'
    'Yes,' said Israel. 'And I am a man of my word.'
    'Aye. Exactly. And you remember what you were going to do today, Man of Your Word?'
    'Erm. No. I don't remember. Should I?'
    'You were going to tell her?'
    'Tell who?'
    'Linda. That you were resigning.'
    'Ah, yes. Well…things have changed since this afternoon.'
    'Have they now?'
    'Yes. I feel I have a…responsibility to the readers of Tumdrum and District to…'
    'And it's not because you're getting a free holiday to England?'
    'No! Of course not!'
    'You shouldn't ever try to kid a kidder,' said Ted.
    'What do you mean?'
    'I know your game.'
    'I don't…I'm not playing a game, Ted.'
    'Aye.'
    'No. I just feel very strongly that my responsibility is to books, and to…encouraging the people of the north coast of Northern Ireland to…indulge their learned curiosity and to give them unlimited assistance…by helping to choose a new mobile library van.'
    'Aye, tell the truth and shame the devil, why don't ye?'
    'What?'
    'I don't care what you think your responsibility is,' said Ted. 'My first responsibility is to the van. One thousand pounds, remember.'
    'Fine.'
    'Pay for some refurbishments, wouldn't it? You'd better start saving, boy!'
    'No, Ted, I don't need to