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diff --git a/old/68532-0.txt b/old/68532-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 8b4971c..0000000 --- a/old/68532-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6330 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Little Hickory, by Victor St. Clair - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Little Hickory - or, Ragged Rob's young republic - -Author: Victor St. Clair - -Release Date: July 15, 2022 [eBook #68532] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Demian Katz, Craig Kirkwood, and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (Images courtesy - of the Digital Library@Villanova University.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE HICKORY *** - - -Transcriber’s Notes: - -Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text -enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=). - -Additional Transcriber’s Notes are at the end. - - * * * * * - -No. 4 - -BOUND TO WIN LIBRARY - -LITTLE HICKORY - -or Ragged Rob’s Young Republic - -BY - -VICTOR ST. CLAIR - -[Illustration] - -STREET & SMITH · PUBLISHERS · NEW YORK - - * * * * * - - - - -LITTLE HICKORY; - - - OR, - Ragged Rob’s Young Republic - - BY - VICTOR ST. CLAIR - - [Illustration] - - NEW YORK - STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS - 238 WILLIAM STREET - - * * * * * - - Copyright, 1901 - By Norman L. Munro - - Little Hickory - - * * * * * - -LITTLE HICKORY. - - - - -CHAPTER I. THE BOOTBLACK AND THE DEACON. - - -“I vum! I eenamost feel as if I was lost, though there do seem to be -plenty o’ folks round.” - -“Black yer boots and make ’em shine; only cost ye half a dime!” cried -a cheery voice at the speaker’s elbow, and, looking down, the tall man -was surprised to see a specimen of boyhood quite unknown to him. The -features were regular enough, and would have been quite handsome had it -not been for big patches of shoe blacking smeared over cheek and brow. -Blue eyes peered out from the dark stains around them with a roguish -twinkle, and there was a certain fearless independence in his looks -and attitude which could not fail to show the most casual observer -the fearlessness and self-reliance of his nature. It was his clothes, -his general deportment, the air of cool contempt for everything and -everybody around him which caused the stranger fresh from the country -to stare upon the bootblack of the great city with speechless wonder. - -“When yer eyes git done working and blinking, mister, p’raps ye will -give yer tongue a chance,” said the young knight of the blacking brush, -beginning to remove from his shoulder the ever-handy kit of his trade. -“Better hev yer brogans shined up, mister; they need it bad.” - -The reply of the man showed that something of greater moment to him at -that time than his personal appearance was uppermost in his mind. - -“Say, bub, can you tell me where there is a good tavern that a chap -could stop at till to-morrer?” - -“Sold ag’in, Ragged Rob!” cried one of half a dozen companions of his -ilk, who had appeared upon the scene from all quarters. “When ye git -through wi’ th’ ol’ hayseed, ye mought as well git out o’ bizness, -for ye won’t hev blackin’ ’nough ter tip a gent’s boot. So long!” and -the crowd beat a hasty retreat, to look for work in a more favorable -direction. - -“Get a move on you, old mossback, or the cops will haul you in for -obstructing the sidewalks!” muttered a beetle-browed passer-by, who -followed his words with a push which nearly threw the countryman off -his feet. - -“Geewhillikins, how the folks do crowd! Beats all natur’. What’s that -you say, bub?” - -“I say ye might find sich a stable as ye want by lookin’ in the -right-hand corner. Luck to ye, ennyway,” and the bootblack was speedily -lost in the crowd. - -“Drat the leetle feller’s pictur! If I had my thumb and finger on him -I’d pinch his throat for answering a civil question in that oncivil -way.” - -“What was that you said, friend?” asked a man, who had come hurrying -toward him. “Why, can this be possible?” continued the newcomer, -slapping him on the shoulder. “By Jove, but this is the pleasantest -surprise of my life. Have you just come to New York, Mr. Reyburnbrook?” - -By this time the man from the country was able to get a good view of -the speaker, who was a tall, genteel, well-dressed person of middle -life, and he said: - -“Guess ye air mistook in your man this time, mister. I ain’t no sich -name as Bumbrook at all. I’m just plain Elihu Cornhill, deacon o’ the -church at Basinburg, where I wish I was this blessed minute. Things -and folks air so tarnal thick round here one can’t draw a long breath, -and----” - -“Excuse me,” interrupted the other, “I can see my mistake now, Deacon -Cornhill, and I offer a thousand apologies for troubling you. Do you -know you look as like a friend of mine as a pea in the same pod? -Good-day.” - -“It’s funny queer!” exclaimed the bewildered Deacon Cornhill, “folks -air in sich a pesky hurry they can’t stop to put one on his right -track. I s’pose I must keep jogging, as if I was over in our lot -looking for the cows.” - -Meanwhile, the man who had left so abruptly after accosting him, sought -another a short distance away, and who had evidently been waiting for -him. Together the couple hastily examined a condensed New England -directory, which the former produced from his pocket. After a short -consultation they separated, one going at right angles to the street, -followed by the unsuspecting countryman, while the other gave him -pursuit. - -Finding that the crowd of passers-by jostled him as he hastened on his -way, Deacon Cornhill gathered his huge gripsack close under his right -arm, pulled his hat down upon his large head, and kept stubbornly on -his way, regardless of the elbowing and pushing of others, saying under -his breath: - -“Puts me in mind o’ goin’ through Squire Danvers’ brush lot, but I -reckon I can stand it if they can.” - -He soon reached a corner where, if the pedestrians were less numerous, -he was more than ever perplexed over the course for him to follow. On -every hand the tumult of street traffic and the noise and confusion -of city life bewildered him. As he stood there for a moment, looking -anxiously about him, the sound of loud, angry voices arrested his -attention, when he saw a small party of boys disputing and wrangling -over some question. Then one of the group broke suddenly away from the -others and fled, with two in furious pursuit. - -Looking back over his shoulder as he ran, the youth did not seem to pay -any heed to the course he took, and in spite of the deacon’s warning he -struck him with such force that the startled man was hurled upon the -sidewalk. - -The boy fell on top of him, and the next moment the foremost of his -pursuers cried: - -“I’ve got ye, Slimmy! Say yer lied, or I’ll knock th’ teeth right out -yer jaw!” - -“Not for Joe!” retorted the fugitive, regaining his feet, but pulled -down by the other. - -“Won’t, won’t ye, ye sneak-eyed sinner! Oh, I’ll wallop----” - -He had begun to pommel his victim unmercifully, while his companions -urged him on with words of encouragement. This was more than the -kind-hearted Deacon Cornhill, who had regained his feet, could witness -without interfering, and, dropping his gripsack on the sidewalk, in -order to have his hands free, he went to the rescue of the smaller boy, -exclaiming: - -“Let him alone, you ragamuffin!” at the same time trying to catch the -aggressive youngster by the collar. But the boy easily slipped from -his grasp, and ran down the cross street, followed by his friends, the -party giving utterance to peals of laughter. - -Deacon Cornhill, in his great indignation, started to give them chase, -but after going a few steps thought better of his foolishness, and -turned back. - -He was just in season to see the boy he had been defending dodging -around the corner with his gripsack. - -“Here, stop, you thief! Catch him, somebody, he’s makin’ off with my -satchel,” giving pursuit as he uttered his frantic cries. - -The swift-footed boy quickly disappeared around a street corner, and -when the irate deacon reached the place he was nowhere to be seen. He -had now left the main street, and but a few people were in sight, no -one paying any heed to his distracted cries. - -“Oh, shucks! What shall I do? All my spare clothes, my shirt and a big -hunk o’ the church money. What will the folks say? What shall I do?” - -Bewildered and disheartened, the strong man stood trembling from head -to foot, while he wept like a child, as a stranger stopped in front of -him, saying in a free and easy manner, while he laid his hand on his -shoulder: - -“Hello, deacon! You are the last man I should have expected to meet, -and here I find you in the heart of the big city. What can you be doing -here? I don’t see that you have aged a bit since I saw you at your -home in Basinburg four years ago. Four years, did I say? Bless me if -it hasn’t been seven, or will be the coming summer. How is your good -wife, and how are all the folks about town?” - -Then, seeing the look of bland astonishment on the other’s florid -countenance, he rattled on in a different strain: - -“Is it possible you do not remember me, Deacon Cornhill? It would be -perfectly natural if you didn’t, seeing I have changed considerable -since we last met. Knocking about the world, my good deacon, does put -age-lines on one’s face, let them differ who will. Let me refresh a -memory which is seldom at fault. Remember Harry Sawyer, a nephew of -your town clerk, John Sawyer, who has held the office so many years? -Recall the scapegrace? I am glad to say he has improved with age. -Recollect the race we had one afternoon running after the steers that -tore down the fence and plundered a neighbor’s cornfield? I finally -caught one of the ramping creatures, after the rest of you had cornered -him. He ripped my coat from hem to collar, and I barely escaped being -gored to death. That catches your memory? It does me good to grasp the -horny hand of an honest man. Don’t be afraid of mine suffering; if it -is soft, it is tough.” - - - - -CHAPTER II. A BOY TO THE RESCUE. - - -While the voluble stranger, who had introduced himself as Harry Sawyer, -kept up his innocent flow of language, Deacon Cornhill was speechless. -He saw that the speaker was a well-dressed young man, and his professed -friendship instantly won his confidence. - -“I have been robbed!” he exclaimed. “I had my money in my satchel, and -a parcel of boys came along and one o’ ’em stole my money, my clothes, -satchel and----” - -“Stole your money?” fairly gasped the stranger, in genuine concern. -“Tell me about it, quick--before it is too late to act.” - -In a somewhat disjointed way the other told how he had found the boys -in the midst of a quarrel, and the part he had acted, to be robbed by -the very one he had tried to succor. - -“It was a sham fight--a dodge of those contemptible youngsters to throw -you off your guard. And you were fool enough to let them get away with -your money!” turning to leave the unfortunate man in apparent disgust. - -“Don’t leave me here alone, mister! They didn’t get all my money, but -my shirt, and----” - -“Then you have some of your money left?” catching him by the arm with -a grip which made the strong man wince. “How much did the rapscallions -get?” - -“Over thirty dollars.” - -“How much have you left?” - -“Ninety. But you are hurting my arm like time, mister, the way you hold -on.” - -“Excuse me, deacon; I was so excited over your loss that I forgot -myself. But go on. You have ninety dollars left?” - -“Jess that, as Mandy and I counted it jess afore I started. You see, I -have come down here to buy our Sunday school library some new books, -and I was to get some new things for Mandy, and she and me ’lowed it -would be better to keep the money in separate places, though I was -shallow enough to put in ten of the church money in my satchel. You -see, my wallet was that crowded I couldn’t do much different. Now that -has gone, with Mandy’s new things and my shirt and----” - -“Let me tell you, deacon, you were lucky to have that much safe and -snug in your wallet. Always carry your money in your pocket.” - -“We must find the boys afore they can spend it.” - -“As well to look for a needle in a haystack, deacon, as to look for a -boy in New York. But come with me, and to-morrow I will see what can be -done.” - -“Do you think you can get my money and shirt, and----” - -“Quite sure of it, deacon. I’ll put a couple of detectives on their -tracks, who will run them to earth as a hound would a fox. I don’t like -to mention such personal trifles, but it was providential for you that -I came along as I did.” - -“I know it, I know it,” replied the deacon, who was in better spirits -now that he felt there was a prospect of getting back his money. “To -think them boys should have played such a trick.” - -“Learned their trade young, deacon. But come with me to-night. Nothing -can be gained by following, or rather trying to follow, those slippery -young thieves. The police will know where to look for them.” - -Keeping up a continual flow of words, he who called himself Harry -Sawyer led the way along street after street, each one as they advanced -seeming to grow more narrow and crooked. Bewildered as he was, Deacon -Cornhill finally became aware of this. There was an unfavorable aspect -about everything he saw, and he began to feel there was something wrong. - -“Hold on, mister, I have forgot your name, but are you sure you are on -the right road? This looks pesky crooked, and----” - -In the midst of his speech he saw another man come swiftly out of a -dark alley on the left, and caught sight of an object coming swiftly -toward him. Then the missile struck him on the side of the head, and he -fell to the pavement with a low moan of pain. - -“Well done, Bill,” declared Sawyer. “Now, I will pull the old sheep’s -wool in a trice, after which we must run down the precocious youngsters -who have cheated us of a goodly share of our goods.” - -The process of “pulling the old sheep’s wool” was evidently the -stealing of the unconscious man’s pocketbook, for the speaker began to -rifle him of whatever he carried of value. But he was interrupted in a -most unexpected manner. - -At the very moment his fingers closed on the well-filled wallet, an -agile figure bounded out of the shadows of the alley, striking the -stooping form of the robber with such force as to send him headlong -into the gutter, the newcomer crying at the same time: - -“The cop! The cop!” - -This so startled the second ruffian that he turned and fled, while -robber No. 1 scrambled to his feet just in season to see the boy who -had given him such a blow seize the plethoric pocketbook and disappear -around a corner. - -“Stop thief!” cried the would-be robber. “Bill, where are you? Stop the -youngster!” - -The twain then gave furious pursuit. - -While this chase was taking place, a passer-by was attracted by the -prostrate figure of Deacon Cornhill, and thinking murder had been -committed, he was about to give an alarm, when a voice at his elbow -said: - -“Don’t stir a noise, Jim.” - -Looking abruptly around, the man was surprised to find the young -bootblack beside him whom Deacon Cornhill had met at the outset of -his troubles, and who was none other than the boy who had snatched -his pocketbook away from the thief. He had found little difficulty in -eluding his pursuers. - -“’Twon’t do any good to get a mob here. I’ll look arter the old gent, -if you’ll help me get him to Brattle’s.” - -“This you, Little Hickory?” - -“I reckon, Jim. Does the old gent show any signs of picking up the -leetle sense he had?” and depositing his kit of tools, with the other’s -gripsack, on the sidewalk, he looked closely into his face. - -“’Twas a hard clip the sandbagger give him! I could not have got -here---- Hello! He’s starting his breathing machine. He’s soon going to -be on his feet. So’ll the mob soon begin to corner here. Lend a hand, -Jim, and we’ll see if he can stand alone.” - -Curious spectators were beginning to gather near at hand, and the -unfortunate man beginning to open his eyes, his friends raised him to -an upright position, where, by their aid, he was able to remain. - -“Mandy, where are you?” he asked, putting out his hands. “I vum, I -b’lieve I’m lost!” - -“Lean on me, old gent,” said the boy, “and you’ll soon be where you can -ask as many questions as ye like. Just now, the least said the sooner -forgot. I wouldn’t ’vise you to call all New York together. Ef I’d got -sich a biff on my head in sich a silly way, I’d hold my tongue, if I -had to tie a knot in it. Easy on his collar, Jim. Lean on me, old gent, -as much as you wanter.” - -“My money!” exclaimed the bewildered man, now recalling his loss with a -vivid memory. - -“Ef it’s in your wallet, it’s safe; fer I’ve got that and yer handbag -safe and sound.” - -Deacon Cornhill uttered a low thanksgiving, and assisted by the two he -moved slowly down the street, until they came to a cheap lodging house, -with the single word over the weather-beaten door: “Brattle.” - -The entrance was about half its size below the sidewalk, and they -descended the old steps, which trembled beneath the weight of Deacon -Cornhill. At the foot Little Hickory opened a door in keeping with -its rusty surroundings, and the three entered a dingy, low-walled -apartment, with a desk at the farther end and a row of seats around the -walls. - -“You can go now, Jim,” said the young bootblack. - -“That you, Rob?” asked a man behind the desk, leaving his high stool -and coming out into the middle of the floor. - -“I leave it with you, Brattle, to say. A body, as far as I know, is not -expected to carry an introduce card pasted in his collar. I can take -care of the old gent, thank you.” - -“Been drinking, eh?” asked Brattle. - -“Now you insult a good man, Brattle. He got a clip on the side of the -head from some sandbaggers, that’s all. He’s coming ’round slick as a -button. You can tip over on the seat, old gent, if you wanter,” when -Deacon Cornhill sank upon the bench, saying: - -“You said you had my money?” - -“What I said you can bank on, as the big boodlers say, I reckon you -don’t remember me, so I must introduce myself. I’m the chap who asked -to black your boots a bit ago, and in return you asked me for a place -to hang your hat for the night. Mebbe I didn’t answer you as I oughter, -for your boots did need trimming and shining the wuss kind, and I set -you down as a stingy old duffer from Wayback, who didn’t know what made -a gempleman. Then, when you had gone, and I took ’count of stock and -balanced up what a lamb you would be for the wolves, and seeing one -of the critters follering you, I tuk your tracks, too. I got along in -season to see the kids make off with your grip, when I took arter ’em -tooth and nail. With some lively sprintin’, and a bit of scrimmage I -fetched your old gripsack out’n Sodom, and then I pegged it on your -track ag’in. I didn’t get along in season to save you that clip on the -head, but I did get there in time to play the thief myself. I led them -chaps a wild-goose chase, and here I am with the hull establishment -connected, wired and running in tiptop shape!” - -As the youth, who could not have been over seventeen, despite his -daring feats, finished his rather lengthy explanation, he handed Deacon -Cornhill his pocketbook and pushed his gripsack over by his side. - - - - -CHAPTER III. AN ASTOUNDING PROPOSITION. - - -Deacon Cornhill listened with open-mouthed wonder to the rapid account -of his youthful friend, unable to speak until he had concluded, when he -managed to say: - -“I don’t know what is proper to say to you, boy. You have done me a -sarvice I shall never forget, if I live to be as old as Methusaleh; -I shan’t, I vum I shan’t. I want to pay for it. Who’d thought them -slick-seeming men were sich cutthroats?” - -“Black your boots and make ’em shine? I ain’t no time to waste in -perlaver. They need it. Time’s money, and bizness must be ’tended to -afore pleasure.” - -“Go ahead,” consented the deacon, putting out his right foot for the -bootblack to begin work. Then, as the boy went about his task in a -manner which showed that he had thoroughly mastered it, he asked: - -“What’s your name, youngster?” - -“I’m called Little Hickory,” spitting on the blacking and beginning to -rub vigorously. - -“You don’t say? Can’t be your regular Scripture name?” - -“’Bout as near Scripter as an old man like me has ever got, mister. -Excuse me, Deacon Cornhill.” - -“Bless me, how did you know my name?” - -“Overheard you give it to the sharper. But, oh, my! Ain’t your -underpinners in bad shape! Can’t get a Broadway shine on ’em to save my -reputation!” - -“You ain’t told me your name yet,” persisted Deacon Cornhill, who had -taken a strong liking for the strange youth. “And why do you mock at -fate by calling yourself old? It’s a sin and a shame, of which you must -repent some time in sackcloth and ashes.” - -“I know as leetle of your sackcloth and ashes as you know of me, -mister--I mean, Deacon Cornhill. Reckon I was older when I was born ’n -many are when they die. I thought it proper for me to give you the name -that b’longs to me where you found me. Mother calls me Rob.” - -“That sounds more Christian-like. Robert is a good old family name. -What name did your father have?” - -“I couldn’t begin to ’numerate ’em, mis--I mean, deacon. I reckon he’s -had a good round dozen, first and last.” - -“Sho! but you don’t mean it! Where is he?” - -“Dunno.” - -“What! Don’t know where your father is? How long have you lived this -harum-scarum life?” - -“As long as I can remember. Push that foot out a leetle furder.” - -“And you like it?” - -“Don’t know any other, deacon.” - -The good man from Basinburg groaned, saying after a minute: - -“It’s too bad--too bad! You seem like a proper sort of a boy, with the -right kind of management.” - -“I shouldn’t want to bank on your judgment, squire--I mean -deacon--seeing the way you let them sharpers pull the wool over your -eyes.” - -Deacon Cornhill relapsed into silence, while he watched the swift, -dexterous movements of the cheerful bootblack, who began to sing a -snatch of song. He was one of those broad-minded, whole-souled men who -never see another in lowly circumstances without wanting to lift him -up. The frank honesty of Little Hickory, as the boy persisted in being -known, had won his confidence, and to have done that was to insure a -friendship not to be swerved from its purpose. A new light came over -his florid countenance, as he pondered, and forgetting him at work on -his boot, he sprang suddenly to his feet, exclaiming: - -“I’ll do it!” - -Though taken completely by surprise at this frantic action, Little -Hickory caught him by the wrist, and with the strength one would not -have looked for in the youthful arm, he flung him back upon the bench, -crying sharply: - -“No, you don’t, till I get that other schooner in proper trim. You’d -look well, wouldn’t you, with ’em in such shape?” - -“Forgive me, my son.” - -“‘My son!’ Forsooth, as the play-actor says: None of your soft solder -on me. All I ask is for you to keep still till I can put the polish on -this other brogan.” - -It is needless to say that Deacon Cornhill obeyed, and not until the -young workman was done did he say: - -“I don’t exactly get the hang of you, my dear boy----” - -“Hold right on there, deacon. If you have got anything to say, leave -off the finery, and cut the garment plain. I ain’t much on soap, but -I’m honest clear through. Go ahead with your tongue notions.” - -“Rob,” resumed the other, recalling the fact that the boy had given at -least so much of a name, “I ain’t going to perlaver. I want you to go -hum with me.” - -Little Hickory showed his surprise without speaking. - -“I’m in dead ’arnest. Mandy and I have talked this all over time and -again. We ain’t got chick nor child, and she was saying only yesterday -how cheering it would be to have a boy in the house. I ain’t rich as -some, but I’m comfortably fixed, and what I’ve got shall be yours, as -soon as I’m through with it. You shall have my name, too, and be Elihu -Cornhill, Jr.” - -Rob still was too much surprised to speak, which allowed Deacon -Cornhill to continue: - -“It would be the making of you, Rob. It would get you away from the -wickedness of this sinful city, and----” - -“And away from my bizness.” - -“Luddy me, you don’t call this blackin’ folks’ shoes and boots bizness!” - -“By it I get my living, sir,” said the youthful speaker, with a pride -one in better circumstances might have failed to display. - -“But you would have a better and more honorable----” - -“Hold right on, Deacon Cornhill! I reckon honesty is honorable -anywhere. I should be like a fish out of water up there in the -wilderness.” - -“But out of this wilderness of wickedness. There you could go to Sunday -school, and be up in society. You have got the making of a smart boy in -you. You have done me a great help, and I have taken a fancy to you. -I’ll get you a new suit of clothes, and you’ll look slick as a mouse. -Then, as soon as I can finish my bizness, we’ll go hum and s’prise -Mandy. Hum! How does that sound to you, Rob?” - -If at first Little Hickory had thought that Deacon Cornhill was not -in earnest, he could see now that he was intensely determined in what -he said. But he had no idea of accepting an offer made with so much -abruptness, so he said: - -“If I could leave my bizness, which I ain’t owned up to yet, I couldn’t -leave my mother.” - -Deacon Cornhill showed by his looks that this was a contingency he had -not taken into account. - -“So your mother is living, Rob?” - -“She was when I left home this morning.” - -“She can come along, too. She will be help for Mandy. I vow, it’ll be -all the better for you to have her with us.” - -“And my friends?” asked Rob, showing by his manner that he was becoming -interested. - -Before Deacon Cornhill could reply, the sound of many feet was heard -entering the place, and a body of men quickly appeared on the scene. -The foremost was a burly, bewhiskered fellow, who at sight of our -couple cried exultantly: - -“Here he is, boys! Nab him!” - - - - -CHAPTER IV. A BOLD STAND. - - -At sight of the mob crowding into the place, Deacon Cornhill gave a cry -of fear and turned pale, as he looked hurriedly about for some way of -escape. - -The room seemed to have but one door opening on the street, and that -was now blocked with the incoming men, the leader of whom showed a -bright button on his coat, while he flourished a club in his right hand -as he uttered the words given in my last chapter. - -The owner behind the counter uttered a cry of terror, and ducked his -head out of sight, while the clinking of breaking glass followed his -disappearance, a big pitcher having been upset and rolled off onto the -floor. - -So, all in all, it was a pretty exciting scene for a while. - -Ragged Rob spoke next, at the same time stepping forward to meet the -officer fearlessly: - -“Who are you looking for, Whalen?” - -“That chap behind ye.” - -“Name him and you may have him. But not till you do,” replied Little -Hickory, defiantly. - -“I reckon names don’t matter when we run down sich covies.” - -“They do in this case. This ain’t the man you are after, Whalen!” - -“W’at d’ye know erbout it, Little Hickory?” - -“All there is to be known, Whalen. Can’t ye see this is a hayseed from -the country? Your man is a thorough-bred. Oh, I know who you are after.” - -“I reckon a man’s a man,” muttered the officer, who appeared as if he -had seen that he had made a mistake, but disliked to own up to it. - -“Half an hour ago your man was steering toward the point, Whalen. -’Pears to me, with sich a reward at stake, I wouldn’t lose any more -time with sich an old duffer as this covey, who won’t be worth a cent -to ye after all yer trouble.” - -Whalen could see the truth of this statement, and he cleared his way to -get out by asking: - -“You ain’t giving me misleader, Little Hickory?” - -“No, Whalen. I advise ye to get on to the trail while the scent is -fresh.” - -Without another word the officer turned about, and, still followed by -his crowd, left the saloon. - -Deacon Cornhill stood staring after the departed officer and his men -for some time in silence, while Ragged Rob resumed work upon his shoes. - -Brattle’s head reappeared above the top of the counter, coming into -sight slowly and with evident caution on the part of the owner, as if -he was in doubt about the wisdom of the move. - -“You haven’t answered my question,” said the bootblack, bringing Deacon -Cornhill back to his situation. “Can my friends come with me?” - -“Sart’in; every one of them. How many are there?” - -Rob shook his head, though evidently not in reply to the other’s -question, but relative to some thought in his mind. Presently he said: - -“You are very kind, sir, but it cannot be. This is my life, and I could -not fit into another. Good-day, sir; but, stay! I’ll not leave you in -the gutter this time. If you want to find a stopping place for the -night I will show you the way.” - -Feeling that it would be useless to press his wishes further then, -Deacon Cornhill followed him in silence, though resolved in his mind to -renew the subject at his first opportunity. In the midst of their rapid -advance he suddenly became aware of the presence of another boy who was -five or six years younger than Rob. He was more ragged than the other; -in fact, he was little but rags, though there was a saucy defiance in -his pinched, unwashed features which showed that he had little care for -his personal appearance, or what another might think. - -Rob evidently knew him, for he asked, familiarly: - -“What luck to-day, old man?” - -“Made eleven cents and blowed in three. Say,” he added, in an -undertone, though loud enough to be heard by Deacon Cornhill, “got a -big duck? Looks awful green.” - -“Hush!” warned Rob, adding in a louder key: “I’ve got to see the gent -here gets to Bradford’s O. K. Then I’ll hev you go home with me.” - -“What’s your name, bub?” asked the deacon, who felt it a duty to say -something. - -“Chick.” - -“I mean the name your parents gave you.” - -“Golly; what an idee. Never had any, mister.” - -“Where do you live?” - -“Nowhere.” - -“Onpossible. Where’d you stop last night?” - -“Corner A and Tenth Street.” - -“Whose house, I mean. I hope it was a good man’s.” - -“Dunno ’bout that, sir. I didn’t see him, nor I didn’t go in.” - -“But you said you stopped there?” - -“So I did.” - -“How could that be if you did not go in?” - -“My cracky! ain’t you green? S’pose I’d gone in, how long d’ye s’pose -I’d been guv to git out?” - -“I don’t understand you, bub.” - -“Any more’n I do sich a cabbage as you. I reckon there’s a way o’ -stopping at a gentleman’s house without bothering him wid your comp’ny.” - -“How can that be?” asked the wondering deacon, believing the boy was -guying him. “How could you stop at a man’s house without seeing any one -or they seeing you?” - -“Slept under th’ covin’, mister.” - -“Marcy me! out in the night? S’posin’ it’d rained?” - -“I’d got wet, I s’pose, seein’ I’m not canvas-backed,” with a grin. - -“And got your death of cold?” - -“Ain’t so sure on that, mister. Th’ sun has alwus dried a feller out -slick, and I ain’t heerd as he’s goin’ out’n bizness jis yit.” - -“What do you do, Chick?--I think you said that was your name?” - -“Pick up odd jobs, by which I can turn a penny, sir. My family is -small, so I don’t hev to hev much.” - -“Ain’t you got any folks?” - -“Nope.” - -“Don’t you get tired of living like this?” - -“Don’t know any other way, mister.” - -“What a pity! In this Christian land, too!” - -“Got any more questions to ax, mister?” as the other hesitated; “’cos -if ye hev I shall hev to begin to ax ye a fee, same’s the big chucks -do up in the recorder’s office.” - -Before Deacon Cornhill could reply he became aware of the confusion -arising from a crowd of people standing about the entrance to a gloomy -structure near at hand. - -“What’s the matter?” he asked, in surprise. - -“Only a girl up for vagrancy,” replied a bystander. “It don’t take much -to draw a crowd. But she is a pert one, and with a boy’s name.” - -“What is it?” asked Rob, beginning to show interest. - -“Joe Willet, or some such a name, she gave the recorder.” - -Without waiting for him to finish his speech, Rob began to elbow his -way through the jostling crowd, and a moment later passed the high -portals of the wide door. - -“Here, here, my son!” cried Deacon Cornhill, excitedly, “hold on for -me!” And, regardless of the jeers and outbursts of the spectators, he -made a furious dash after his young guide. - -“Hi, mister!” cried Chick, trying to keep beside the other, “keep -with me an’ we’ll find Little Hickory.” Then he added to the amused -onlookers; “Of all the dratted old fools I ever see he’s the lunkinest!” - -Meanwhile Rob had got inside of the building, and, regardless of the -curious spectators gathered on either hand, he pushed his way forward -until he had reached a small court or opening before a high desk, -above which the gray head of the stern recorder could be seen, as he -looked calmly down at a frail girl, trembling from head to foot, as she -stood beside the iron railing in grief and terror. - -She was clad in a ragged dress, without any covering for her head. -Though her features were bathed in tears, her brown hair had been cut -short, and there was a general appearance of despair in her looks and -actions, she was an attractive girl. - -At sight of her Rob stopped suddenly in his impetuous advance, crying, -in a voice heard in every part of the old building: - -“Joey! I have found you at last. Have courage! Ragged Rob is still your -friend, if every one else in the world turns against you.” - - - - -CHAPTER V. SURPRISE UPON SURPRISE. - - -At sound of Ragged Rob’s ringing words every gaze in the spacious room, -even to that of the grim recorder, was turned upon the fearless young -bootblack, who, despite his grimy features and soiled, ragged clothes, -looked every inch a hero. One countenance lightened at sight of him, -and she at the prisoner’s bar cried, in a joyful voice: - -“Oh, Rob!” and then she seemed about to fall, as if the glad appearance -of her friend had overcome her. But she quickly mastered her weakness, -saying, in a supplicating tone: - -“Save me from the workshop, Rob! Mother does so need me.” - -“I will, Joey; never fear. What is the charge, Mister Recorder?” - -“Vagrancy, coupled with trying to pass bad money and being generally a -suspicious character,” replied the recorder, recovering his usual stern -exterior. - -“There’s not a word of truth in it!” exclaimed Rob, impetuously. - -“Order!” commanded the recorder, and a burly officer moved toward the -excited youth, ready to seize him at the word from his superior. A -murmur of excitement ran over the throng of spectators. - -“Has she been sentenced?” asked Rob, recovering his self-possession, -and speaking with a calmness he was far from feeling. - -“Blackwell’s--thirty days,” was the stern reply. - -“It must not be!” declared Rob, boldly. “She cannot be guilty, Mister -Recorder. Is there no way to save her from the workhouse?” - -“As this seems to be her first offense, if there was some one to answer -for her, she might be let off this time,” and though it may have been -his imagination, Rob thought the recorder said this gladly. At any -rate, it gave him hope, and he said, promptly: - -“I will answer for her, Mister Recorder.” - -“That could hardly be, as you are but a minor, as well as unknown to -us.” - -Rob’s countenance fell; but at that moment a loud voice from the rear -of the courtroom exclaimed: - -“I’ll answer for her, judge! That gal must never go to the workhouse. -It would be a burning shame, in this Christian age.” - -A buzz of surprise ran over the scene, while Deacon Cornhill, who had -made the bold declaration, pushed his way forward to the side of the -young bootblack. - -“It’s too bad to send such an innercent to the workhouse, judge. How -much is there to pay?” - -“Who are you, sir?” demanded the recorder, looking askance at the -countrified speaker. - -“Deacon Elihu Cornhill, of Basinburg, your honor.” - -“And you promise that she shall be provided for, Mr. Cornhill?” - -“I do, judge.” - -“Very well. In that case sentence is suspended during good behavior. -She is too young and apparently too innocent to be sent to the -workhouse. But, remember, miss, if you are brought back here a double -sentence will be imposed.” - -“Shameful, judge. Send such a bright girl to the workhouse----” - -“Silence!” ordered the recorder, at the same time pushing a ponderous -book toward the discomfited deacon. “Please put your name down there.” - -As soon as Deacon Cornhill signed the necessary document, and finding -that she was at liberty to do so, the young prisoner took Rob’s hand. -Then, without further delay, while a generous murmur of applause ran -over the crowd, the three left the courtroom, to be joined at the door -by Chick. - -“Where have you been, Joe, since that dreadful night when the old -rookery was torn down over our heads, and we lost each other?” - -“Everywhere, Rob. I am so thankful now that you saved me from the -workhouse that I cannot say anything.” - -“It was not I, Joey, but this kind gentleman, Deacon Cornhill.” - -“I wish to thank you, sir. If you will only come home I am sure mother -will do it much better than I can. Poor mother! how she must have been -worrying about me.” - -“How is she, Joe?” - -“No better, Rob. And I have been away all day. You will go home with -me?” - -“Yes; that is, as soon as I have showed this gentleman to Bradford’s.” - -“Don’t stop to do that, my son. Go home with the leetle one first. If -she don’t object, I’ll go along with you.” - -“Of course I don’t object, and mother will be glad to see you. How you -have grown since I saw you last.” - -“No more than you, Joe. Why, you are almost as tall as mother now. But, -as we walk along, you must tell us how you were brought up before the -recorder. Chick, you will go with us.” - -“Well, you see, Rob,” began the girl, “mother has been so poorly for a -week that I have neglected business. But to-day, seeing we had nothing -in the house to eat and no money, I had to start out in earnest. I -seemed pretty lucky at once, for inside of an hour I met a fine, old -gent, who gave me ten cents to carry his portmanteau three squares -and----” - -“The lazy bones!” interjected Deacon Cornhill. “Do you mean to say, -miss, the man let you carry his satchel alone?” - -“I was glad to have him, sir, for it meant dinner for poor mother, and -medicine, too.” - -“Isn’t your father living?” - -“No, sir. He died twelve years ago. And mother has been ill for four -years.” - -“What do you do for a living?” - -“Sell flowers, papers, or do anything that will bring me a few cents. -Sometimes I run errands or carry gentlemen’s bundles.” - -The kind-hearted deacon groaned, while she resumed: - -“After I had parted with the old gent I found a flashily dressed young -man, who wanted me to run an errand for him, and when I got back he -gave me a silver quarter. It seemed so much for him to pay for so -little work that I wanted him to take a part of it back, and he took my -ten-cent piece. From that time until noon I earned only three cents; -but, with my quarter, I felt quite well pleased. So I thought to buy -something real nice for mother and go home. When I come to pay for the -rolls and cake the man said the money was bad. I could not believe -it, and while I tried to explain to him how I got it, he called in the -police, when I was taken to the recorder’s court and kept there until -you found me.” - -“The sinfulness of this sinful city!” exclaimed the deacon. “And to -think they were going to take you to the workshop.” - -“I wish to thank you for your kindness, sir. You see, Rob and I used -to be old cronies; but we have not seen each other for over two years. -But here we are at home. How glad mother will be to see me, and you, -too, Rob, and Deacon Cornhill, I am sure. But, dear me! here I have not -brought her a crumb to eat. How could I have forgotten it?” - -“Is it possible you live here, Joey? But go right in with Deacon -Cornhill, while I go after something for her and you to eat. I will be -back soon. Chick can shift for himself.” - -“Buy something good,” said Mr. Cornhill, pulling out his well-filled -pocketbook and handing Rob a five-dollar bill, which, however, he made -the exchange for one of a smaller denomination. - -If Deacon Cornhill had learned to like bluff, hearty Little Hickory, he -was not less pleased with the bravehearted girl, whose only name, as -far as he had found out, had that decided masculine ring of Joe. - -“If the leetle one is willing, I’ll step in and see her mother.” - -“Of course, sir; come right in. But you must be prepared to find scanty -room. Our house is so small--that is, narrow, our rooms are not more -than three feet wide. Still, now we have got used to them, we get along -quite comfortably.” - -Deacon Cornhill, by this time, was prepared to be surprised at nothing -in New York; but this dwelling fairly staggered his senses. The entire -width of this building, which was four stories in height, was scarcely -five feet, outside measure. Was it a wonder the man, fresh from the -country, where space is a matter of small consideration, was amazed at -this peculiar structure, with its long, narrow apartments, where he -could barely turn around? It seemed that at some time the land upon -which it stood had been a matter of contention, until finally the -owner, to spite his neighbor, had erected this tall, narrow building on -his limited grounds. - -It was occupied, at this time, by three families, one of whom was the -Willets, mother and daughter, Josephine, Rob’s “Little Joe.” - -Deacon Cornhill, as soon as he had somewhat recovered from his -astonishment, was ushered into the presence of the invalid woman, who, -after giving Joey a joyous greeting, received him in a manner which -told that she had been well bred. - -“But I am so helpless here,” she said. “I feel very grateful to you -for befriending Joe, who is my mainstay. I must have been taken to the -poorhouse soon after I was obliged to give up work but for her. And she -cannot stand it much longer, poor thing! It has been so hard since my -husband died. Ah! John and I never dreamed of what was in store for us -when we left our old home in Maine to begin a new life in the big city. -It was a new life, but a hard one. He was a good mechanic, but we had -not been here two years before he was taken down with the fever. Of -course, as soon as he stopped work his wages stopped, and when he died -I was without a penny, and Joey a little girl. How many times have I -pined for the old home, but, alas! I shall never see it!” - -“You shall!” cried Deacon Cornhill, vehemently, for almost at the -outset of their conversation the subject uppermost in his mind had -received an impetus he had not anticipated. “That is, you may not see -the old home, but you can see another as good.” - -If at first she thought him demented, he quickly explained the -proposition he had made to Rob, when Joey clapped her hands with -delight. - -“It might bring back your health, mother.” - -“I know the sweet scent of the country air would do me good, my -daughter; but do not raise any false hopes. We have not a cent to get -there, if we had any place to flee to.” - -“Hurrah!” cried the usually dignified deacon, forgetting his staid ways -in the excitement of the moment; “my case is as good as won. You shall -both of you go, if you will, and never return to this wicked city.” - -“Here comes Rob!” cried the happy Joe, beginning to dance along the -length of the narrow room. “We’ll talk it all over with him, and what a -happy day it will be!” - - - - -CHAPTER VI. CARRYING THE NEWS. - - -“I can do it, and I will!” - -The mixed train from the south was drawing slowly out of Wenham -Junction, as Phil Hardy simultaneously uttered this speech and threw -himself upon the back of old Jim, his father’s farm horse. It was in -the early part of April, and the mud along the country roads was deep -and soft, which fact was shown by the appearance of the horse and its -boyish rider. - -Phil was the eldest son of ’Squire Hardy, one of the leading citizens -of Basinburg. He was a harum-scarum youth of eighteen, who always -seemed to be mixed up in every affair of a shady character taking -place within a radius of twenty miles. Like boys of his ilk, he ever -seemed to be present whenever anything of an unusual nature was taking -place, and “to get his fingers into the pie,” using a common expression -current at the time in the quiet, out-of-the-way hamlet of Basinburg. -Not another boy in town would have ridden five miles through the mud -that day to have been in Wenham at this time. But Phil had not missed -it, and as he picked up Jim’s reins, heading the horse homeward, he -added to what he had already said: - -“They oughter know it just as quick as they can, and they shall! Won’t -they stick out their eyes, though? Let me see. This train goes by the -Bradford loop, makes four stops, and it will use up forty minutes in -getting to Basinburg. Old Jim ought to take me there in half an hour. -He can, and he shall! Go, you old veteran of the plow! we’re the bearer -of the news to Ghent.” - -Laughing, as he gave expression to this whimsical speech, Phil urged -Jim ahead at the top of his speed, while the good people of Wenham -had further occasion to comment upon the wild ways of ’Squire Hardy’s -scapegrace son. - -The road to Basinburg was sparsely settled, so Phil saw few people -until he entered the quiet hamlet, which, as its name indicates, was -shaped very much like a huge basin, with roads around the rim. Most of -the population of the town lived on these circular roads, that met at -the lower end, where was located the post office, church and store. - -The sight of his mud-bespattered figure and the foaming condition of -his horse called the more easily excited of the inhabitants from their -houses, while he shouted at frequent intervals: - -“Come and see the elephant! Nothing like it ever came to town!” - -Utterly regardless of his grammar, or the comments he was calling upon -himself, Phil repeated his rather incoherent speech, and by the time he -had uttered it a dozen times, the boys began to follow him, wondering -what new scheme their leader was carrying out. This aroused Phil to -more earnest cries, while he prodded poor old Jim harder than before. - -Small wonder if the older people began to rush after the crazy rider, -until a mob of excited men and women, as well as boys, was at his heels. - -“What is it, Philip?” asked the gray-headed parson, running out in his -slippers, hatless and coatless. - -“Deacon Cornhill--hoodlums of New York--a mob!” was all that the -anxious crowd could distinguish in the medley of cries. - -Still Phil showed no signs of stopping or checking his wild ride, his -course now being toward the little way station about half a mile below -the post office village. On account of the high grade this had been as -near as the cars could come into the town. - -At every house the trail of followers was increased by one or more -members, every one believing that something terrible had happened or -was about to take place. - -Hardly looking back, Phil rode straight on toward the depot, old Jim -covered with mud and panting for breath. As he came in sight of the -low, wooden building the whistle of the approaching train was heard a -quarter of a mile away. - -“I’m in season!” exclaimed Phil, triumphantly. “Come on, you folks, if -you want to see the sight of your life!” - -The oncoming spectators needed no urging to do this, and scarcely had -the boyish rider reined up his spent horse by the narrow platform -before the foremost of his pursuers, regardless of the slush, ankle -deep about the station, rushed upon the scene. Others rapidly added to -their numbers. - -“What is it, Phil?” asked Lon Wiggles, who had outrun all others in -reaching the place. Phil and he were close friends. “What has brought -you home from Wenham like this?” - -“I know!” replied Phil, with a knowing toss of his head, as he sprang -from old Jim’s back. - -“I s’posed you did, but that needn’t make a crab of you.” - -“Excuse me, Lon. I see Deacon Cornhill on the train down at Wenham.” - -“Is that all?” and looks of disgust and disappointment settled on the -features of those near enough to overhear this dialogue. It is needless -to say that Phil was maintaining this air of mystery more for their -sakes than Lon’s. - -“Can’t you wait till a feller has time to think? No, it is not all. -The deacon is coming home with a carload of New York cattle! But here -comes the train; look for yourself. Ladies and gentlemen, Deacon -Cornhill is coming home with all of the poor of New York at his heels. -See for yourselves,” waving his hand in a tragical manner, as the long -train came pounding along the iron rails. - -With puffs and snorts, as of rage at being stopped in its wild career, -the engine came to a standstill just beyond the upper end of the -station, so as to bring the two passenger cars nearly opposite the -building. - -With a faint inkling of what they were to expect, the spectators -stood looking on with gaping mouths and staring eyes, while the -tall, stoop-shouldered figure of Deacon Cornhill appeared on the -rear platform. His benevolent features were lighted with an uncommon -glow, as he gazed upon the crowd gathered thus unexpectedly about the -station. Hesitating but a moment, he stepped down the steps, and then -turned to look back. - -The object of his gaze was soon apparent, for at that moment other -passengers were following him from the car. In the lead of these came -a tall, rather good-looking, but plainly dressed, boy of seventeen, -with pinched features, but flashing eyes, none other than Ragged Rob, -ex-bootblack of New York. Leaning on his arm was a middle-aged woman, -beyond doubt in the minds of the onlookers his mother. Her countenance -was thin and careworn, while her brown hair was thickly streaked with -threads of silver. - -No sooner had Rob assisted his mother down the steps than he turned to -help others in lifting a pallid-faced woman, who was an invalid, from -the car. Close behind her came a pale, frightened girl, who shrank near -to Rob at sight of the wondering spectators. They were Mrs. Willet and -Joey. - -While the poor invalid was carried to a settee at one side of the -station, a woman, with cadaverous countenance and wild eyes, and a -man who had to be lifted down from the car, reached the platform, the -latter being borne to a second bench. Then an elderly woman, with a -strange-looking peaked cap and squat figure, followed, while close -behind her came a girl of fourteen and five boys, ranging in ages from -ten to fifteen years. - -During this brief delay a small lot of baggage had been thrown upon the -station floor, and as the last of the ill-favored passengers alighted, -the conductor waved his hand, the bell rang, the engine puffed anew, -the wheels began to revolve, and the train rolled away, leaving the -little group of fifteen persons the center of observation for many -pairs of eyes. - -“For gracious’ sake, what have you been doing, deacon?” asked ’Squire -Hardy, a short, thickset individual, who had been among the first -to reach the place. He was troubled with asthma, and the exertion in -reaching the station had put him both out of breath and good humor. - -Though amazed at this most unexpected greeting, Deacon Cornhill soon -recovered his surprise enough to say: - -“I have just brung home a leetle comp’ny, ’squire. I----” - -“Huh!” was the rejoinder, “Comp’ny? I should say comp’ny! Where’d you -pick that ’sortment of folks?” - -“In the streets of New York,” replied the deacon. “Never see sich -sights in my life, ’squire. Why, the ground is just running over with -folks, and sin and wickedness is thicker’n the folks! I swan! it’s -too bad; and so I persuaded these half-starved creeturs to come to -Basinburg with me. I know you’ll lend a helping hand for ’em to have -homes. Them empty houses’n deserted farms on the Hare road can be as -well filled as not.” - -All the time he was speaking the crowd pressed nearer and nearer, -causing the newcomers to huddle close together, with half-frightened -looks on their faces. Though used to seeing mobs, and having lived in -crowded streets, there was something about these spectators which sent -a feeling of terror to their hearts. Rob was the only exception, and as -an over-anxious, burly individual pushed his way close to the helpless -man and woman, he stepped brusquely forward, exclaiming: - -“Stand back, sir! you’re crowding a sick man and woman. Seems to me -there oughter be room out here for ’em.” - -The man retreated, muttering: - -“Be keerful how ye sass yer betters, ye insolent critter.” - -At this a murmur went over the crowd, which it was plain to see -were generally unfriendly to the new arrivals. They did form a -motley-looking party. - -“They look like furrin truck!” declared some one, whereupon a general -nod of assent was given. - -“Please stand back all!” implored Deacon Cornhill. - -“Want us to stand here ankle deep in the mud, I s’pose!” exclaimed one -near the background. - -“Yes; stand back, one and all!” ordered ’Squire Hardy, and at his -command there was a slight moving back. It was plain he was the one to -whom the majority looked for guidance. If he had said, “Be friendly -to these unprepossessing strangers,” Deacon Cornhill would have had -no cause for further worry over the matter. Unfortunately, though -there was no evidence of it in their outward appearance, this couple -entertained a bitter dislike for each other, owing to an old trouble. -Of course the deacon had his friends present, if no one had spoken an -encouraging word, but they were very much in the minority. But, as Mr. -Hardy appeared disposed to be fair, he gathered new courage, saying: - -“I will explain all as soon as I have made these poor sick ones more -comfortable.” - -No one had suggested that they be taken into the station, so their -kindly protector did not offer to do it. But he removed his overcoat -and placed it over Mrs. Willet, so as to keep her warm, while he -arranged the man so that his position was more easy. Fortunately the -day was mild, and as Deacon Cornhill turned to face the half-angry -crowd, the setting sun threw a wide bar of golden splendor over the -western sky, which halo was reflected on the distant hills, giving to -the spring scene a hint of summer. A flaw of April wind stirred the -long, thin locks of the gray-haired philanthropist, as he slowly raised -his spare right hand to admonish silence. - -If a calm had fallen on the scene it was the calm that usually precedes -the storm. Deacon Cornhill dreaded it; ’Squire Hardy expected it; -and the aroused spectators were anxious to show their willingness in -sending out of the town this unexpected addition to their population. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. THE DEACON’S STORY. - - -“Ahem!” began Deacon Cornhill, clearing his throat, and while he did so -looking anxiously over the crowd, wondering still how so many came to -be there. “Ahem! I--you see, fri’nds, this is sich a s’prise to me that -I hardly know how to begin. You see I got to New York, and I never see -sich sights, I swan, I never did! I hadn’t more’n got into town afore -a spruce chap stepped up and slapped me on the shoulder, just same’s -Sam Williams would, and you all know Sam’s terrible common. Wa’al, he -claimed he knowed me up here in Basinburg--told a whopping story ’bout -chasin’ a calf out of my garden seven or eight years ago. But all the -time he was arter the church money, and ’tween him and ernother and a -parcel of boys they eenamost got it, and----” - -“Not got the church money, Elihu!” cried a shrill voice from the -rear of the throng of spectators, and then Mrs. Cornhill, who had -been attracted to the scene the same as the others, pushed her way -frantically forward, until she stood on the station platform in front -of the abashed deacon. “You don’t say you hev lost the church money, -Elihu?” - -Several among the spectators groaned. - -“Don’t get ’scited, Mandy; don’t git ’scited. I didn’t lose the church -money, thanks to this boy here. But if them dog----” - -“Hush, deacon! It’s you who is getting ’scited.” - -“Wa’al, if you had been where I have, Mandy, and seen what I did you’d -get ’scited. But this boy here got my money all back, and then, when he -tuk me round and showed me how folks live in that big, wicked city, I -swan, I felt like giving ’em all homes right here in Basinburg!” - -“I should think you had brought back a good part of the city,” said one -of the bystanders. - -“Pity the poorest if you call these good,” cried another. - -“I tuk a fancy to Rob, here,” continued the deacon, unheeding the -interruption, ’arter the good turn he did me. But when I come to ax him -to go home with me, he said he couldn’t leave his mother. I told him -to take her right along, too. But he had fri’nds, and I told him to -take ’em along, though I didn’t s’pose there were more’n a house full. -Lordy me! when I come to see how they lived, I wouldn’t take no for an -answer, with all the land, and fresh air, and room we have out here. - -“Why, it nearly tuk away my breath to just look in their houses. If -you will b’lieve it, Mr. Little,” pointing to the invalid man, “lived -in a den right under the street, with teams driving overhead, and he -a suffocating in a leetle room nine feet under ground. It was only six -feet by eight, and he had no fire, only a part of an old bedstead to -lie on, an old tick half full of musty hay and a dirty pillow. Mrs. -Willet and her darter lived in a house only four feet wide, though the -Lord only knows how high it was. Just think of that, and then of the -houses that stand empty here the year round. - -“These youngsters here were running round wild, like colts turned out -to parster, only there weren’t no fences to keep ’em within bounds, and -there was no halter on ’em to lead ’em to their stalls when it come -night. I tell you, it made my blood bile just to see sich works right -in this civilized land. I thought of ’em houses on Hare road standing -empty, and says I to myself, ‘there’s room for ’em, and I know the good -people of Basinburg will turn to and lend a helping hand.’” - -He was perspiring freely, while he showed great excitement, but his -animated speech was greeted with a profound silence. It is true some -one started to cheer him, but he did not have the courage to give full -expression to his feelings. The majority were waiting for ’Squire Hardy -to speak, and the rest were too timid to venture an opinion, until he -had spoken. Clearing his throat, he finally said: - -“It might have been well enough, deacon, if you hadn’t brought a -carload. It’s a mystery to me how they got money enough to pay their -fares.” - -Deacon Cornhill was modest enough not to mention the fact that it -had cost him nearly fifteen dollars to make up for their deficit. -Withholding this fact, he demanded: - -“Am I to understand that you are opposed to treating these poor people -like neighbors, ’squire?” - -“I’m opposed to nothing that’s humane, but you know there is a limit to -what we can endure. I never was in favor of foreign immigration. What -do you say, good folks?” appealing to those around him. “No doubt the -good old deacon meant all right, but look at the crowd he has brought -among us, and say if you want them.” - -“Paupers, every one of them!” cried a voice from the crowd. - -“Perhaps worse’n that,” declared another. “They look to me like a -parcel of thieves!” - -“Paupers and thieves!” exclaimed a dozen in the same breath, until -Deacon Cornhill turned pale, as he felt that ominous results were -likely to come from his well-meant intentions. - -The little party of strangers huddled together in great trepidation, -excepting their leading spirit, Ragged Rob, who had so gladly yielded -to the counsel of their protector and lent his influence toward getting -them here. Something of the spirit of the stern man for whom he had -been nicknamed flashed in Little Hickory’s eyes, and drawing his figure -to its full height with a dignity felt all the more for the ragged suit -in which he was clothed, he exclaimed, in a tone heard to the limit of -the scene: - -“Paupers and thieves, never! We are poor, but we are willing to earn an -honest living. Deacon Cornhill, if we are not wanted here----” - -“Tut, tut, lad!” said the other, in an undertone, “this will soon blow -over,” though he had his misgivings. - -“You see how it is, deacon, and how the people feel,” said the ’squire, -with a ring of triumph in his voice. “This settling so many city -hoodlums in our midst is a risky experiment. For my part, I had rather -my house should burn down than to have such people in it.” - -“It would be pretty sure to if they were in it,” cried a zealous friend. - -“I do not believe there is a house on the Hare road they could get.” - -“No, no, no!” came from every quarter. - -’Squire Hardy looked exultant, while Deacon Cornhill was dumfounded. No -one had dared to speak a word in his behalf. - -“What have you done, Elihu?” asked his wife, who had but a vague -understanding of the situation. - -“Don’t get ’scited, Mandy; it’ll soon blow over. Fri’nds,” he -continued; addressing the crowd, “don’t misjudge your neighbors. These -poor folks are all honest, as I am willing to vouch. Why, if it hadn’t -been for this boy I shouldn’t have been living to come home. He not -only saved my money, but my life, and I’ll stand by him now!” - -“Good for you, deacon!” some one was bold enough to cry out, when a -faint cheer followed. This encouraged him to resume: - -“But if you don’t want these poor folks in your houses, I’ll look ’em -up some places. They can stop at my place to-night. But here we are, -keeping this sick man and woman here, to say nothing of the rest. I -wish I had my two-hoss jingle wagon here, I swan, I do!” - -At first no reply was made to this, but finally a farmer from the upper -part of the town said: - -“If you want to go arter your wagon, deacon, you may have my team to go -with, only if you’ll leave a barrel of flour that is in the wagon at -Widder Short’s.” - -Deacon Cornhill gladly accepted this offer, and he lost no time in -starting, saying, as he clambered into the high-backed seat: - -“You can go with me if you want to, Rob.” - -“I thank you, sir, but I had rather remain with mother and the rest. I -think it will be best for me to do so.” - -“If you please, mister, I would like to go,” said Chick. - -“So you can, my boy; and you, too,” nodding to another, a year older -than Chick, and known as Ruddy. - -The boys were happy, but Deacon Cornhill was too deeply engrossed -over the situation to pay much heed to his young companions, as he -gathered up the reins and drove away from the station. This reception -was very different from the triumphal entry into town of which he had -anticipated. - -“The ’squire is still ag’in me, and he means to make trouble,” he said, -giving expression to his thoughts. “If he won’t let ’em go on the Hare -road, they shall go somewhere. I have it! I’ll put ’em up to Break o’ -Day; that’s just what I’ll do. Git along, old Jim! that’s just what -I’ll do.” - -So absorbed was the good man in his plans that he did not notice -he had already got the raw-boned horse into a smart gait, so that -the old wagon was drawn through the mud and over the rocks at a -tremendous rate, giving the boys about all they could do to hold upon -the high-backed seat, while the barrel of flour rolled about at the -imminent risk of being sent from the vehicle altogether. - -“The Break o’ Day is their only hope,” repeated the deacon, as he rode -on. - -So absorbed was the good man in his plans and his anxiety to get -back to the station, that he failed to heed the tremendous speed he -had urged the horse to take until by the time they had reached the -outskirts of the village the spirited animal was flying along the -country road at the top of its speed. The way was rough, and the wagon -jolting over the stony places kept the barrel of flour in constant -motion. In fact, an uncommonly severe movement sent one head flying out -into the mud, and the white, fluffy mass within, caught up by the wind, -flew about like a perfect cloud over the occupants of the vehicle. - -“Ginger and snap!” cried Chick, who was enjoying the situation, “ain’t -we spinning, Ruddy?” - -“You bet! this is better’n the circus. Get up, old nag! If this is -country life, it jess knocks the spots off’n New York at her best.” - -The boys were enjoying the affair if the deacon was not. Then, in the -midst of this wild flight, when it seemed as if the sober member of -Basinburg church had really lost his head, those inhabitants of the -village who had not gone to the station rushed out of their houses to -see what was taking place. - -Getting a vague outline of the deacon’s stalwart figure amid the -cloud of flour, they began to cry out in dismay. This only served to -arouse the deacon the more, and, swinging his long whip in the air, he -shouted, louder than ever: - -“Get erlong there, Jim Crow. It’s Break o’ Day or nothing!” - -The old wagon, making a noise and confusion heard to the farthest -section of the village, the half-crazed deacon and his young -companions, who were shouting with laughter, were borne on at a wilder -pace than ever. In the midst of this they passed the parsonage, when -the horrified minister rushed out of the house, bareheaded and with -outstretched arms, calling out to the horse to stop. Then, recognizing -the form of his respected parishioner enveloped in the cloud of flour, -he shouted, in amazement: - -“Why, Deacon Cornhill! what has happened? Stop--stop--st----” - -“It’s Break o’ Day or nothing, parson; snowstorm or no snowstorm! Get -erlong, Jim!” - -The old man barely saved himself from being run over, as the deacon and -his companions were carried past, the latter crying out in the ears of -the bewildered preacher: - -“Did you ever get left on the pavements?” - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. A PRINCE IN RAGS. - - -Meanwhile the crowd about the station had watched the departure of -Deacon Cornhill in silence, but no sooner had he disappeared in the -distance than Squire Hardy held a consultation of a few words with his -nearest friends. Then he turned to address Rob, who, realizing that a -crisis of some kind was at hand, calmly waited for him to speak. - -“Youngster,” began the ’squire, “it must be plain to you by this time -that you and your followers made a mistake in coming here as you have. -In the first place, it can be of no advantage to you, and in the second -place, you are not wanted by us.” - -“I am sorry, sir, that it has happened as it has, but it does not seem -to me that any one is to blame. We have come with honest intentions----” - -“It requires honest people to carry out honest intentions. It’s the -doing that counts. Come, it is nearly night, and you have barely time -in which to get out of town before dark. The walking is good on the -railroad track.” - -The tone, more than the words, nettled Ragged Rob, and he exclaimed: - -“It will be better or worse before I or my friends go that way.” - -“Don’t you throw any of your New York sass in my face, you ragged dog. -You’ll either get out of town pretty lively of your own account, or -we will get help for you in a way you may not like. I give you fair -warning, and five minutes of time to get started in.” - -A groan came from the suffering man on the settee, while the others of -the forlorn little group turned pale with fright. But Little Hickory -was made of sterner stuff, and, drawing his slender figure to its -full height, making him like a fairy prince in a disguise of rags, he -replied, in a tone heard by the most distant of the spectators: - -“Sir, you cannot drive us away without making trouble for yourself. We -have come here peacefully, and we demand fair treatment. This poor man -here”--pointing to the invalid Mr. Little--“cannot take a step to save -his life. And this sick woman”--now pointing to Mrs. Willet--“deserves -kind treatment at your hands.” - -This fearless speech was received with varying effect by the onlookers. -It won the respect, if not the admiration of some, while still others -thought that perhaps the ’squire had been hasty in his denouncement. -Others again looked askance toward the justice, while he, feeling that -he had been openly and defiantly humiliated, shook with anger, and he -exclaimed, in a voice husky with passion: - -“Fool! if you think this high-handed piece of impudence is going -through all right you’ll find yourself most ---- mistaken.” - -’Squire Hardy used a word where I have inserted the dash which I do -not care to quote, while he advanced toward Ragged Rob with a look of -intense hatred. He seemed about to seize the brave boy in his grasp of -iron, when the latter said: - -“Lay a hand on me if you dare, Mr. Hardy!” - -“Be careful how you make yourself liable for striking the boy,” spoke -up one of the spectators, who was standing at the corner of the station. - -“If it wasn’t for the law I’d throw the young rapscallion into ----” -using another word that may have fitted his feelings, but which grated -harshly even on that exciting scene. “As it is I will make out a -warrant for their arrest as quick as I can find pen and paper to do it, -Johnson.” - -“If you do you will have to get Sheriff Stanyan to serve it, ’squire.” - -“I suppose you think I ought to let these hoodlums go where they wish, -Johnson. I tell you the safety of the public demands that I stop them -where they are.” - -“You mistake my meaning, ’squire. While I may be sorry that they have -come, I believe in fair treatment, and abiding by the law.” - -“I should like to know who is breaking the law if it is not them,” -snapped the justice, who was already inquiring for pen, ink and paper. - -“I hardly know what charge you can bring against them, ’squire, but you -are doubtless better posted than I.” - -“If I weren’t I’d hold my mouth,” muttered the other, though being -careful not to speak loud enough for Mr. Johnson to hear. In a louder -tone he cried: - -“I can arrest the whole crowd for vagrancy, and bring them up as -suspicious characters. I calculate enough can be brought against them -to put them in the lockup to-night, and to send them adrift to-morrow. -At any rate, I propose to see what can be done. I want some one to go -for Sheriff Stanyan. As Mr. Jones, the station agent, may wish to have -his place cleared of such stock before night, I should advise that the -messenger go for the officer with all speed possible.” - -At the conclusion of this speech the ’squire turned to see what effect -his words had upon the little group of homeless strangers. He was -disappointed to find that they had not brought any visible show of -trepidation to any of them. - -“Look here, Trask,” addressing one of the spectators, continued the -justice, “you have got a good horse. Go to Bradford and find Sheriff -Stanyan. Tell him I will have the papers all made out by the time he -gets here.” - -“It’s awful traveling, ’squire, and my horse----” - -“Don’t stop to consider the traveling, Trask, at a time like this. The -safety of the public must be upheld. You shall lose nothing by the -trip.” - -Without further opposition the man called Trask started for his team, -which was hitched nearby, and a minute later he rode away on his -errand, while ’Squire Hardy went into the station agent’s office to -make out the required paper. - -Though there was little display of excitement on the surface, it was -really an exciting situation. The onlookers began to gather in little -knots to talk over the affair, a few blaming the ’squire, but the -majority upholding him in his decisive action. As is usual under such -conditions, the forlorn strangers, ragged and penniless, proved to be -equally friendless. - -Ragged Rob improved the opportunity to speak a few words of -encouragement to his companions, trying to assure them that it would be -all right as soon as Deacon Cornhill should return. But even he felt -in his heart that the kindly deacon would be powerless to meet and -overcome the increasing enmity of his townspeople. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. A STARTLING SURPRISE. - - -To add to the uncomfortableness of the situation, threatenings of rain -began to appear about this time, but the crowd of spectators showed no -signs of dispersing, one and all waiting with curious interest to see -what the end would be. - -In the midst of the lull in the scene the ’squire reappeared, holding -in his hand now the warrant for the arrest of the newcomers under the -charge of Ragged Rob, who stood by the side of Joe and her mother at -this time. - -“I reckon I have made it strong enough to hold ’em,” declared the -justice, referring to the paper in his hand. “I hope Stanyan will get -here before dark. Ah, it’s going to rain soon. I wish Stanyan were here -now.” - -The same wish may have been in the minds of others, and ’Squire Hardy -was not the only one who consulted his watch and calculated that it -would be fully an hour later before the officer could be expected. - -At this juncture the sound of a wagon approaching was heard, and all -turned expectantly up the road, to discover a double team coming toward -the station at a smart rate of speed. The seat contained one man and -two boys. Covered from head to foot with the flour that had blown over -him, it was no wonder the driver was not recognized until he was near -at hand. - -“It’s Deacon Cornhill!” cried one of the bystanders. “But what in the -world has he been doing with himself?” - -The deacon did present a singular appearance, but he was unmindful of -this, as he drove his team alongside the station platform, calling out, -in his cheery voice: - -“I hope you ain’t got tired o’ waiting, but I went as spry as I could. -Here, boys, help throw the things in, and then we’ll give the sick ones -a boost. Jim, jess hold my hosses.” - -“Don’t know as I care about mixing up in sich an affair,” muttered the -man addressed, quickly retreating to the rear of the crowd to escape a -second invitation of the kind. - -“I should like to know what you are up to?” demanded ’Squire Hardy, -advancing, while he flourished the document in his hand so the other -might see it. “I have sent for Mr. Stanyan to attend to these folks. I -reckon he’ll be in time to look after them,” pulling out his watch and -consulting it. - -“We won’t bother Mr. Stanyan, and there was no need for you to send for -him, ’Squire Hardy.” - -“I ain’t so sure about that, deacon. At any rate I have sent for him, -and before I shall let these critters go, I want to know what you are -going to do with them.” - -“So long as they are peaceful you have no business to meddle. Won’t -some of you lend a hand here to get this poor cripple into the wagon?” -appealing to the bystanders. - -“I asked you a civil question and you haven’t answered it, deacon,” -said ’Squire Hardy, stepping in front of the other. - -No one had volunteered to lend their assistance in reply to his request -to help him and Rob lift Mr. Little into the wagon, while the horses -were becoming restive each moment, and there was no one at the bit. -The rain was beginning to fall in big drops, and altogether it was no -wonder Deacon Cornhill began to grow nervous and discouraged. - -“Why not let them go, ’squire?” asked Mr. Johnson, who seemed to be an -honest man. “It’s going to rain hard in a few minutes, and the deacon -needs every moment if he would get under cover before it strikes.” - -With these words the speaker took hold to help, and in a few minutes -the entire party were seated in the wagon, though by that time the rain -was falling fast. - -Deacon Cornhill climbed up to the driver’s seat, taking the reins -stoutly in his hands. It needed no urging on his part to start the -animals, and with a series of yells and gibes ringing in his ears, the -good man drove smartly away, glad to escape so easily. - -’Squire Hardy stood silent, but his face was livid with rage as he saw -the strange party leave the station. The crowd of spectators had now -sought the cover of the building, and were exchanging comments with one -another upon the singular conduct of the deacon. - -“Let the old fool go in the rain,” declared the ’squire. “He ain’t -heard the last of this, not by a long shot. I’ll set Stanyan after ’em, -and if he can’t cook their goose I will, if it costs me all I’m worth. -Deacon Cornhill needn’t think he is going to jeopardize the safety of -the whole town by any such tomfoolery. I’ll give you a dollar, Joe -Dollard, if you’ll foller ’em so as to tell where they go. If the -deacon takes ’em home you will see lively times before morning.” - -But Deacon Cornhill had no intention of taking his party home. He -feared too much the sharp tongue of Mrs. Cornhill, whom he had already -found was opposed to his scheme, to hazard such a venture. So he -followed a road which led out of the village on the east, and drove -ahead at a smart gallop through the rain, which was soon falling in a -torrent. As there was no covering to the wagon, the entire party was -exposed to the downpouring elements, though the two invalids had been -so covered with a large rubber blanket in the wagon that they were -partially sheltered from the rain. - -The only ones who really enjoyed the ride were the three boys--Chick, -Ruddy and Tony--though two others, known as Tom and Jerry, joined with -them in the outbursts of merriment. - -Rob, their leader, realized that the halo had fled from the picture, -and that only the dark background was now revealed. He saw a bitter -struggle ahead in order to meet the dangers likely to surround them in -this new life. In this unexpected crisis his companions were not likely -to prove of help, but he was the last boy to despair. His whole life -had been a battle against adverse circumstances, and he was not going -to falter now. - -Thus he spoke encouragingly to his low-spirited companions, and looked -hopefully forward to their destination, trying to form an idea of the -looks of the place, little dreaming in his youthful enthusiasm of its -actual desolation. - -The road to Break o’ Day, as the place to which they were going was -known, wound up through a deep wood for over four miles, and not a -dwelling was to be seen on the entire route. Though they were somewhat -protected from the rain under the overhanging forest, it was a dismal -ride, and every one hailed with joy the opening at the summit of the -hill or mountain. - -The deacon spoke encouragingly to the weary horses, which started into -a smart trot now that the way was comparatively level. - -The Break o’ Day tract of country really consisted of a thousand acres -of wild land, for the most, which had been largely cleared of its first -growth by charcoal burners a few years before, and had been allowed to -send up a second growth of saplings now in that age termed “sprouts.” - -Of course, the strangers to this isolated spot paid little heed to -their surroundings, as one and all tried to escape as much as possible -the drenching rain, which was falling faster than ever, if that were -possible. But Rob looked in vain for any sign of a house until they -had gone half a mile, when he discovered a solitary frame house of two -stories, and which had once been painted red on the outside. This paint -was now worn off so that the broad sides of the building looked brown -and dilapidated in the storm. There was not a whole window in the house -and the door at the front side hung from one hinge. - -But the gaze of the approaching observers was suddenly attracted by the -sight of a couple of horsemen riding up in front of the building from -the opposite direction. - -Deacon Cornhill had seen the two men and, pulling up the horses he was -driving, he said, in a low but husky tone: - -“It’s Sheriff Stanyan and ’Squire Hardy. They’ve got here ahead of us.” - - - - -CHAPTER X. ’SQUIRE HARDY OUTWITTED. - - -The reins trembled in the hands of Deacon Cornhill, who dared not -contemplate the result of another meeting with his enemy. Rob proved -himself better fitted to meet this emergency, and he asked: - -“Is there no other house that we can have?” - -“This is the only house on Break o’ Day. There are some sod houses that -the coal burners lived in, but they are not fit places for you to stay.” - -“If others have lived there we can. I do not believe they have seen us. -See? they are dismounting and leading their horses under the shelter of -the trees. Can we get to one of these sod houses without passing that -house?” - -“Oh, yes; there are two or three of them down this cartway a short -distance.” - -“Then drive down there, and we will see what the ’squire will do.” - -Nothing loath, the deacon headed the horses down a narrow grass-grown -path, where neither the footfalls of the animals nor the revolutions of -the wheels gave back any sound. - -Little dreaming of the close proximity of those for whom they were -looking, Sheriff Stanyan and ’Squire Hardy, after seeing that their -horses could not stray, hastily sought the old house, that they might -escape the pelting rain while they watched and waited for their prey. - -Meanwhile Deacon Cornhill drove slowly along the pathway, where the -bushes overhung them so that they slapped the occupants of the wagon -in the face unless they held them back with their hands. After going -a little way a small clearing was reached, on the upper edge of which -Rob saw the open door of a couple of the oddest dwellings he had ever -seen. In the great city some of his companions had left dark, dismal -quarters under the very streets to come to this remote region to seek -the shelter of low structures built of poles standing up in slanting -position so their tops met, and the inclined plane covered with grass -and sods. The rear ends of these simple dwellings were formed by big -rocks against which they had been constructed, while the front was -open the size of a door. Stone chimneys had been built at the further -extremity, and through the open doorway could be seen the rough -fireplace. - -As the deacon stopped the horses in front of one of these primitive -dwellings, Rob and the rest of the boys sprang down to the ground, and -a hasty unloading of the few articles brought was begun. Mrs. Willet -was lifted from the wagon and carried into the sod house, to be placed -on one of the blankets. Then came Mr. Little’s turn, and he was carried -into the rude dwelling just beyond, it having been decided to divide -into two parties. - -Deacon Cornhill had not forgotten to take along a small supply of food, -a few potatoes, some flour and pork and other articles of scarcely less -account, though less bulky. But there was no furniture, and when the -last thing had been removed from the wagon and Deacon Cornhill surveyed -the scanty store and the wet, gloomy surroundings, he could not help -feeling a bitter disappointment at the way his bright plans had turned -out. - -“Well, keep up good courage, boys, and we will see to-morrow if -something can’t be done for you. This is all my land round about here, -and such as it is make as free with it as if you owned it. I know it -ain’t rich soil, but in the valleys you will find a chance to dip up -patches to plant. The coal burners plowed up some of the best places, -so it won’t be quite like new sod. There is plenty of wood, and I -advise you to build a fire the first thing you do. - -“I s’pose I shall have to go home, as mother will be anxious about me. -But I will come up in the morning, when we will lay our plans for the -futur’. I hope the sheriff won’t find you. If he does, you must do the -best you can, Rob. I can’t see how he can arrest you so long as you -are peaceful. I will come up as early as I can to-morrow. Let me advise -the rest of you to mind Rob in what he says. He’s got a good head on -him, and he will help you out if anybody can.” - -With these words, the honest-hearted man climbed back to the -wagon-seat, gathered up the reins and headed the horses homeward, -though, as he rode away, his gaze was turned backward until the bushes -hid him from view. - -“There is one honest man in this wilderness,” said Mrs. Willet, “but it -seems as if every one else was against us. I suppose we must hope for -the best.” - -“To be sure, mother,” replied Rob, who always addressed her thus, “and -with the clearing away of the rain we will hope for better fare. Come, -boys, help me get some wood so we can have a fire.” - -The other boys lending their assistance, while Rob’s mother and the -girls cleaned up the interior of the camps, a fire was soon blazing -merrily in each of the rude dwellings, giving a surprising cheerfulness -to the scene. Preparations for supper were begun at once, and -altogether the newcomers were as comfortable and hopeful as could be -expected. - -The rain was still falling steadily, though not as rapidly as at first, -while it was growing dark. - -Without stopping to eat supper with the others, Rob left the camp -to see if he could learn anything of the two men at the old house, -promising not to be gone long. - -Upon coming out into the road within sight of the place no sign of -life was apparent, until he came near enough to see the horses still -standing where their owners had left them. - -Rob smiled as he thought of the officers waiting within for the -appearance of himself and companions, while he stationed himself so -he could watch for them to appear, if they were in the house, as he -believed. - -Fifteen minutes wore tediously away, and it was becoming too dark to -distinguish an object very far off, when he saw two men leave the old -red house. He had no doubt these were Stanyan and Hardy, a fact which -was made conclusive when he overheard the latter say: - -“By Jove, Stanyan! I wouldn’t stay there any longer for all the -hoodlums of New York.” - -“So the old red house is haunted after all,” said the companion of the -’squire, and even in the darkness Rob could understand that the two men -were greatly excited, if not frightened, over something they had seen -or heard. - -“Them sounds--sort of murder cries--sent the cold chills up my back,” -acknowledged Hardy. “Come, Stanyan, it can’t be the deacon has taken -his tribe up this way, and we might as well go home. What an awful dark -night it is getting to be.” - -“It was a mistake we hadn’t come the other way.” - -“Oh, well, it can’t make any difference in the end. Wherever they have -gone for the night, we can fix ’em to-morrow, eh? I’ll give you a cool -fifty dollars to help me outwit the rascally deacon, Stanyan!” - -“That’s easy enough done, ’squire. Whoa, Tom! what in the world are you -snorting for, just as if you had seen a ghost out here in the dark?” - -“Perhaps he was asleep and you scart him by coming up so sudden,” said -his companion. - -“I believe I heard some one move in the bushes!” - - - - -CHAPTER XI. THE NEWCOMERS. - - -Rob, who was crouching in the bushes close by, dared not breathe lest -he should be discovered by the sheriff, who came within easy reach of -him. But the sheriff’s search was short, and made in such a blundering -manner that he failed to discover our hero. - -“Come, Stanyan,” called out Hardy, “what’s the use of stumbling around -there in the wet bushes? We shall get soaking wet, and I am always -liable to have an attack of rheumatism when I get wet.” - -The ’squire was already unhitching his horse, and a minute later Rob -had the satisfaction of hearing the two riding away. - -“Good riddance!” said Rob, under his breath, as he started to return to -the coal camps. - -When Rob got back to the sod houses containing his friends he found -the others anxiously awaiting him. A plain supper, prepared after -considerable trouble, there being only a couple of small pails in -which to do the cooking, was ready to be eaten by the firelight, and -while our hero joined in with the others, he told what he had seen -and overheard at the old red house, excepting the statements of the -two men in regard to the place being haunted. Rob was wise enough to -believe that no good would come of mentioning such a fact, if it were -true, which he did not even entertain. - -After supper further preparations were made for the comfort, such -as could be provided, for the two parties. The united numbers made -fourteen persons in the little band of strangers in a strange -land. These consisted of Robert Bayne, our hero, and his mother, a -kind-hearted woman into whose life had seemed to come all the shadows -and sufferings arising from the evil doings of a husband who was a -fugitive from justice. It was not really known whether Mr. Bayne was -living or not, but if he were, there was a price set on his liberty, -and his wife breathed easier in his absence than she could possibly -have done knowing his whereabouts. Mrs. Bayne had pinned her faith on -Rob, and hoped and looked forward to a future freer from care than her -past twenty years had been. But, in spite of her outward cheerfulness -the shadow of the past still darkened her life. - -Then there were Mrs. Willet, the invalid widow, and her only daughter, -Josephine, or Joe, as she was generally called. Joe was one year -younger than Rob, of a cheerful disposition and a willing worker, with -a judgment remarkable for one of her years. - -Mr. James Little, still, as he believed, suffering from an injury -received when thrown from a heavy truck wagon in New York City; his -wife Sarah, and their children--Lawrence and Mary--aged, respectively, -eighteen and sixteen, made up another family. We shall soon learn more -of them. - -A kind old lady was “Aunt Vinnie,” whose only care--and that was -enough--was to look after her “boys,” Tom and Jerry. The history of -these three was quite unknown, except that Aunt Vinnie claimed the boys -to be the children of a sister who had died when they were very young. -They were twins. At some time the three must have had surnames, but -none of their present companions ever heard them spoken. - -Besides these were the three street waifs, who had been picked up -and championed by Ragged Rob--Chick, Ruddy and Tony--whose ages ran -from ten to twelve years, all of whom were far older in the varied -experiences which come to such outcasts. - -Both Mr. Little and Mrs. Willet were given the first attention, and -they were made so comfortable that they slept for the most part of -the night. The younger members, used to sleeping out of doors on the -pavements, or at least under some box or wall, lay down on the earthen -floor of these sod houses and soon fell into a refreshing sleep. But -neither Rob nor his mother sought sleep, while Aunt Vinnie and Mrs. -Little only nodded at times. - -The rain cleared away before midnight, and the following morning the -sun shone brightly, and the clear, warm atmosphere of a spring day made -the landscape beautiful and stirred the hearts of the lonely wayfarers -with the spirit of good cheer. - -“Isn’t this beautiful, delightful!” cried Joe Willet, clapping her -hands in wild ecstacy of joy. “Look yonder, Rob! did you ever see such -lovely flowers?” pointing to some clumps of mountain laurels. “I can -hardly stop to get breakfast before I pick some of them. Oh, I know we -shall be so happy here; shan’t we, mother?” - -“I trust so, my child,” and the mother did not dare to speak of the -fear in her heart. - -“The country looks pretty, Joe,” replied Rob, “and I hail it as a good -sign that the storm has cleared away so soon. But I must look around a -bit to see what we can do. I hope Deacon Cornhill will get here before -long.” - -Now that it was daylight Rob saw that no signs of a dwelling was in -sight. In fact, it was as quiet, except for the songs of a few birds, -as if they had been left in the heart of a great wilderness. This -seemed very strange for those who had come from the din, bustle and -confusion of the great city. - -“We shall soon get used to it,” declared Rob. - -“Mercy me!” exclaimed Aunt Vinnie, “I don’t b’lieve I ever can. And as -for Tommy and Jerry, why, they will go just wild.” - -After breakfast Rob and Larry went up to the old red house, but found -no evidence that the building had been occupied for some time. It -showed even worse ruin inside than it did outside. At places boards had -been torn off, as if used for fuel, and few of the doors remained. As -they passed from room to room the floor creaked dismally beneath their -feet, while bats and birds flew about their heads, screaming out as if -angry at this invasion of their domains. - -“If we come here to live it will require lots of fixing up,” said Rob. - -“I don’t care what you think of it,” declared Larry, “but I jess feel -like cutting off my big toe for coming up here into this dead man’s -woods.” - -When the forenoon had passed without bringing the deacon to see them, -Rob grew anxious, and soon after dinner, accompanied by Chick and -Ruddy, he started for Basinburg, hoping to meet their friend on the way. - -Finally they came in sight of Basinburg without meeting any one. -Rob was beginning to feel that there was something wrong about the -non-appearance of Deacon Cornhill, and not having been to the latter’s -house, he was obliged to inquire of the first person they met how to -reach his place. This individual proved to be a tall, slab-sided -youth, a little older than Rob, who eyed the other closely without -replying to his question. - -“When you get done looking at us,” said Rob, “I shall be glad to have -you tell me where Deacon Cornhill lives.” - -“Reckon ’ou’re some uv th’ tribe what came to town yesterday?” he -ventured to question. - -“I shall be pleased to have you answer my question,” said Rob. - -“By gum! you’re cooners!” and he started on a run toward the village. - -“I should say you’re the biggest cooner!” muttered Rob, not liking the -conduct of the other. However, he kept on in the direction of the town, -closely followed by Chick and Ruddy. - -The store and post office was soon seen, standing in a little clump of -buildings, and it was evident that the tow-headed youth had spread the -news of their coming, for a crowd was beginning to gather in front of -the place. It required but a glance from Rob to see that the looks of -this party boded him anything but good. - -Believing that it was best for him to put on a bold front and meet -the men squarely in whatever they should try to do, Rob showed no -hesitation in his advance. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. LITTLE HICKORY AROUSED. - - -It was apparent from the looks of the spectators that they had anything -but a friendly greeting for the newcomers. Among them Rob saw ’Squire -Hardy seated on a big box, closely watching their approach. A number -of boys, whose ages ranged from twelve years to twenty, had hastily -collected, and these pushed themselves forward into the pathway of the -three from Break o’ Day. - -One of these, whom Rob was soon to learn was the son of ’Squire Hardy, -immediately made himself prominent, saying, in a sneering tone, as he -pointed at Rob: - -“Ain’t he a pretty duck, boys?” - -“I wish to ask where Deacon Cornhill lives,” said Rob, concealing his -chagrin at the words of Ralph Hardy. - -His intended question was followed by a painful silence, until the -’squire said: - -“Well, why don’t you ask your question and have done with it? I should -think you would want to know the fix you have got the pious old deacon -into. Whose barn did you sleep in last night?” - -“Nobody’s barn, sir. Will you tell me where Deacon Cornhill lives?” - -At this point the ’squire held a hurried consultation with one of his -companions without heeding the words of Rob. - -Not caring to have more to say to this crowd, Rob started to go on up -the village, when young Hardy stepped in front of him, saying: - -“You ain’t answered the old man’s question yet. Where’d you stop last -night?” - -“I do not know as that matters to you as long----” - -“Mean to sass me, do you?” demanded Ralph Hardy, doubling up his fist -and acting as if he meant to fight. Half a dozen other boys, evidently -thinking there was going to be some “fun,” pressed forward closely upon -his heels. - -By this time Rob and his companions were surrounded, so it looked as if -they would have trouble before they could get away. - -“Punch him, Ralph; he’s nothing but a cooner!” called out the voice of -the tow-headed youth from the rear. - -None of the men offered to stop the boys, but they watched the -proceedings with evident pleasure. - -“I’m not meddling with you; let me go,” said Rob. - -“You ain’t answered dad’s question. You can’t go till you have answered -that, you New York hoodlum.” - -Though the words and tone of the speaker nettled Rob, he did not like -to begin a quarrel there, which he knew would likely work against -him, whatever the immediate result, so he started to move away without -paying further heed to the pugilistic young Hardy. - -At that moment some one threw a ball of mud which struck him upon the -cheek, where the most of it stuck until he had wiped it away. - -At this loud laughter, in which the men joined, rang tauntingly on his -ears. - -“Looks well!” cried out one of the spectators. “Let me see if I can’t -fix the other cheek like it,” and a second mud-ball struck Rob in the -face, the moist dirt filling one eye so that he could not see plainly -with it. Abused nature could stand no more, and Little Hickory was -aroused. As soon as he could make himself heard for the loud huzzas -that followed this last insult, he said, in a tone that showed he was -in earnest: - -“Stand aside, sir, and let me pass.” - -“Lay so much as a finger on me if you dare!” replied Ralph Hardy, -without offering to let him pass. “I dare you to touch me!” - -“I don’t want any trouble with you,” replied Rob. “We came here -peacefully, and it is you who are making the fuss.” - -“You lie!” exclaimed young Hardy, shaking his fist in Little Hickory’s -face, “and daresn’t say you don’t!” - -“If it were you alone and myself alone I’d make you eat them words,” -retorted Rob, his face now showing his righteous anger, while he -continued to advance. - -“You’re a sneaking, low-lived, dirt-covered hoodlum of the alleys of -New York, and you have no business----” - -Ralph Hardy had got so far, when, flourishing his fist in the face of -Little Hickory, he hit him plump on the nose. - -It is doubtful if young Hardy had really intended to strike Rob, as it -was his purpose to make the latter begin the fight if he could, and the -blow was not a severe one. But, coupled with what had been said, it -was more than undaunted Little Hickory could bear, and he caught the -surprised bully by the waist with a strength which enabled him to lift -the other clear from the ground. - -Just how it was done none of the spectators could say, but they saw -’Squire Hardy’s son descrying a circle in the air, and then he was -carried upward until he fell sprawling in the midst of a big mud puddle -half a rod away. - -“Hooray!” cried Chick, who, with Ruddy, had been an anxious witness of -the preceding scene, but his cry was drowned by the uproar coming from -the crowd of men and boys. - -“He’s killed Ralph!” shouted ’Squire Hardy. “Take him, boys!” - -The onlookers immediately made a rush for the intrepid youth and his -two companions. - -For a moment it looked as if Rob would be torn limb from limb, but in -order to do that it was first necessary to catch him. - -If Little Hickory did not possess a pair of light feet, he did own a -pair of strong arms. - -The first boy to reach him after Ralph shared the fate of the other. -The next was sent headlong to the ground at the foot of the steps -leading to the store. - -By this time some of the crowd had rushed upon the rear, to be met by -Chick and Ruddy. This twain, if small, proved themselves to be worthy -of their leader. The first boy to feel their furious resistance was the -tow-headed youth already mentioned, and he was doubled to the earth by -their united efforts. Then they came in pairs, and so thick and fast -that the doughty Chick and Ruddy soon found more on their hands than -they could well handle. - -Finding himself so hard pressed that he was likely to be borne to the -ground--crushed by an overwhelming power--Chick nimbly climbed the -tall figure of a stalwart young man, where he perched himself on his -shoulders, keeping his position in spite of the efforts of the other to -take him off. - -Ruddy was scarcely less nimble, and finding himself beset by so many -enemies that he could not hold his own, dodged between the legs of the -nearest, sending him heels over head to the ground. - -A second shared his fate, and, by dodging to and fro, squirming like -an eel as he passed one after another of the excited assailants, Ruddy -reached the outskirts of the crowd. - -He might have easily escaped then, but seeing the desperate situation -of Rob, to say nothing of Chick, he sprang back into the fight like a -little game-cock, that never knows when it is getting the worst of it. - -Assailed upon every hand, Little Hickory, as valiant a battle as he was -waging, sorely needed whatever assistance he could have. Regardless -of what might follow, in his excitement and awakened determination to -win at any cost, he sent his enemies reeling backward on either hand, -fairly forcing his way through the crowd. - -“Don’t let the hoodlums get away!” cried ’Squire Hardy, hurrying -forward to join in the fray if necessary. “He’s killed Ralph!” - -This announcement was enough to cause the men to take a hand in the -affray, and they rushed into the exciting scene just as Rob had finally -succeeded in reaching the side of Ruddy. - -At that moment some one threw a stone the size of a man’s fist, and -the missile striking Little Hickory, he fell to the ground with a low -cry of pain. - -“They’ve killed Rob!” cried Ruddy. “I’ll kill the hull scab of ’em!” - -Catching up a handful of stones that lay only too handy for him, he -began to hurl them into the midst of the crowd, which so frightened the -men and boys that a hasty retreat was begun. - -Crash went a pane of glass, where one of the rocks went hurling through -the store window, followed by a series of wild cries: - -“Look out for the little devil or he’ll kill us!” - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. AN UNEXPECTED CHAMPION. - - -As Ruddy raised his right arm over his head to throw the missile, which -might have struck some one with deadly effect, a clear, sharp voice -rang out over the startling scene, quickly ending the outbreak: - -“Hold, boy! don’t throw that stone, or I will horsewhip you within an -inch of your life!” - -The first word had been sufficient to check the rash boy in his -dangerous work, when he turned hastily about to find a man had ridden -close to the edge of the crowd, and, standing up in his carriage, held -a long, stout whip poised over his head ready to send its stinging lash -around his body did he fail to obey him. - -“What is all this rumpus about?” demanded this newcomer, who instantly -made himself master of the situation. - -“These youngsters are raising particular cain with our boys, Dr. -Menter. I don’t know but they have killed Ralph,” said ’Squire Hardy. - -“Looks as if your boy was coming out of it better than this fellow -with the bleeding head,” replied the man in the carriage, who was the -village physician, beginning to step out upon the ground. - -Ruddy had dropped the rocks in his hands and stood with looks of -combined fear and wonder. Chick had already dropped from his perch on a -man’s shoulders and sought the side of Ruddy. - -“I hope he has been killed!” declared the ’squire. - -“Look out what you say, ’Squire Hardy, for such words as those might -make you trouble and be inconvenient to explain in a courtroom.” - -“So you stand up for the hoodlum, do you, doctor?” - -“No, sir; I simply speak for fair play. It was a coward who threw that -stone, and he has laid himself open to the law and a serious punishment -if this boy has been fatally injured.” - -“He began the quarrel, and it was done in self-defense.” - -“Let me advise you as a friend, ’squire, not to say too much. I will -see if the boy is seriously hurt.” - -While the other muttered over something under his breath, Dr. Menter -knelt beside Rob, to make an examination of the wound. This was not -found to be of a serious nature, and in a few minutes our hero was able -to sit up. - -“You’ve come out all right, youngster,” said the physician, “but it -came pretty near being a close call.” - -Upon finding that no one had been killed, the spectators, who had been -rather frightened over the outcome of the affair a little while before, -now boldly stepped forward. - -“Stand back!” ordered Dr. Menter. “The boy is coming around all right, -and there is no need of crowding upon us so.” - -“Perhaps you have not heard who this fellow is, doctor,” said the -’squire, determined to follow up his side of the question. “He belongs -to a herd of cattle the demented Deacon Cornhill brought into our midst -yesterday from the slums of New York.” - -“The deacon has told me of his colonization scheme,” replied the -doctor, smiling. “But I am afraid he will never see it carried out.” - -“You are right, there. We are not going to let them stay in town any -longer than it takes to get them out.” - -“I do not believe you understand me, ’squire. The deacon took a -sudden cold in the rain yesterday and is sick in bed threatened with -pneumonia.” - -As this was a bit of startling news to the spectators, one and all -showed considerable concern. - -“No business to have been fooling around with sich critters in the -rain. He’d been all right if he’d gone right home,” declared the -unfeeling ’squire. - -“I can’t say about that, but he is a very sick man. There, I guess you -will come out in good shape,” said the physician to Rob, as he placed a -plaster over the cut the latter had received on his head. - -“Thank you, sir. I come down to the town to see Deacon Cornhill,” said -Rob. “I do not know what I shall do if he is sick.” - -“He certainly cannot do anything for you now. Still, if you want to go -up to his house you can ride with me. I am going right back as soon as -I can go to the post office.” - -Rob thanked the physician, who seemed like an honest man, and concluded -to accept his offer. Chick and Ruddy he advised to go back to Break -o’ Day. The crowd continued to scowl upon them, but the fact that Dr. -Menter had spoken in their behalf kept any one, even ’Squire Hardy, -from uttering any further threats against them at that time. - -On the way to the home of Deacon Cornhill the doctor questioned Rob -closely in regard to his situation, when our hero frankly explained the -matter from the time he had met Mr. Cornhill in New York. - -“I am afraid you can’t do much,” said Dr. Menter, frankly, as Rob -concluded. “You do not seem to have anything to work with. Besides, I -should judge that you must all have a very slight idea of getting a -living in the country. You say you want to cultivate the land at Break -o’ Day. What do you know about taking care of crops?” - -Rob had to confess that he and his associates knew nothing. In fact, -he realized more than he had ever before the peculiar helplessness of -himself and companions. - -“The best thing you can do is to go back to the city,” said the doctor. - -“We haven’t the money to do it,” acknowledged Rob. “All together, we -cannot raise a dime.” - -The doctor whistled. - -“How do you think you are going to live here? Had the deacon promised -you any money?” - -“No, sir; but he thought we could get work. We are willing to try our -best.” - -“It would be surprising if you all felt that way. I should judge a -crowd picked up in the way yours was would have at least some who would -be deadheads on the hands of the others. You say there are several -among you who are unable to work if they wished?” - -“Two,” faltered Rob, for the first time losing courage. Somehow the -candid words of Dr. Menter struck to his heart as nothing said by -others had done. - -“Do you know what I think?” - -“That we made a mistake in coming?” - -“Worse than that, young man. The deacon is famous for his foolish -schemes, and that this caps the climax. No other man in town would -have gone good for Jonas Lyford, and with the prospect of paying up -another’s debt, which is likely to take all he is worth, I should have -thought Deacon Cornhill would have felt like letting you and your -companions alone.” - -“We shall not make Mr. Cornhill any extra trouble, sir.” - -“The safest way for you to make good your words will be by leaving town -at once. I can see that you have created an unfavorable impression -already. Still, I feel very sure that money enough to pay your fare to -the city will be forthcoming if you conclude to go. I will give five -dollars toward it myself.” - -“You are very kind, sir.” - -“You think you will go?” - -Rob hesitated a moment before replying, but there was no mistaking his -meaning when he spoke, low, but firmly: - -“I can’t answer for my friends, but I have come to stay.” - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. A WRITTEN NOTICE. - - -Dr. Menter made no reply to Rob’s last statement, but a few minutes -later, as he turned his horse into the driveway leading to a -comfortable-looking, old-fashioned, two-story house, he said: - -“This is where the deacon lives. He is so sick I do not believe he will -care to see you, so you had better remain in my carriage until I come -out. I will say to him that you have come.” - -Rob could do no better than to take up with this advice, though the -time hung heavy on his hands until the physician reappeared. - -“I have spoken to the deacon about you, and he seems greatly concerned -over your welfare. I could not think of letting you see him in his -present state. But, as your situation is such that something has got to -be done at once, I will act for him for a few days, until we can see -how he gets along. Now say to me just what you have come here to say to -him.” - -“I am sorry Deacon Cornhill is so sick,” said Rob. “Is there nothing I -can do for him?” - -“You show a pretty unselfish spirit to think of some one else before -yourself, considering the hopeless situation you are in. I do not think -you can do anything for the deacon at present. Is there anything I can -do for you?” - -“We need tools, sir, to begin work on the land, and we want to find -chances to work so we can earn money.” - -“Now you talk business. In regard to the first matter, I shall take the -liberty to borrow of the deacon for you. In the second case, I have got -to do a little thinking. How many of you wish places, and what can you -do?” - -“There is Larry Little; he’s eighteen and stout enough to do anything -he knows about. Then there are Tom and Jerry, younger than he is, but -they could do chores. Besides ’em, there is myself, who is willing to -try anything.” - -“None of you know much about farm work. But I will see in a little -while. First I will look after those tools, and I will take them along -with you as far as I am going.” - -Dr. Menter, who was considerable of a farmer himself, having spent his -boyhood on a farm, went into Deacon Cornhill’s tool house, soon coming -out with two shovels, two hoes, an ax and a pickax. - -“These will be enough for you to begin with,” he said, with a smile, as -he placed them in his carriage. - -As has been shown, there were two roads leading to Break o’ Day, and -as Dr. Menter had another patient to visit in the west part of the -town, he advised Rob to ride with him in that direction, and after -leaving him take what was called “The Flying Jump” road to Break o’ -Day. On the way the physician explained to Rob considerable about -farming, and told him how to begin by spading up the ground ready for -planting. - -“Select the level places between the ridges and the hollows where the -soil is richer and deeper. There is some good land on Break o’ Day, but -there is more that is poor, either sandy or rocky. Let me advise you -not to dig anywhere the grass won’t grow.” - -So Rob went back to his humble home by the same road that ’Squire Hardy -and Sheriff Stanyan had taken in going to Break o’ Day. He found his -mother and friends anxiously awaiting his coming, excepting Chick and -Ruddy, who had not returned. - -Rob gave as encouraging an account of his visit to the village as he -could, and as he displayed the tools he had brought with which to begin -there was a curious examination made and many utterances of surprise -which must have sounded ridiculous to the farming population of -Basinburg. But it must be remembered that none of the younger members -of the party had ever seen anything of the kind, or had the remotest -idea of the uses to which they could be applied. Even Rob, who had -listened attentively to what Dr. Menter had said, could not give any -very clear explanation. - -He believed the best illustration he could give was to put them to use, -and he at once looked about for the most suitable place to begin his -farming. - -“Come, Larry, here is a shovel for you. Tom and Jerry can each use a -hoe.” - -“Oh, my! won’t that be fun?” cried the latter. - -It was not surprising that the girls, and even Mrs. Willet and Aunt -Vinnie, came out to witness the “breaking of the sod” for the new life. - -But strange tools in new hands become awkward, and at the very outset -Larry blundered and fell in a heap, amid the clapping of hands and -merry peals of laughter from his companions. - -Picking himself up rather crestfallen, Larry went at his task more -judiciously than at first, so that in a few minutes he was doing nearly -as well as Rob. - -But it was hard work for these green hands, and though Little Hickory -stuck to his task with commendable perseverance, Larry soon tired of -it. Tom and Jerry had gone off to chase a bird, and he could not see -why he should toil so while the others were enjoying themselves, so -he threw his shovel into the bushes and followed after his younger -companions. - -Rob said nothing, keeping steadily at his work, soon turning over a -good square of sod. - -Joe Willet, having seen where Larry had flung his shovel, went and got -the tool, and began herself to imitate Rob with a hearty good will. - -“Stop, Joe,” said Rob, “this is no work for girls to do. There are -enough of us boys to do this.” - -“I wish I was a boy, so I could,” she said. “A girl does not seem to -amount to much out here. I am afraid----” - -“You’re afraid of nothing, Joe. There is enough for you to do in the -house.” - -“I am afraid Larry does not like work so well as you do, Rob.” - -“P’raps he’ll do better next time, Joe. I did not want to scold him the -first time. I don’t see where Chick and Ruddy are. I am more anxious -about ’em.” - -This anxiety on the part of Rob increased as the afternoon wore away -without seeing the return of the two boys, and just as the sun was -sinking toward the tree-tops in the west, Rob shouldered his shovel and -started toward the coal camps with his companions, resolved to go in -search of the missing ones. - -“You’ll have supper first,” said his mother. “It is all ready, and you -must be tired.” - -Rob could not deny this, though he said nothing about his aches and -pains as he seated himself upon a rock to eat his plain supper of salt -pork and brown bread from a piece of hemlock bark that he had picked up -for a plate. Everything was in keeping with his forlorn condition, and -to add to its dreary aspect his mother said: - -“I don’t know what we shall do to-morrow, Rob, as there is not enough -for all of us to live upon until the next day.” - -“I shall----” - -“Here comes some gemmens in a wagon!” cried Tony, running into the -place at that moment. - -Rob looked out to see a horse and wagon, the latter containing three -men, drawn up in front of their home. That they boded him evil he was -aware from the fact that one of the trio was ’Squire Hardy. - -“So this is where you have landed?” said the latter. - -Rob made no reply, while he saw the other men get out of the wagon and -begin to drive up a stake in front of the coal camp, dealing lusty -blows with an ax as the piece of wood sank deep into the earth. When -this had become firmly set, they produced a sheet of paper which Rob -could see was covered with writing, and tacked it upon a strip of -board, that was in turn nailed to the upright. - -“What does this mean?” demanded Rob. - -“Read for yourself, you New York vagrant,” cried ’Squire Hardy, “and -see if you dare to defy the law any longer.” - -“It is quite likely he cannot read,” said one of the other men, with a -look around the scene. - -“Well, read it to him and his precious brood,” snapped the ’squire. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. DEFYING A TIGER. - - -“It is a notice for you and your crowd to leave the town within -twenty-four hours,” replied the man addressed, pointing to the paper he -had just helped affix to the stake. - -“And it is signed by these gentlemen, who are two of the selectmen of -the town,” added ’Squire Hardy, triumphantly. “Now I guess you’ll get. -If you don’t the worst’ll be your own. We’ll show you that New York -can’t dump her slums here.” - -Rob offered no reply, and without further words the three men rode -away, leaving a frightened group behind them. - -“Oh, Rob!” cried Mrs. Bayne, “what shall we do? what shall we do?” - -“Oh, why did we ever leave the city?” moaned Aunt Vinnie. “Why weren’t -we satisfied with what we had?” - -“Aunt Vinnie,” said Joe, stoutly, “I wouldn’t go back to the city -for all it holds. They can’t kill us, and we’ll get our living here -somehow, won’t we, Rob?” - -“To be sure we will, Joe. Have courage, mother. I wish I knew where -Chick and Ruddy are.” - -“What shall we do?” moaned Aunt Vinnie. “This terrible country will be -the death of us.” - -While Rob was more concerned over the outcome of this last movement on -the part of his enemy, he tried to appear cheerful, saying: - -“They will not touch us for at least another day, and sometimes great -things happen in twenty-four hours. Just now I am more anxious about -Chick and Ruddy. I am afraid something has happened to ’em. I must go -to the village again.” - -“Let Larry go with you,” said Joe. - -“You need him here more than I do. Never fear for me, Joe. I had hoped -we might have got a better house to stop in before night, but the -deacon being sick has put all of us back. But as soon as he is well we -shall get ahead in shining shape.” - -With these hopeful words Rob started toward Basinburg village to find -Chick and Ruddy if possible. Knowing that they had intended to come -home by the east road he followed that way, and so rapidly did he -walk--it being all down grade going that way--that in the course of -half an hour he was nearly down to the village. - -He had been disappointed in not meeting the boys, as he had hoped, and -becoming more alarmed than ever over their strange non-appearance, he -kept on toward the village. - -Presently the houses on the distant hillside could be seen, and he came -in sight of the little collection forming the nucleus of Basinburg, -Captain Jarvis’ store, where the post office was kept, forming the most -conspicuous building. - -Quite a crowd had gathered about this place, and the men seemed to be -discussing in an excited manner some topic of conversation. - -Fearless of any harm to himself, Rob boldly approached the group, with -his eyes and ears open for whatever might happen. At first no one -noticed him, so that he had got almost into the midst of the crowd -before the friend of ’Squire Hardy, called Trask, exclaimed: - -“Hi, youngster! if ye ain’t a brazen chap I’ll hoe taters for the -deacon a week fer nothing, and that’s the pizenest thing I could think -of doing.” - -Rob made no reply to this rude speech, but approached nearer the throng -to find that neither he nor his friends, as he had half expected at -first, furnished the topic under discussion. - -“They ain’t far away, that’s certain, and somebody will run ercross -them kerslap like in a way that’ll make their hair stand on end. -Sich critters ain’t forgot their ’arly ways if they have been under -subjection for a little while.” - -“That’s so, Dan,” said another. “Hello!” catching sight of our hero, -“if here ain’t a tiger o’ different sort. What has brought you to town -now?” - -“He’s come to look over the place to see where to begin his thieving,” -spoke up some one in the background. - -Unheeding this speech, Rob said: - -“I am looking for the boys who were with me this morning. Perhaps you -can tell me if you have seen them.” - -“Do you mean the red-headed youngster with the freckled face and the -pert little bantam with him?” - -“I mean Ruddy and Chick. Ruddy has got red hair.” - -“Well, I guess we can tell what has become of them, can’t we, Jones?” -speaking to a companion. “If we can’t, Jackson, the chairman of the -selectmen, can.” - -Retraining his vexation at this bit of insolence, Rob said, in an even -tone: - -“As you seem to know, I wish you would tell me, so as to save me -further trouble.” - -“I reckon they are down to the county farm by this time, seeing Bagley -has got a good hoss, and he wouldn’t be likely to let any grass grow in -the road with sich company,” which speech was greeted by a cheer from -the spectators. - -At a loss to act under the oppression of such an announcement, Rob was -silent. Then a commotion a short distance away caught the attention of -all. A newcomer was saying: - -“A part of the children have got home, but the doctor’s girl and boy, -with two others, went over on Sander’s hill and have not been seen -since two o’clock. Some see them tigers up that way, so the doctor and -his family are scared to death over the children.” - -“Come on, boys,” called out one of the spectators, “we must hunt ’em -up. Get your guns and come on.” - -In a moment Rob learned that all this excitement was occasioned by -the escape of a couple of tigers from a menagerie the day before, the -animals having been seen in that vicinity within a few hours. The -danger to the missing children was apparent to every one. If they had -not already met the ferocious beasts they were likely to do so at any -moment. - -But Rob felt that he had as much trouble on hand as he could meet at -present, and after satisfying himself that Chick and Ruddy had actually -been taken to the county farm, he started homeward with a heavy heart. - -About half a mile out of the village, where the road entered the woods -at the foot of Break o’ Day hill, he was startled at first by the wild, -incoherent cries of a man, who seemed to be running toward him at a -furious gait. - -He had only to wait a moment before the frightened person burst into -sight, hatless and coatless, his face as white as a sheet, where he -came down the road running for dear life. - -“What is it?” asked Rob, as he came nearer. - -“The--the--tig-er! he’s killed the children and eaten ’em up!” - -“Where are they?” - -“Down in the clearing back----” - -That was all Rob could catch, for the terrified wretch had not stopped -in his wild flight, but was speeding on toward the village as if a -hundred wild tigers were at his heels. - -Without stopping to think of what the consequence might be to him, Rob -bounded toward a clearing off on the right and which entered the woods -like a huge wedge driven in from the open country. - -He had not gone half a dozen rods before a shrill scream in a childish -voice reached his ears. - -He knew then he was going in the right direction. - -A moment later he saw a sight which fairly froze the blood in his veins. - -A short distance below him was a little group of children who had been -gathering May flowers, while, crouching near them, where it had crept -with the cunning and stealthiness peculiar to its race, was a huge -tiger! - -The cry of the frightened boys and girls had suddenly aroused its rage, -and lashing the ground with its long tail, the infuriated brute was -ready to spring upon its prey. - -It was a situation where a moment’s time means a life. Unarmed as he -was, Little Hickory could not stand idle while others were in such -deadly peril. - -Regardless of what the result might bring him, he picked up a small -rock at his feet, and hurled it with all the force he could muster -straight toward the springing tiger! - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. A TUSSLE WITH A TIGER. - - -So well did Rob throw the stone that it struck the crouching tiger upon -the back, when the brute uttered a fierce growl, which brought another -scream from the frightened children that were clinging to each other a -few feet away. - -Fearing that his first shot had not drawn the attention from its -intended victim, Little Hickory poised a second stone, sending it with -such precision that it fell between the animal’s ears with a resounding -thwack. - -Another shriek from the surprised tiger rang out, louder and fiercer -than the first, when the creature wheeled furiously about to see who -this assailant from its rear might be. - -Rob had picked up another stone, and as the maddened beast faced him, -he threw it with all the power he could command. - -But this time he missed his target, though the tiger gave vent to its -rage in another howl of anger, and whipped the ground with its long -tail. - -Rob now realized that his situation was a desperate one. The aroused -brute was preparing to attack him, and in a hand-to-hand battle with -the terrific animal he must be torn limb from limb. - -Again he snatched up a stone, and hurled it with such unerring aim that -it fell squarely upon the tiger’s nose. But this fusillade, instead -of checking the onset of the brute, served to awaken its furious -nature, and with another growl it leaped into the air, its forepaws -outstretched to grapple with him, while its white teeth gleamed -fiercely in the gathering gloom of the evening. - -If Little Hickory had not possessed uncommon nerve and agility his -career must have ended then, for there was a deadly earnestness in this -attack of the tiger, all of whose native ferocity had been awakened. - -But, never losing his presence of mind, Rob watched the movements of -the angry beast intently, and as its body darkened the air he sprang -nimbly aside, so it just grazed his body to fall a couple of yards away -sprawling on the greensward. - -Knowing that the battle had but just begun, and to run away would be -to incur certain death from the brute, Little Hickory quickly faced -the animal, looking it squarely in the eye, while he slowly advanced -instead of retreating. - -The tiger showed that this bold defiance puzzled it, if it did not for -the time hold in check its wild passions. With a prolonged growl it -crouched lower to the earth, and while its tail descried circle after -circle in the air, it watched intently the youth who fairly held it at -bay by his superhuman bravery. - -Still Little Hickory knew there must be a change in this situation -before long. It seemed only a matter of how long he could hold the -animal at bay. He had heard cries from the children, and he judged by -such sounds as he had heard that they were fleeing from the place. Of -course it would not do for him to look around, or even to speak. - -In the midst of this intense suspense a loud, commanding voice fell on -the scene, and the words of the tiger’s keeper rang out clearly on the -silence of the startling _tableau_: - -“Back, Leo! lie still!” - -The tiger growled low and sullen, while its glaring eyes shifted from -Rob to this newcomer, who had approached swiftly and silently to the -spot unseen and unheard by both our hero and the brute before him. - -“Step aside, young man, but do not let your eyes leave him,” said the -man. “I think I can manage him now. Down, Leo, down!” - -Rob gladly moved backward, and at the same time the keeper, who carried -in his hand a stout, heavy whip, advanced, repeating his command to the -tiger. - -This creature was in too ill humor to obey willingly. Perhaps the -short period of freedom he had enjoyed had made him unwilling to return -to his captivity. At any rate, he continued to lash himself into a -rage, while his keeper slowly moved nearer. - -“Back, Leo, back!” commanded the latter, and to give greater force and -impressiveness to his words he brought his heavy whip smartly about the -body of the tiger. - -The beast uttered a terrific growl, and as if goaded to desperation -leaped straight at the throat of his one-time conqueror. - -The spell of subjection was broken. Once more the wild, untamed and -untamable spirit of the jungle asserted itself. The stern command, the -crack of the whip, the flashing eye had no longer any terror for the -aroused brute, and he cared only to devour his whilom master. - -Little Hickory felt greater fear in witnessing this attack on his -deliverer than when he had himself faced the angry creature. But the -suspense was of short duration this time. - -A quick movement of the right hand on the part of the keeper, the flash -of powder, and the report of a firearm were closely followed by the -death cry of the doomed tiger, whose last leap ended with his frantic, -dying struggles. - -“It was too bad, too bad,” declared the man, as he watched the futile -efforts of the brute to regain its feet. “He was a valuable animal, -but it was his life or mine, and mine was worth more to me.” - -“I was beginning to think it would be my life,” said Rob, “but you came -in good season.” - -“Ay, lad, you were in a tight box, but you showed true grit. Do -you know, young fellow, there ain’t one in ten thousand who could -have stood up there as you did? I saw it all, but I knew it would -precipitate a crisis if I made a move before I was near enough to -hope for an effect. Say, if you will go with me I will guarantee you -a position where you can earn good money and a good-sized pile of it. -What do you say?” - -“I thank you, sir, but I cannot leave to do it.” - -“It will pay you. What do you say to a thousand a year to begin with?” - -“I shall have to say no, sir. I wonder what became of those children?” - -“They have reached the village by this time. Ha! there come some of -the townspeople, and I’ll warrant they will give you a kind word. You -deserve it.” - -Without knowing what reply to make, Rob watched in silence the approach -of the party from the village, among whom he saw Dr. Menter and ’Squire -Hardy. - -“Come right along and have no fear, gentlemen,” said the voluble -keeper. “This creature is powerless to harm you now.” - -The relief of the newcomers was shown by their actions as well as -words, and when the slayer of the tiger came to describe how Rob had -saved the lives of the children, one at least in the crowd was warm in -his praise. - -That person was Dr. Menter, whose children had been among those saved, -and he grasped Rob’s hand, saying fervently: - -“Young man, I thank you from the depths of my heart. If you will come -down to the house Mrs. Menter will join her thanksgiving with mine. You -have done us a favor to-day which will take more than money to repay.” - -As these were the first really kind words Rob had heard since coming to -Basinburg, they gladdened his heart with uncommon joy, but he was too -anxious to get home to accept Dr. Menter’s urgent request to go with -him. - -During this brief conversation Rob knew that the ’squire was watching -them with baleful eyes, and when he started homeward, leaving the crowd -still standing about the body of the dead tiger, he knew the other was -glad of his riddance. He heard Dr. Menter say: - -“Give that boy a chance and he will make a smart man.” - -’Squire Hardy lost no time in replying. - -“All rogues and cutthroats possess such smartness. I am surprised, -doctor----” - -The rest was lost by Rob, nor did he hear the next remark of the -physician, as he hastened on his way toward Break o’ Day. - -He had got about halfway home, when he was surprised by a shuffling -sound in the bushes by the roadside. His mind still alive to tiger -fights, his first thought was naturally of such animals, and he looked -about for some means of self-defense. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. A FRIENDLY CALL. - - -At his second glance Rob caught sight of a boyish figure skulking in -the growth, and recognizing a familiar form, he called out: - -“Hello, is that you, Chick?” - -“Shades of Cherry Corner!” replied the well-known voice of that boy. -“It’s Little Hickory, Ruddy!” - -The next moment the twain bounded head first out into the road, Chick -falling headlong in the middle of the highway. - -“Where in the world have you come from?” asked Rob. “They told me you -had been taken to the county farm.” - -“Jes’ shows how the lunkheads were mistook. It’ll take a smarter gump -’n that countryman to get us there, eh, Ruddy?” - -“Then they did try to take you there?” - -“Ye jess lay your bottom rock on that, old Hick. But me and Ruddy ain’t -in fer no county farm--not yet!” - -On being questioned more closely, the two confessed that they had been -started for the county farm, but that before reaching the place they -had jumped from the wagon and managed to escape their guard. - -“Golly gee!” exclaimed Ruddy, laughing till it seemed as if he would -never stop, “we purtended to be awful green, and we got the old duffer -to tell erbout everything we see. This tickled him to think he knowed -so much more’n we did, and, by hookey! he’d stop to s’plain so much -that we got tired. Then, when he come to magnify the beauty of some -birds so black and homely as to make yer laugh, we skid out! Shouldn’t -be s’prised if the old feller is there now a-chinning on ’em.” - -While Little Hickory realized that this turn in affairs might prove to -their advantage in the end, he was secretly glad that his companions -had escaped, and the journey to Break o’ Day was continued with a -lighter heart than he had known since coming into this region. Somehow -he felt that his adventure with the tiger was likely to redound to his -good. - -It must be understood that it was already dark, and by the time the -coal camps were reached it was well into the evening. They found their -coming anxiously awaited by their friends, and their stories found -eager and pleased listeners. - -“What a hero you are getting to be, Rob,” said Joe, proudly. “I guess -they’ll think you are somebody soon.” - -“But think of the narrow place he was in,” said Rob’s mother. “I -tremble all over now to think of it.” - -“Let it pass, mother. I do not think I shall lose anything by it. At -any rate, I feel better than I did when I started down to the town, and -I am going to look for better times.” - -Rob’s hopefulness afforded comfort to the others, and the next morning -found them all more light-hearted than they had been before, in spite -of the ominous notice at their door. - -“I’ve a mind to tear it down,” said Larry. - -“Better save your strength to work that shovel in the sod, Larry,” said -Little Hickory, with a laugh. “You know yesterday----” - -“I’m sore and lame now, so I-- hello! what’s up?” - -“There’s somebody coming here. He looks like a real gentleman. He--here -he comes!” - -The exclamation was caused by the sudden appearance of Tom and Jerry, -who appeared hatless, barefooted and very much out of breath. - -In a moment great confusion and excitement reigned about the coal -camps, while the occupants swiftly disappeared from the scene with the -exception of Rob, Larry and Joe Willet, though half a dozen heads soon -appeared at the low doorways. - -Rob’s misapprehension quickly disappeared as he caught sight of the -approaching person. - -“Why, it’s Dr. Menter,” he said, in a low tone, while in a louder voice -he addressed the newcomer: - -“Good-morning, sir. I hope you are well, and that it is not any bad -news that you fetch to Break o’ Day?” - -“In the name of goodness, are you living here?” demanded the physician, -allowing his usual polite speech to be overcome by his surprise. - -“Yes, sir.” - -“I supposed you were stopping in the red house. The deacon owns that.” - -“It wasn’t convenient, sir, at the time.” - -“But these sod camps are not fit for a pig to live in, let alone human -beings.” - -“We hope to get into better houses some time, sir.” - -Dr. Menter had discovered the notice posted by the selectmen, and when -he had hastily run it over, he exclaimed: - -“Have they gone as far as that? When was that put up?” - -“Yesterday afternoon, sir.” - -“Well, well; that beats me. ’Squire Hardy is behind it. For some reason -he does not like you, and I had rather have half of the town against me -than the ’squire. What do you propose to do about it?” - -“We haven’t decided yet, sir.” - -“Let me see! Ha, that’s it! I tell you what I would do inside of an -hour. Move up into the old red house. That happens to stand over the -line in another town, and I do not believe you will be troubled there. -At any rate, the authorities of Basinburg cannot disturb you, as long -as you do no harm inside its boundaries.” - -Rob was quick to catch upon this information, and it gave him a ray of -hope immediately. - -“You are very kind, sir, and we shall do as you say. But I do not know -how we can get the sick ones up there.” - -“Got sick ones, have you? Let me see them. As I didn’t come up here -professionally there will be no charge.” - -Dr. Menter here left his carriage, and while Chick stood by his horse, -he followed Rob into the camp, where Mr. Little was suffering on his -primitive couch. Upon entering the low, damp place the good physician -could not refrain from uttering sundry ejaculations and comments on the -dreary situation. - -“A well man could not live here without being sick. I should judge, -my dear man, that you had been living in some place just like this -before. Yours is a bad case of low circulation, with rheumatism and its -kindred complaints hanging over you. What you need more than medicine -is fresh air and sunlight and cold water. Why, man, if you will take a -cold water bath, with a good, smart rubbing with a coarse towel, every -morning, get all the sun you can, and just drink in the rarefied air of -Break o’ Day for six months, I’ll warrant you will be at work in the -cabbage patch with the boys.” - -“God knows I wish I could, doctor.” - -“God is willing you should, if you will take his medicine. His medicine -is cheaper than any other doctor’s, too.” - -Though the doctor spoke less enthusiastically of Mrs. Willet’s -condition, he spoke hopefully, and on the whole, his visit was like a -ray of sunshine in itself, and from that hour Dr. Menter was fairly -worshiped by the older members of Ragged Rob’s young republic. - -The suggestion of a move to the old house had found a ready response -among the party, so Rob was beginning to carry out the idea. But what -puzzled him most was how to move Mr. Little and Mrs. Willet until Dr. -Menter offered to take them there in his carriage. This was not a very -difficult undertaking, and inside of an hour the removal was made -complete. - -“It is a sorry tenement to move into,” declared the doctor, “but it is -a palace compared to those coal camps, and you can soon make it quite -comfortable. There is plenty of room for all of you at present. I see -you are pretty short of provisions, which brings me to my real errand -in coming up here. - -“Mrs. Cornhill needs help about her work, now that the deacon is down -with the fever, and if one of the girls will go and work for her a -few weeks she will be well paid. Help is needed, too, on the farm, so -there is a chance for one of the boys. The deacon is in a hard corner -financially, but he pays his help. As he is too ill to look after such -matters, I will advance you enough to set up housekeeping.” - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. THE REBELLION AT DAWN. - - -Dr. Menter’s kind words brought the tears to more eyes than one among -these waifs of humanity forming Ragged Rob’s young republic, but they -were tears of joy surging up from emotions too deep for utterance. - -“Heaven bless you!” said Mrs. Bayne, fervently. “You are very kind, Dr. -Menter, and I hope that you will get your pay for it.” - -“I should be less than human, my dear woman, did I not do this much, -when I cannot forget that my two dear children at home owe their lives -to Rob. He risked his life nobly to save them, and I will do all I can -for him and his friends.” - -“You said Mrs. Cornhill wanted to get a girl to help her,” said Joe, at -this moment. “I will go, and the money I earn shall go toward helping -make better the house here.” - -“You are needed at home, Joe,” spoke up Mary Little; “let me go. You -know I am stronger than you.” - -A short discussion followed, when it was decided that Mary should go, -and she declared that she was ready to go at once. - -“You can ride down with me,” said the doctor. “You will need different -clothes, but I think Mrs. Cornhill will fit you out in fine shape. So -jump in and we will drive down there immediately. I will send you up a -load of goods this forenoon, Rob.” - -The little band of colonists could not refrain from watching the -kind-hearted doctor until his carriage had disappeared behind a row -of bushes growing by the roadside, when they turned to their task of -putting their new home into better shape with a hearty good will. - -Water was brought from a neighboring spring, and cleaning was begun, -while Rob, Larry, Tom and Jerry began to make such repairs in the way -of fixing up doors and windows as they could. As little as they had -to do with, before noon the old house presented a far more inviting -appearance. But all this was new to the boys, and they soon tired of -the work. Larry, though older and larger than even Rob, was the first -to murmur. - -“I didn’t suppose we’d come out here to break our backs lifting and -working,” he said. “I don’t know how the rest of ye feel, but I’d -ruther be back in Smoky Alley.” - -“Oh, you’ll soon get used to it,” replied Joe. “I think it is just -delightful. I never felt so well in my life. Come, Larry, be somebody. -See how Rob has worked, and he----” - -“Of course you’d stand up fer Rob. Nothing he does is bad, but as fer -me----” - -“Hold your tongue, Larry! We don’t want any grumbler in Break o’ Day!” - -As the old red house was amply large for so many, it was decided to -divide into three families, though much of the work would have to be -done together, particularly the cooking. Mrs. Bayne and Rob, with the -boys--Chick, Ruddy and Tony--were to form one family; Mrs. Willet and -Joe another; while the Littles, Aunt Vinnie and her “boys,” Tom and -Jerry, made up the third. - -As the noon hour drew near, Aunt Vinnie, who was inclined to look on -the dark side, began to bewail their condition if Dr. Menter should -fail to send the supplies as he had promised. But this was useless -talk, as grumbling generally proves to be, for at last the team came -fairly loaded. How the boys shouted, while the older members felt quite -as jubilant. There were edibles, such as potatoes, flour, apples, etc., -with a table, chairs, two beds, and cooking utensils of various kinds, -and a second-hand stove. Besides these articles, every one of which -seemed so valuable to the destitute ones, were some boards with which -to make repairs, with a saw, plane, hammer, and some nails. - -The man who brought this load said but little, though he eyed the -colonists with a curious gaze. - -“The doctor told me to say that the feller who is to help the deacon -will be expected to-morrow morning. Work is awfully behind at the -deacon’s. But there, I don’t s’pose it matters much with him, as they -say the doctor has given up hope of him getting up ag’in.” - -Rob heard this bit of news with a sorrowful heart, and promised he -would be promptly on hand the next day. - -As he would be away after that day and not be able to attend to -the work on the land, Rob felt anxious to make a beginning that -afternoon, so he asked Larry to take hold with him. This the latter did -reluctantly, while Tom and Jerry positively refused to work. Already -Rob was beginning to feel that right at home he was likely to have -serious trouble. Still, he did not feel that the time had come for him -to express himself as he would like to have done. - -Larry took his shovel and began work by the side of Rob, though he -moved slowly and did his work so poorly that Little Hickory said -nothing when finally he threw down the tool, saying: - -“I’m too tired to work to-day.” - -Rob kept steadily at his task until nearly sunset, and having the -satisfaction of knowing he had quite a patch spaded up, he was about to -start toward the house, when he saw a horse and wagon approaching. - -The occupants of the wagon were the two selectmen who had posted up -the notice for them to leave Basinburg that day. - -“What are you doing here?” demanded the spokesman, as he stopped his -horse, which began to nibble at the grass as soon as its head was free. - -“At work, sir, getting ready to do a little planting, as----” - -“Weren’t you ordered to move out of these regions, young man?” - -“We have moved, sir,” replied Rob. - -The chairman of the board of selectmen was about to reply, when his -companion touched him on the arm, and a hurried consultation took place -between them. Just what they said Rob was unable to tell, but he knew -well enough that it had reference to their present situation, for at -its conclusion the twain drove away without speaking to him again. - -“P’raps you’ve learned where you are,” said Rob to himself, as he went -to the house, where he found the best supper awaiting him that he had -ever eaten in his life, his recent work having given him an appetite he -had never felt before. - -It was a happy company of friends that rested under the old red house -roof that night, even if the majority of them slept on pallets of straw. - -The following morning Rob was astir early, feeling pretty sore after -his work of yesterday, but the sun was not very high when he reached -the home of Deacon Cornhill to begin his first day’s real work. - -He learned that the deacon was very ill. He did not see Mary, but was -told that she was getting along very well with her work. - -It would be tedious, perhaps, to describe the events of the following -week. But it showed considerable advance in certain lines with the -colonists of the young republic. Rob worked every day at Deacon -Cornhill’s, going home to Break o’ Day every night and returning in the -morning. This made it harder for him, but he felt that he was needed to -look after matters at home. - -This was made doubly important from the fact that Larry, Tom and Jerry, -with the smaller boys, showed no disposition to begin work. Joe had -bravely undertaken to spade up the ground to be planted, until Rob had -requested her to stop. On Saturday, a day that will never be forgotten -by the members of the young republic, Rob stayed at home to begin the -garden, which needed attention. - -“Come, boys,” he said, cheerily, “lend a hand. The garden must be made -ready to plant.” - -The others made no reply, Larry taking the shovel and following -reluctantly. - -“I’ve found a place easier to dig,” he said, finally, as Rob approached -the place where he had begun digging. - -Tom and Jerry were sulking in the background. - -“I think this is the best place,” replied Rob to Larry, who had already -started to a sandbank a few rods away. Upon reaching this place Larry -began work, his shovel sinking its length into the light earth. - -“Let’s see who can shovel the most,” said he. - -“It will do no good to work there,” replied Rob, who could see that a -crisis was at hand. - -“I ain’t going to dig in that hard, rocky ground when there is sich -easy stuff as this.” - -“But nothing’ll grow there,” said Rob. “Dr. Menter said so.” - -“I don’t keer what you nor Dr. Menter says, I reckon I’ll dig where I’m -a mind to. Ye needn’t think, Rob Bayne, thet ye are going to boss me, -fer ye ain’t, and the sooner ye know it the better.” - -Little Hickory bit his lip, and slowly approaching Larry said, in a -low, firm tone: - -“I shall be sorry to have any trouble with you, Larry, and I’ve no wish -to boss you, but I say ag’in it is no use to dig in that sand.” - -“I dig here or nowhere,” gritted Larry, glowering upon his companion -fiercely. “I s’pose ye think ye are guv-ner here, and not one o’ us -dare to yip. But I want ye to onderstand that I’m older and bigger’n -ye, and that I hev got more backers ’n ye hev. Come, Tom, Jerry, Chick, -Ruddy and Tony, and help me show Rob Bayne he ain’t guv’ner here, if he -does feel so big. We’ll lick him or bu’st the guv’ment!” - -Larry threw aside his shovel, and as the other boys stepped quickly -forward, he advanced swiftly toward Little Hickory with both fists -doubled up and a dark, malignant scowl on his features. - -He showed in every look and action that he meant a bitter fight, which -Ragged Rob had neither the inclination nor the opportunity to escape, -however hazardous it might prove to him. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. A FIGHT TO THE FINISH. - - -Chick, Ruddy and Tony, the three smaller boys, who had hastened to -the side of Larry at his call, now that they really understood the -situation, quickly stepped away as Larry advanced toward Rob. - -“Golly!” said the irrepressible Chick, “there’s going to be some fun. -I’ll put my money on Little Hickory.” - -“He ain’t so big as Larry,” replied Ruddy, doubtfully. - -“This ain’t no quarrel of mine, Larry,” said Rob, “and if you get the -worst of it you mustn’t blame me.” - -“Who’s a-blaming ye, Rob Bayne, and who’s getting the wust of it?” -retorted the other. “It’s high time we knowed who’s boss here.” - -“If we settle it in this way, Larry, will you agree to stand by the -consequences?” - -“You bet I will. I reckon I’m taller and bigger and stouter, and jess -as spry. Oh, I’m itching all over to get at ye. Ye show ye are afraid -of me! I reckon there ain’t no cops round here to meddle, and I’ll hev -the fun of my life with ye. But if I whup ye, I’m to be guv’ner. Is -thet yer say, Little Hickory?” - -“Yes, Larry; but if ye get----” - -The other did not wait for him to finish, but sprang forward with the -evident intention of overpowering Rob before he could defend himself. -But Rob was not to be caught off his guard so easily. Warding off the -blow aimed at his body, Little Hickory fairly lifted his adversary from -his feet by a dexterous movement under the other’s guard, to send him -flat upon the ground. - -Chick cheered, but the rest looked on as if spellbound. - -Larry was soon on his feet again, to find Rob calmly confronting him, -with his arms folded low down upon his body in the favorite position of -the professional pugilist. - -“Ye took me unawares!” cried Larry. “I’ll down ye to pay fer thet, and -once I get my knee on ye I’ll choke the blood out’n ye!” - -It would have been better for Larry to have said less, and tried more -to curb his anger. But he advanced more warily this time, making -several feints to the right and left, when, thinking he saw Little -Hickory’s front exposed, he concentrated all his strength to deal him a -blow that should send him upon his back. - -No doubt he would have done it had he hit Rob. But he had mistaken the -maneuvers of Little Hickory. The latter had purposely offered this -apparent opportunity, and then, as Larry threw himself into the attack, -he sent his arm upward and planted his own fist under the other’s chin -with a force that made his teeth chatter and sent him reeling backward. - -Larry managed to save himself, and then he called for assistance by -crying to his companions: - -“Come on, Tom and Jerry! gi’n him fits!” - -These boys evidently felt it their duty to help defend their companion, -for they rushed to his assistance, both of them seizing upon Rob from -the rear. - -Assailed on every hand it began to look as if Little Hickory would have -more than he could attend to. But he was not one to give up. Giving the -twain behind a tremendous kick, which sent Jerry flying heels over head -into the dirt, he closed in with Larry. - -By that time the outcries had reached those at the house, and Joe, Mrs. -Bayne and Aunt Vinnie all came running to the scene, excited over the -rather startling situation. - -Unheeding them or their cries, Little Hickory continued to struggle -with Larry, while the other two boys, Jerry having recovered himself, -lent their assistance as best they could. - -Aunt Vinnie called for her boys to come away, and Rob’s mother appealed -to him to desist. Joe Willet was alone silent. She had seen that Larry -was discontented and jealous of Rob’s influence, and better than the -others, knew that it could not be overcome in any other way than to -show him he was not master by brute strength. She would fain have -assisted Rob, but saw no way of doing it. It would be better, too, for -Rob to win his victory alone, if he could win it at all. - -So the four boys--three against one--struggled to and fro, back and -forth. Larry had seized on Rob’s collar with a grip he could not break, -while Tom and Jerry were pulling at his legs, and trying by all means -in their power to trip him. - -Finally Little Hickory managed to get his hand on the collar of Tom, -when the latter suddenly found himself lifted up and ranged by the -side of Larry. Then, with his right hand on the shoulder of Larry, -he suddenly brought the heads of the two boys together with a force -which filled the air about them with stars, and caused them to utter -involuntary cries of pain. - -At that moment Jerry succeeded in pulling one foot from under Rob, and -the last was forced down upon one knee, when it seemed as if Larry and -Tom, who had rallied, would crush him to the ground. - -“It’s a shame!” cried Joe, running forward to lend her assistance to -Little Hickory. “Three to one----” - -By this time the blood of Little Hickory was up, as the expression -goes, and half a dozen boys like Tom and Jerry could not have availed -against him. A smart kick sent Jerry flying a rod away, where he lay -cramped with pain, and uttering piteous cries, as Rob bore both Tom and -Larry backward to the earth, a hand about the throat of either. - -“Oh--oh--oh!” groaned the pair in unison. “You’re--choking--me!” - -Now that he had obtained an advantage Little Hickory resolved not to -let either up until he had obtained an acknowledgment of submission -from both. - -Thus he pressed still harder upon them, as he said in his low, -determined tone: - -“Ye have lost, Larry! I’m too much for all of ye. What are ye going to -do about it?” - -But Larry remained silent, his stubborn nature not allowing him to -yield at once. Again Rob made his demand, in his suppressed excitement -falling into the slang of the streets, which he had dropped to a -considerable extent since coming to Break o’ Day. His fingers closed -harder upon the other’s throat. - -Larry made a painful cry, and moved as if he would rise. - -“Do ye cave to me, Larry? Nod yer head if ye mean it.” - -The eyes flashed, but his head did not move. - -“Ye are true grit, Larry, but ye shall never get on to yer feet till -ye hev promised to do as I want ye to after this, or else go away from -Break o’ Day. Are ye ready to answer?” - -Another squeeze, and the head of Larry nodded slightly. - -“Hev ye got yer answer ready, Tom?” - -The latter nodded quickly. - -Then, as Little Hickory loosened simultaneously his holds on the -throats of his assailants, he said: - -“Mind ye, boys, no treachery. I hev asked ye a square question: Are you -going away from Break o’ Day or stay?” - -“I’m going to stay,” muttered Larry. - -“And do as I say?” - -“I knuckle, Little Hickory. I thought I could whup ye, but ye are too -menny for us all.” - -“And ye, Tom and Jerry?” - -“I’m with ye, Rob,” replied both. - -“Good,” said Little Hickory, though there was no sign of triumph in his -manner as he stepped back. “I’m glad you are going to stay.” - -“So am I,” said Joe, taking Larry’s hand. “You made a good fight, -Larry, and I like you better for it, now that you are all right. It is -only right Little Hickory should be at our head. We’ll agree to mind -him in all he says.” - -Larry made no reply, though the others knew well enough the victory had -been fully won by Little Hickory. Chick would have given three cheers -and a tiger or two, but the conqueror stopped him. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. A SHOWER OF BULLETS. - - -Little Hickory had no further trouble among his companions at Break o’ -Day. If reluctant at first, Larry went to work beside him in spading -up the ground, and that very afternoon they planted their first seed. -To these foundlings of the great city this was an event, little to be -appreciated by those brought up in the country. All but Mrs. Willet and -Mr. Joe Little joined the planters, Joe having the honor of dropping -the first seed into the “hills.” - -That evening Dr. Menter paid them a short visit, and when he found -how the garden had been begun, he promised to arrange so that a man -with a pair of horses and a plow should come up the first of the -following week to help out the boys in their spading. He had also -found a situation for Larry, which the latter accepted after a little -hesitation. - -The visit of the genial doctor lent additional inspiration to the -hearts of the members of the young republic, and when he had gone, the -three families met together, at Larry’s suggestion, and there in the -presence of them all he took the hand of Rob, saying: - -“Little Hickory, you deserve your name, and I was a fool for trying to -lick ye. Now if ye’ll let thet be fergot I’ll stand by ye after this.” - -“I do,” replied Rob, fervently. “You have got the right stuff in you, -Larry, and I know we shall get along first-rate.” - -“I’ll do my part, Little Hickory, and you know I never fergit.” - -Larry was noted among his friends for his wonderful memory, and though -he did not realize it then, it was a gift that was going to help him in -times to come. - -Joe took his hand cordially, and thanked him for his generosity. And -Joe’s thanks were worth all of the others to him. - -So the little band forgot their enmities, and that evening, at least, -were happy. Already both the invalids declared that they were feeling -better, and they looked forward to the time when they should be fully -recovered. - -The four weeks that followed were uneventful. ’Squire Hardy seemed to -have forgotten his enmity, though if Rob ever met him he scowled darkly -upon him and turned away. The authorities of the town in which the -old red house stood ignored entirely the new inhabitants within their -jurisdiction. - -Thus the close of this month of peace to the young republic found Rob -still working for Deacon Cornhill, who was lingering with a slow -fever, from which it would take him many weeks longer to fully recover. -Little Hickory continued to go home every night, and during the odd -moments that he could get he assisted the small boys in the task of -caring for the growing crops. - -Joe was really the master spirit at home now, and others must have -been struck by the new phase of life taken on at Break o’ Day. The old -house had been repaired, cleaned and so altered in appearance that -it presented a look of comfort, if not of comeliness. Just below the -smooth, green yard, the scene of the settlement of the mastery between -Little Hickory and Larry Little, was a garden of fresh-growing plants, -which was a source of unlimited pride and pleasure to the dwellers in -the old house. - -Dr. Menter had proved a true prophet in the case of Mr. Little and -Mrs. Willet. The first was already able to sit in the doorway on warm, -pleasant days, enjoying both the sunshine and the country air. Mrs. -Willet, very much to Joe’s joy, was in the habit of sitting by one of -the windows, the color coming back to her countenance and the strength -to her tired body, due largely to the pure air and the sunshine. - -One cloud now rested on their everyday lives. Dr. Menter had bade them -good-by for several months, while he took a much-needed vacation in -Europe. - -“This seems too good to last,” declared Aunt Vinnie, who seemed always -looking for the clouds. - -“Let us enjoy the sun while we may, auntie,” said Joe, in her buoyant -way. “See how beautifully the sun is setting behind yonder rim of -mountains. It makes me in love with the country, and I never, never -want to see the hot, dusty city again. I don’t see what makes Rob so -late to-night. He thought he would get home early.” - -Perhaps it is well we cannot read what is taking place beyond our -sight, or light-hearted Joe would have shuddered at that moment over -the fortunes of her youthful lover. - -Let us see what Rob is doing at this moment. - -In going back and forth between Break o’ Day and the home of Deacon -Cornhill he had found the west route by way of the “Flying Jump” his -best course, it being nearly a mile shorter, though more broken at -places. - -Rob had not been at work many days for Deacon Cornhill before he found -there a second-hand bicycle left by a nephew, and which Mrs. Cornhill, -who was overcoming her prejudice for him, kindly loaned to Little -Hickory. In the morning he found his wheel of considerable help to him, -though in returning to his home he had to walk more than half the way. - -On this particular evening when Joe was so light-hearted and not a -cloud had been discovered on the horizon of the young republic, Rob -was climbing one of the long ascents leading to Break o’ Day, wheeling -his bicycle along beside him as he slowly advanced. - -About midway in the ascent was that wild section of the route called -“Flying Jump,” where the mountain road, after hanging for several rods -on the very brink of a high precipice, took a sudden turn and descended -with dizzy abruptness into a narrow, dark ravine, to rise on the other -side with equal steepness. - -A small stream wound through the lonely valley, at places finding a -difficult passage, so that at high water it would overflow the gorge to -a considerable depth. - -Little Hickory always walked this portion of his route, and at this -time he had barely reached the western summit, and was casting swift -glances over his wild surroundings, when he was suddenly confronted by -two masked men, who had stepped silently from the thicket overhanging -the road. - -It was evident that they had been lying in wait for him, for, -simultaneously with their appearance, both drew revolvers, and pointing -the deadly weapons at Rob’s head, one of them cried out, in a sharp -tone: - -“Throw up your hands, youngster, or yer life ain’t worth a dead -rabbit’s hide!” - -Though taken completely by surprise, Little Hickory realized that he -was at the mercy of these bold villains, and accordingly he did as he -was bid, at the same time allowing his bicycle to rest against his body. - -“Good!” exclaimed the spokesman of the twain, “ye act like a sensible -chap. It pays to know when ye’re knocked under. See what he carries in -his pocket, Jed.” - -The waylayer addressed lowered his weapon and stepped forward to carry -out the order of his companion, as he did so for a moment coming -between his accomplice and the victim. - -It was Little Hickory’s golden opportunity. - -Quick as a flash he dealt the ruffians each a tremendous blow with his -fists, sending them staggering back into the bushes, with exclamations -of terror. - -He had barely accomplished this feat and was about to follow up his -advantage by seizing their weapons and thus turning the tables upon -them, when a pistol shot came from the growth and a bullet whistled so -close to his head that it cut away a lock of hair! - -An oath followed the report of the weapon, when a hoarse voice cried -out: - -“Quick, lads! nab the fool chap afore he gets away!” - -A crash in the bushes succeeded, another shot, and Little Hickory knew -he was in the midst of enemies thirsting for his blood. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. A STARTLING PREDICAMENT. - - -As this was an eventful evening in the fortunes of the colonists of -Break o’ Day, and it is best to keep as square a front as is possible -with the date, it seems necessary to record at this time a peculiar -incident which befell another member of the party. If not as serious -a situation as that of Little Hickory’s, it held enough of horror and -terror to satisfy at least the participant. - -Larry Little, upon finding that Rob was his master in the athletic -trial, quietly accepted the situation and became a loyal follower of -him whom he could not lead. Some are born to be rulers, it would seem, -while others must content to be followers. It is needless to say that -the latter class is quite as essential and fully as creditable as the -former. - -Larry had gone to work for a Mr. Howlitt on a farm just out of the -village, and did not return to his home at night, as Rob did. If he -found farm work pretty hard at first, and he blistered his hands, went -to bed at night with an aching back, to feel tired and sleepy in the -morning, he did not murmur very loud. He had taken hold in earnest, -resolved to make the most of it. - -Mr. Howlitt was a well-to-do farmer, having one other hand to help him -besides Larry. He had no boys of his own, but this deficit was more -than made up, as Larry soon came to think, by having one of the most -charming daughters in the world. - -Lucy Howlitt was an exceedingly pretty girl, in her seventeenth year, -and, what was better, a very sensible one. If Larry had felt a deep -yearning for Joe Willet longer than he could remember, this affection -was transferred inside of two weeks to Lucy Howlitt, and he was happy. -That is, Larry would have been happy if he had been sure he was the one -favored by her. - -Unfortunately for his peace of mind, he had a rival. What seemed to be -worse for him, this aspirant for the very smiles and friendship that he -coveted was an audacious, educated, quick-witted, well-dressed youth, -who was the son of a rich man, and who was at that time studying law -with the purpose of practicing that profession. But, with all this in -his favor, he was an arrant coxcomb, and a favorite with only a small -circle of acquaintances. - -His name was Pluto Alexander Snyder, as he invariably signed it, giving -a sort of double twist to the S and an unmeaning curl underneath the -whole signature. - -Larry sized him up as a snob, but trembled in the fear that he was -likely to lose in the race against such a competitor. To add to -his discomfiture, Pluto Snyder, who was at least three years older -than Larry, was raising a mustache, though he had not yet succeeded -in coaxing a growth of over half a dozen hairs under each nostril. -As these were of a very light color they did not make a very strong -impression. - -As for the young law student, it should be said Larry’s presence -did not for a moment disturb his peace of mind. In fact, he did not -consider the “ragged boor” worth the dignity of being considered a -rival for the hand of the sweet Lucy Howlitt, forsooth! - -Larry had at least one opportunity to display his superiority over his -supercilious rival, even if it was in an humble manner. - -Pluto Snyder lived in an adjoining town, though less than a mile and a -half away, and it was his delight to take Lucy out to rides on pleasant -afternoons whenever she would go, which seemed unnecessarily often to -watchful Larry. But, if priding himself upon being able to drive a -horse upon the road, Pluto had never mastered the intricacies of that -common wearing apparel of the animal known as the harness. The terms of -hames, saddle, girth, bits, etc., were less understood by him than the -expressions of Blackstone were to the poor boy digging in the field by -the roadside with a load at his heart which troubled him more than his -hard work. - -Thus one day, as he was returning from one of those pleasure trips, -accompanied by Miss Howlitt, by some means the girth became unbuckled, -and, descending a hill at that time, the thills of the wagon were -thrown up so that the horse was frightened and threatened to run. -Pluto, more alarmed than the animal, shouted for it to stop, and -pulling on one rein, steered the team into the ditch. - -The horse grew more unmanageable, and the driver leaped to the ground, -forgetful of his companion, while he continued to make his mixed cries. - -By this time Lucy was frightened, and her cries were added to those of -her companion, though she did not jump from the wagon. - -Fortunately, Larry was working in the adjoining field, in company -with Job Westcott, the hired man, and he ran to the assistance of the -couple, followed by Job. - -Seeing what the trouble was, though himself a novice in the matter of -harnesses, Larry called out for young Snyder to stop pulling on the -reins. He then ran to the horse’s head, and led it back into the road. - -Job then reached the spot, and seeing the girth dangling in the air, -buckled that, and looked the harness over without discovering any other -difficulty. - -“Blamed ijit!” he said, “if you had as much sense as the hoss and let -him take his own way, you’d come out better.” - -This nettled Pluto, who exclaimed, loudly: - -“If I don’t know as much as such a clodhopper as you are, I’ll hoe -weeds all day the Fourth, and you may go in my place to make the -oration at Gainsboro.” - -“Drat my pictur’, if I couldn’t shout to more puppose’n you can, I’d -send a calf in my place,” muttered Job, starting back into the field in -a high dudgeon. - -Pluto Snyder was climbing back into the wagon, and he had no sooner -gained his seat than he called out in his loud voice for Larry to let -go of the horse’s bridle. - -“Don’t let go,” pleaded Lucy; “please let him lead him to the foot of -the hill?” - -The animal was still restive, and even Pluto did not offer further -objection to Larry’s assistance, now that he had some one else to share -the responsibility with him. - -When the foot of the descent had been reached and the horse, under -ordinary conditions a very quiet creature, seemed to have got over its -fright, Larry released his hold and stepped aside to let the wagon pass. - -“Please accept my thanks for your help, Lawrence,” said Lucy, with a -smile. She always called him by his full name. “I do not know what we -should have done if it had not been for you.” - -“Don’t give the lunkhead more credit than he deserves,” said -Pluto Alexander. Then, seeming to feel that he ought to make some -acknowledgment to his rescuer, he turned back to say: - -“Quite clever in you, young fellow. You can come over to Gainsboro and -hear my oration the Fourth.” - -Larry made no reply, though he did not return to the field until the -wagon and its occupants had disappeared around a bend in the road. - -“It don’t take much of a block to make a fool,” said Job, as Larry -rejoined him. “Quite clever in him to allow you th’ privilege of goin’ -to hear him orate.” - -“What does he mean?” asked Larry. - -“Oh, jess that he’s going to stump th’ crowd at the Fourth celebration -at Gainsboro. I sh’u’d like to know what fool got him to ’orate,’ but I -s’pose his dad got him the chance, which it were easy to do, with his -money.” - -“D’you s’pose Lucy will ever marry him?” Larry asked, before he could -realize what he was saying. - -“I dare say; money cuts a mighty big figger with some.” - -Larry dropped the conversation there, but the thought of the coming -Fourth of July celebration remained with him all the afternoon. - -“I s’pose he will take Lucy there,” he mused, “and he will cut a big -swell. I wish I could take her with me,” and then, frightened by the -mere thought, he hoed away at the grass and weeds with such force that -Job called out to him to “go easy, afore ye get tuckered.” - -A few days later Larry fairly frightened himself by saying to Lucy that -he wished he could go to Gainsboro the Fourth. She seemed almost as -surprised as himself, saying: - -“It would be nice, Lawrence, but have you any clothes to wear?” - -Seeing his confusion, she bit her lip for saying as much, and ran away -to be by herself. He sought the companionship of Job, feeling very -crestfallen. - -Still, it would look as if good was to come of this little incident, -for within a week Mr. Howlitt said to Larry: - -“How would you like a day off, eh, Larry? You have been a faithful boy, -and to-morrow I am going to Middletown to look over the market, so that -you may go, too, by driving Old Jerry over with a load of truck. I am -owing you a little money, and if you want to it will be a good time for -you to get a suit of clothes. I do not know how the minx knows it, but -Lucy thinks you would like to go to Gainsboro on the Fourth.” - -Larry wondered if his blushes showed through his coat of tan, as he -stammered his reply. - -Larry’s enjoyment of that trip to Middletown was doubled when he found -that Lucy was to accompany her father. He received another pleasant -surprise when Mr. Howlitt placed ten dollars in two new, crisp bills, -in his hands as soon as the load of farm products had been sold. - -“Do with it as you wish, lad,” he said, and Larry lost no time in -hastening to a ready-made clothing store, where he bought a new suit of -clothes, and even shoes and underwear. It took all of his money, and -the outfit was a plain one, but serviceable, and it is safe to say that -Larry will never buy another which will give him half the pleasure of -that one. - -On his way home, and he started some time ahead of Mr. Howlitt and -Lucy, as Old Jerry was a slow horse under ordinary circumstances, he -could think of nothing else. Time and again he took up the bundle to -examine it from the outside, and then tossed it back into the bottom of -the wagon, saying over to himself: - -“It is mine!” - -Finally the idea entered his busy brain that it would be a fine thing -to appear at home in his new suit. Why not put it on now? He was riding -along a road where there was no house for a long distance, and he would -risk meeting a team. Accordingly, almost before he realized what he was -doing, he had stripped off his old coat, and never thinking in his wild -exuberance of spirits that he might ever need to wear it again, flung -it as far as he could into the bushes, crying out: - -“Lay there, old coat, and may you rest in peace!” - -Casting hasty glances up and down the road to see that no team was in -sight, he sent one after another of his remaining garments into the -bushes, until he stood in the wagon as unclothed as at the time of his -birth! - -Anxious now to don his new suit he reached down in the wagon to take up -the bundle, when to his horror he could not find it! - -It had been jostled out of the wagon and was gone! - -In the midst of this startling plight the sound of carriage wheels -behind him caught his attention. Glancing wildly backward, he found -that he was being followed by the last persons on earth that he would -care to meet at that time--Pluto Snyder and Lucy Howlitt! - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. A FOURTH OF JULY “ORATION.” - - -It would be impossible to describe the dismay of Larry Little as he -found that he was followed by Pluto Snyder and Lucy Howlitt, who was -laughing and apparently enjoying herself. - -Fortunately for Larry, he had prudently ducked down behind the wagon -seat at the same moment he had looked around at the sound of the -approaching team. - -What could he do in that sorry plight? - -He cried out to Old Jerry, but he knew the clumsy farm horse would -prove no match for the spirited animal driven by his rival. - -As if to add to his horror, the latter was driving at a smart gait, and -he was rapidly overtaking him. - -In vain he urged Old Jerry on. - -He was in for it! - -In his agony he thought of jumping from the wagon, let the consequence -be what it might. But that would only add to the worst side of his -foolish adventure. There was no escape for him! - -In this horrible dilemma, while continuing to urge Old Jerry on, -he caught up the oilcloth Mr. Howlitt had thrown over the load of -produce, and wrapped this hastily about his form. Then, speaking -coaxingly for Jerry to slacken his gait, he kept his arms concealed as -much as possible, and waited desperately for the others to pass. - -Larry’s awful suspense was of short duration, for in a minute Pluto and -his fair companion came dashing alongside. - -“Old Jerry seems to be wide-awake,” greeted Lucy, who did not seem to -realize the real situation, “so I thought we should not overtake you. I -think you must have lost a bundle out of your wagon, for I saw this by -the wayside, and made Mr. Snyder stop and pick it up.” - -With these words she tossed into the market wagon at Larry’s feet the -bundle containing his new clothes. - -He dared not stoop to take it up, and he was too confused and -bewildered to make the grateful acknowledgment that he felt in his -heart like doing. - -“Father will soon be along,” said Lucy, as she and her companion -rapidly left poor Larry behind. “I met Mr. Snyder in Middletown, and he -wanted----” - -The rest was too indistinct for Larry to understand, but it did not -matter. The fearful ordeal was over, his new clothes safe, and he felt -like shouting in his joy. - -Now that he came to himself, he began to see how foolish he had been in -throwing away so hastily his old clothes. - -“I had no business to do it,” he said. “I’ve a mind to drive back and -see if I can find them.” - -He concluded to do this, but not until he had first arrayed himself -properly, in case anybody else should come along. Then he retraced his -course, and finding the discarded garments, went back into the woods, -where he could put them on with less chance of being interrupted. - -Upon reaching Mr. Howlitt’s, Larry could not help imagining that every -one was thinking of his recent escapade, and he went about his work -in a confused way. Somehow he did not dare to show his new clothes, -so he carried them to his room when no one was looking. But he was -not to keep his secret long, if it could be called a secret, for the -next morning he was questioned in regard to them. It proved that his -employer had given him the money in the way he had in order to see what -he would do with it. - -“I will tell you, papa,” said Lucy, “for I think Lawrence is too modest -to do so. He has a new suit of clothes, and I think we ought to see how -they look on him, don’t you?” - -So Larry was persuaded to try on his new suit, and while he felt in a -most uncomfortable frame of mind, the clothes were declared to be a -good fit, and well worth the money. - -“I see no reason now why you cannot attend the Fourth at Gainsboro,” -said Mr. Howlitt, with a laugh. - -“I mean to, sir,” replied Larry, though he little dreamed under what -circumstances. - -A few days later, as he and Job were at work in what was called “the -further field,” on their way home they overheard some one talking in a -loud tone in an old barn standing some distance from the road. - -Drawn thither out of curiosity, they looked into the building through -one of the cracks between the boards, to find Pluto Alexander Snyder -there reciting a “piece” with all the gusto at his command. - -“By gum!” whispered Job, “if he ain’t oratin’ his Gainsboro stump -speech, he may hitch me up to draw the cultivator ’tween the corn rows -to-morrer. Ain’t he a squelcher?” - -Unconscious of his intent listeners, Pluto, the embryo lawyer, -continued to practice on his “oration,” going entirely through the -speech twice, and dwelling upon what he considered its finest points -over and over again. - -“If that don’t set out John Howlitt’s eyes I don’t know what will,” he -said to himself. “When he hears this Fourth of July oration of mine he -will think I am fit to associate with his daughter. As if the Howlitts -were anywhere near as good as the Snyders!” - -Job had hard work to keep from laughing outright while he listened, -and as soon as they were a safe distance from the old barn, he lay down -on the ground and rolled and roared until he was completely out of -breath. - -“Did you ever see th’ beat of thet, Larry. Say, my boy, if you could -orate like that, your fortun’ would be made, ha--ha--ha!” - -“I believe I can, Job. Now listen.” - -Then, to the amazement of his companion, Larry Little repeated the -“oration” of Pluto Snyder’s from beginning to end. He may have made -some mistakes, but they were of small account, and Job listened with -open-mouthed astonishment. - -“By gum!” exclaimed Job, after a long pause, “how in creation did -you do thet? Jess as Pluck Snyder had it, word fer word, even to the -flourishes. Could yer do thet ag’in?” - -“Of course I could, Job. It was always easy for me to remember.” - -“If I had a hang-on to my memory like thet, I’d make my fortin’, see if -I wouldn’t.” - -As Larry and Job were working up that way the next day they took time -to call at the old barn, to find Pluto Snyder already there going -through his daily rehearsal. Nor was that the last time the amused -twain sought their post to listen, for they continued to do this until -they tired of it, and Larry could repeat every word and gesture. To -prove this he went through the entire “oration” before Job the day -preceding the Fourth. - -Though Larry had got his new suit of clothes, he knew that Lucy had -promised to go to Gainsboro with young Snyder, so he spared himself the -humiliation of being refused. - -In his disappointment he donned his best clothes, and though Mr. -Howlitt had intended for him to ride along with the family, he went on -foot and alone, “the same as the girl who went to get married.” - -The day was pleasant, and he found a large crowd gathered in the grove, -where merriment reigned supreme. A stranger among strangers, he held -aloof from the rest, until he was both surprised and pleased to see -Rob, Tom and Jerry there. - -“Hello!” greeted the first, “you didn’t say you were coming over here.” - -“Neither did you,” replied Larry. - -“Say, Rob, don’t Larry look fine in his new clothes? Where’d you get -’em, Larry?” - -“Bought them with money of my own earning,” retorted Larry, who was not -disposed to do much talking even with his friends. - -The truth was, he had been on the watch for Lucy and Pluto Snyder, but -they had not appeared, though it was already past the time set for the -speaking, and he knew they were waiting for the “orator” up at the -grand stand. Then he saw Mr. Howlitt arrive, and Lucy was with him, so -that his wonder increased. - -He was about to go and speak to her, when Job touched him on the arm, -saying, in a low voice: - -“They want you up to the spouter’s stand.” - -Larry was not more surprised at the words than he was to find that Job -was present, as he had not expected him to come. - -“What do you mean, Job?” - -“Jess what I say, Larry. Pluck Snyder sent word by me that he can’t be -here to-day, and he wants you to orate his speech fer him.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. “STOP! THAT’S MY ORATION!” - - -To explain the appearance of Rob at the Fourth of July celebration in -Gainsboro, we shall have to go back to his meeting with the masked men -on the summit of “Flying Jump,” where we left him just as he had flung -aside two of his assailants to be fired on by others in concealment. - -Knowing from the sounds that two or three were coming to the assistance -of the two men he had for the moment baffled in their attack, Little -Hickory felt that his only way of escape lay in flight. - -Thus he quickly sprang into the saddle of his bicycle, and just as -the men in front recovered enough to renew their assault and those -in the bushes burst into sight, he started down the steep grade at a -tremendous velocity. - -“Hi, there! hold up or we will shoot ye!” cried the leader of the party. - -But nothing was farther from the purpose of Little Hickory, even had -it been possible for him to check his headlong flight at this juncture -without deadly peril to himself. - -The road was strewn with loose rocks and rent with deep gullies at -places, but despite the awful peril constantly menacing his progress, -he kept on down “Flying Jump” at a rate of speed in keeping with its -name. - -Two of his enemies sent shots after him, but they flew over his head -harmlessly, and the entire party stood as if riveted to their tracks, -while they watched the flight of their intended victim, expecting every -moment to see him flung head first upon the rocks, where he would be an -easy prey to them. - -But Little Hickory had too clear a head and too steady a nerve to fall -in any such manner. It is true, he was not an experienced bicyclist, -but what he lacked in experience he more than made up in fearless -foresight and swiftness of action. Never for an instant “losing his -head,” he guided the wheel down the descent, around loose stones and -bowlders, along the very rim of gullies, down, faster and faster, until -he fairly flew into the valley, and carried on by the fearful momentum -he had gained, sped up the ascent on the opposite side. - -By that time the amazed men awakened to the fact that their bird was -fast leaving them, and with oaths of madness they rushed down the hill -in pursuit. - -It would be of no avail to fire shots now, as Little Hickory was beyond -the range of their weapons. - -By the time they had gained the foot of “Flying Jump” he was out of -sight, having nearly gained the summit on the east, carried up half -the rise on his bicycle, when he sprang lightly to the ground and -continued his flight on foot. - -“Curse him!” cried the leader of the masked men, “he’ll get away from -us. He must not.” - -“He’s good’s done it, ’cording to my figuring,” replied a panting -companion. “Great Scott! how he winged it down the----” - -“Fool! if you and Jed hadn’t been sich blunderers, he’d been our game -now.” - -“Don’t be too sure on thet, old man. He’s a whirlwind, he is, and no -man would a stopped him once he got started.” - -Little Hickory kept on home without seeing or hearing anything more of -his enemies, and what became of them was likely to remain unknown. - -He did not think it wise to speak of his adventure at home, as he knew -it would only make those at the old house uneasy and afraid to remain -there while he and Larry were away. So he greeted his mother with -his usual light-heartedness, though it was many days before he fully -recovered from the thrilling experience of coasting “Flying Jump.” - -On the morning of the Fourth of July, it being a holiday, he resolved -to take his first “day off” since coming to Break o’ Day, and though he -had no new suit to wear, as was the case with Larry, he brushed up his -old clothes, put on a new pair of pants, which he had been obliged to -buy, and started on foot. - -It had been his wish that Joe should go with him, but she declared that -she could not think of that, as she had positively “nothing fit to -wear.” Besides, she was needed at home. - -Thus we find Rob at Gainsboro, and no one was more surprised than he at -the declaration of Job Westcott to his friend Larry. - -At this juncture one of the committee came hurriedly to the spot, -saying: - -“Are you the young man who is to take the place of Mr. Snyder, who was -to speak here to-day? If so, come right along, for the people are tired -of waiting. It’s strange Snyder could not have notified us of this -arrangement before.” - -Larry was thus suddenly placed in a position he could not understand, -and with the efforts of Job, he was taken to the speaker’s stand before -he had fully recovered from his surprise. Then he looked around to find -himself staring into the upturned faces of the crowd of amazed people. - -“Reel it off, Larry, jess as you did to me down in the hayfield t’other -day, and you’ll s’prise ’em all--especially Lucy!” whispered Job, as he -turned to go away. A moment later a few heard him say in a low tone to -himself: - -“If this don’t make me even with Pluck Snyder, I’ll try ag’in!” - -The chairman of the occasion by this time had arisen, and not knowing -personally the expected speaker, had begun to introduce the “orator” -in glowing terms as “the gifted son of the rich Orestes Snyder, and -the talented young lawyer of the silver tongue, destined to make his -mark in the world,” and much more in that line, until he ended, and a -breathless silence fell on the scene. - -Was ever one in such a situation as Larry at that moment? One of the -committee whispered for him to rise and begin, while others half lifted -him to his feet. - -He did not have either the courage or the presence of mind to explain -the mistake that had been made, even if he really understood that one -had been made. He simply did what seemed the only thing for him to do. -He began to repeat his stolen “oration.” - -Larry’s voice rang out loud and clear, so that he caught the attention -of his listeners at the very outset. Then, all feeling of fear and -hesitation fled, fairly forgetting himself in his efforts, he went -on with the patriotic address ringing with eloquent expression and -beautiful descriptions. - -It was evident that the good people of Gainsboro were being highly -pleased, and Larry Little, the impromptu orator, was soaring high in -one of Pluto Snyder’s most labored periods, when that person’s voice -broke on the hushed scene like a note sadly out of tune: - -“Here, you farm lunkhead! that’s my oration. Stop! I say, stop! before -I have you arrested for stealing----” - -The rest was lost in the midst of the hubbub his words had created, -while the irate speaker, fairly wild with anger and excitement, -continued to push the crowd aside, while he rushed toward the platform. - -It was a scene which made that Fourth of July at Gainsboro memorable. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. “HIDE ME SOMEWHERE!” - - -“I tell you everybody says the old house is haunted, and only last -night I heard awful cries and groans, so I didn’t dare to lie in bed -till I went to sleep.” - -Chick uttered these words, and his manner showed that he believed what -he said. Then Aunt Vinnie joined in, for it must be supposed that this -conversation was taking place at home. - -“There, boy, that just agrees with what I’ve heerd. Only three nights -ago I lay awake and listened to the most distracting cries you ever -heerd. Seemed jess like a child crying when it began, and then it -sounded like a grown person, to end off with a terrible scream, as if -it were a ghost.” - -“How do you know, Aunt Vinnie, that ghosts have such screams?” asked -Joe, who was inclined to discredit the story. - -“They say,” spoke up Chick, “that an awful murder was done here once. -A man living here all alone was killed by another man working for him, -and it was supposed that this man died here himself, for he was never -seen afterward.” - -“Oh, nonsense, Chick,” said Mrs. Bayne, “you must not believe all you -are told.” - -“What everybody says must be so,” persisted Chick. “Ruddy has heard as -much as I have, only he darsn’t tell of it.” - -“I had darst to speak of it,” retorted the latter. “And I heard Bill -Wythe say that he had been past here in the night when the house would -be all lighted from cellar to garret and nobody was living here then, -either.” - -“He just told you that to frighten you, Ruddy,” said Joe. “I have not -seen anything strange since we came here.” - -“I have,” affirmed Ruddy. “Just Thursday night----” - -“You didn’t hear that Thursday night,” interrupted Chick. - -“I did.” - -“You didn’t. You were fast asleep and snoring all the time, ’cos I -prodded you----” - -“I weren’t asleep any more’n you were, Chick Nobody. I was just -a-making believe to see what would be done.” - -“You lie, Ruddy from Nowhere,” replied Chick. “And if you don’t take -back that name you called me I’ll lick you.” - -“You can’t, nobody’s chicken, and you know it. I downed you only -yesterday in the garden, and----” - -“I’ll show you how you downed me!” cried the redoubtable Chick, -catching hold of Ruddy. - -“Stop, boys!” said Joe. “There is nothing to quarrel over. I wouldn’t -be so foolish.” - -“He don’t sass me,” muttered Chick, giving Ruddy a push that sent him -reeling backward. - -By this time the latter’s anger was raised, and springing to his feet -he rushed upon the other, when the twain closed in a furious struggle -for the mastery. In vain the older members of the group tried to part -them. - -“Oh, dearie me!” cried Aunt Vinnie, “them boys will be the death and -destruction of me. Here, Chick! here, Ruddy! do stop that fighting. Oh, -luddy! they’ll pull their lights and livers right out’n their bodies. -I’m thankful thet I was never a boy!” - -Joe was about to interpose again, when she discovered some one coming -up the road at a run. - -“It’s Mary,” she declared. “It must be they have let her off from work -this afternoon. How anxious she must be to get home, the way she is -coming.” - -“She is crying,” said Mrs. Little. “Why, Mary, what has happened?” -running forward to meet the girl, who was coming toward the house as -fast as she could run, her hair flying in the air and a wild, hunted -look on her face. - -“They are after me!” she cried. “Don’t let them get me! Don’t let them -get me! I never did it! I never did it!” - -Mary then fell into the outstretched arms of her mother, where she lay -without speaking, but sobbing as if her heart would break. - -“What is it, Mary? what is it, my child?” begged the mother. “Tell me -the worst, Mary; if it be ever so bad I’ll not believe it.” - -Joe and the others were now beside them, and doing what they could to -soothe the weeping girl. - -“Let’s get her into the house,” said Joe. - -“Hide me somewhere!” implored Mary. “Don’t let ’em get me. I never -stole the things.” - -“Who said you stole?” asked her mother. - -“Mrs. Cornhill and the rest. They claim they have been missing things -right along since I have been there, but I never took a thing. I do not -care what they say.” - -“Don’t let that worry you, my child. We will not believe it, and they -shall not touch you.” - -“They will!” she panted. “The sheriff is after me now. I ran away from -him and the others, but they are following me. I ran all the way up -here.” - -“I wish Rob was here,” said Joe, the tears filling her eyes. “But they -shan’t take you away, Mary, if we can help it.” - -“You can’t. Let me hide somewhere.” - -“You shall,” cried her mother. “Come into the house.” - -The others followed the mother and her daughter, not knowing what to do -or say. - -“I do not believe they will come way up here after you,” said Joe, more -hopefully than she felt. - -“They will. I heard ’Squire Hardy say that he would send every one of -us to the jail or county farm inside of two weeks. And that boy of his -shouted after me, and when I ran he gave chase. He overtook me, but -when he tried to drag me back, or hold me until the sheriff got there, -I pushed him over the bank and ran again.” - -“Did--did you kill him?” fairly gasped her mother. - -“I don’t know. Where can I hide?” - -Confused and excited, the others began to look about for some corner or -place of concealment for the fugitive girl, without stopping to think -if it was right or wrong to do so, when Chick dashed into the house -crying: - -“They are coming--right here--’Squire Hardy, Sheriff Stanyan, and two -or three others!” - -“We’re too late!” moaned Mrs. Little. “I will fight before they shall -take her away.” - -“You must not do that,” said Joe. “Then they would take you, too. -Quick, mother, get Mary into the closet in my room, while I go out and -stop them, so they shall not come into the house.” - -By the time the brave Joe had reached the door the officer and his -companions were within a few yards of the house. - -At sight of her they stopped, the sheriff saying: - -“We want the girl who has been at work to Deacon Cornhill’s. If she -will come out peacefully the rest of you will not be troubled.” - -“At this time,” added ’Squire Hardy. - -“What do you want of Mary Little?” asked Joe, showing very little fear -as she spoke. - -“I am not obliged to answer that, miss. Stand aside and let me come in.” - -“This is our house, sir, and I do not know as I am obliged to let you -come in until you have told me your errand.” - -Joe was surprised at the calmness with which she spoke, and she stood -at her post undaunted. - -“I will show the little vixen who is who!” cried the infuriated -sheriff. “Let me come in, girl, or I will----” - -“Don’t do anything rash, Stanyan,” admonished Hardy. “If we manage this -right we can land the whole crowd in jail before night.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS. - - -“Isn’t there another door?” asked the sheriff. “I do not care to meddle -with this vixen if I can help it.” - -“You had better not,” cried Joe, but her heart began to fail as she -realized how helpless she was. She could only hope that the others had -succeeded in secreting Mary so the officers could not find her. But if -they did, what then? - -The sheriff lost no time in seeking the side door, ’Squire Hardy and -one of the men remaining in front, as if he was afraid to face the -brave girl in the doorway alone. - -“It will be better for the girl to come along peaceably,” he said. - -But Joe made no reply, while she listened for sounds of what was taking -place within the house. - -Sheriff Stanyan did not gain an entrance until Mary had been concealed -in a closet, but the frightened aspect of the little group in the room -told the keen-eyed officer that he was on the right track. - -“Where is the girl?” he demanded. “Oh, she need not think she can -escape me. I saw her enter this house, and I will find her if we have -to tear the old shell down. It is a fitting abode for such as you, and -you may thank your stars that I am not after the whole of you.” - -Mrs. Bayne tried to speak, but the words died away in a whisper, while -Mrs. Little could only sob out her anguish. - -At that moment Mr. Little, leaning heavily on his cane, entered the -room. He had overheard enough to know what was causing the excitement, -and facing the sheriff, he said, defiantly: - -“Our daughter a thief! never, sir! Begone from these premises, and -never darken----” - -“So you dare to offer resistance?” cried the officer. “Nothing suits me -better than to snap these handcuffs on your wrists, which, no doubt, -have felt their like before.” - -The women screamed, and Mr. Little, in his righteous indignation, -ordered the sheriff to stand back. In the midst of the scene the door -opened, and Mary stepped into the apartment, saying: - -“Let them take me, father. It will be better so. I am not a thief, but -it does not matter what they will do with me.” - -Tears and cries of pain followed, but they availed nothing. Eager to -finish his work, the officer took Mary Little by the arm and led her -from the room, his associates covering his retreat. - -“Don’t let them rob me of my child!” moaned the distracted mother; but -her grief and her appeals fell on hearts of stone. - -Joe Willet realized how futile had been their defence, as she saw the -exultant party drive away with poor Mary in their midst, a prisoner, -charged with stealing from her employer. - -At the same time Mary was being taken away by Sheriff Stanyan, Larry -Little, without dreaming of the ill fate which had overtaken his -sister, was the central figure in a scene of most peculiar and vivid -interest. - -The young orator paused suddenly in the midst of his speech, and at -sight of Pluto Snyder the following words issued from his lips: - -“Get down there, you cow-headed----” - -“Stop the fool!” cried some one, directing his remarks against the -newcomer, rather than Larry. - -A constable happening to stand near, and misunderstanding the real -situation, he seized upon Pluto and began to drag him from the scene. -The more the hapless young Snyder struggled the firmer he was held in -the grasp of the officer, who showed him no mercy, but pulled him away, -while the crowd cheered him for his efforts. - -In a moment the quiet was restored, but Larry stood dumb with dismay, -unable to know what to do. - -“Go on!” cried Job Westcott. “That fellow shan’t pester you any more.” - -Others urged Larry to proceed, and, like one taking a leap in the -dark, he again began his speech. The well-rounded periods of the law -student gone from him, Larry was obliged to depend upon himself. It was -the best thing that could have happened to him. Fortunately, too, he -selected a subject familiar to him, and in glowing language he pictured -the lives of those lowly ones dwelling in the narrow streets and dark -alleys of the great city who had never heard of a Fourth of July, much -less tasted of its joys. - -As he kept on, Larry really waxed eloquent, and for more than twenty -minutes he held his listeners’ undivided attention. - -It was an address which is still talked over at Gainsboro. At its close -a deafening applause, which lasted for several minutes, rang up and -down the grove. - -When he stepped down from the platform Larry was greeted by a circle -of admirers, and as soon as she could reach his side Lucy came forward -with her compliments, which were worth more than all the other praise -showered upon him. But he was too confused to speak intelligently. - -“It was all a mistake--a miserable mistake, and----” - -At this juncture Pluto Snyder, having broken from his captors, reached -the spot, and, boiling with rage, cried out: - -“Let me get at the hoodlum! He stole my speech--he is a sneaking----” - -Seeing Lucy standing by Larry, he suddenly stopped his storm of abuse, -saying, in a milder tone: - -“You here, Miss Lucy, in the company of such a scapegoat? Let us go -home, and I will tell you of the miserable trick he played on me.” - -Lucy Howlitt, to whom all this was a mystery, not liking the appearance -of Mr. Snyder under his excitement, declined to go home with him, -pleading that her father was waiting for her. - -Thereupon the crestfallen law student went away in a high dudgeon, -using language neither becoming a gentleman or fit to be spoken in the -presence of a lady. - -“Come, Lawrence,” said Lucy, “you will please ride home with papa -and me. There is plenty of room, and I want to hear your explanation -of this affair. I did not dream you were capable of making such an -address.” - -As she would not take no for an answer, and Mr. Howlitt joined his -invitation with his daughter’s, Larry could do no better than to -accept. On the way home he showed his innate honesty by confessing to -all he knew of the matter of the speech, which did not throw much light -on the situation, though, to his joy, neither Mr. Howlitt nor Lucy -blamed him. - -“You say the last part was original with you?” said Lucy. “I think that -was altogether the best, and I am proud of you, Lawrence.” - -“Pluto Snyder is a silly coxcomb,” said her father, “and I am glad if -he has been taken down a notch.” - -The next day Job Westcott acknowledged that he had caused young Snyder -to miss coming to the celebration in season to address the meeting, and -that his coming at all was simply because the one left in charge of -Pluto had been bought off by the irate “orator.” - -“I’ll l’arn him how to use offensive stuff to me. I jess paid off an -old debt, and Larry weren’t a whit to blame. But, by gum! didn’t he hum -with madness! I tell ye, ye never see what it is for one to be mad till -ye hev seen a fool lose his temper.” - -Though the Howlitts were disposed to blame Job for the part he had -taken, Larry rose in their estimation, and another’s loss was his gain. - -A little later Larry forgot all about his recent triumph by hearing of -the fate which had befallen his sister, and he lost no time in going -home to learn the whole truth. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI. FROM BAD TO WORSE. - - -The arrest of Mary Little for theft at Deacon Cornhill’s was a bitter -blow to her friends, none of whom could believe her guilty. - -Rob lost no time in going to the Cornhill home, hoping that he could -enlist the folks in her favor, or, at least, get at the truth of the -matter. But he found Mrs. Cornhill fully convinced of Mary’s guilt, and -severely blaming herself that she had ever let the “idle hussy into the -house.” - -It was in vain that Rob pleaded that Mary had been a faithful servant. -The fact remained that Mrs. Cornhill had been missing article after -article from the household ever since the girl had come to work for -her. She had not spoken of this at first, as she had been so favorably -impressed by her that she had hesitated about accusing her of such -misdoings. Finally, after watching and waiting for weeks, she had felt -obliged to act in the matter. - -Deacon Cornhill was now so far recovered from his recent illness as -to sit up in his great easy-chair, though he was but a shadow of his -former genial self. - -“Don’t be hard on the gal, Mandy,” he said, compassionately. “No doubt -she was driven to it. The articles were not worth very----” - -“Tweren’t the wurth, but the principle in it,” snapped his wife. “Arter -the way I treated her, to hev the idle hussy turn on us just at this -time of all others,” and the good woman fell to crying. - -“Don’t break down, Mandy,” said he, but his own voice was husky and Rob -was sure there were tears in his eyes. - -Mistaking the cause of this emotion Rob spoke more hopefully, when he -learned that he and his friends were not alone in their misfortunes, as -disaster had overtaken this family. It proved that Deacon Cornhill had -become responsible for large sums of money through another individual, -and this person proving worthless, he was held for the full amount. -When paid, practically every dollar would be swept away, and he and his -family would be turned out of their home penniless. - -“The earnings of two lives, my father’s and mine, are thus lost, and -Mandy and I are homeless and friendless; for, at this time, when we -need our friends most, there is not one to speak a consoling word. I -eenamost wish the fever had done its work, for I had rather been laid -in my grave than to have lived to see this day.” - -“Oh, Elihu! it is wicked to talk like that,” said his wife. “But it is -dreadful to be robbed of our home at this time in life.” - -Rob went away feeling that he was not alone in his misfortunes, and -when he told the others at Break o’ Day good Deacon Cornhill had -several sincere sympathizers, if they were helpless to aid him. - -The arrest of Mary, who was then taken to jail, where she must remain -until her trial, nearly two months later, cast a gloom over the entire -party, as they could do nothing for her. - -Rob returned to work at Deacon Cornhill’s, where he was greatly needed, -every other hand having deserted him at this critical time, on the -ground that he could not pay them. As much as he needed his wages, -Little Hickory resolved to take his chances, pitying the unfortunate -man in his distress, and believing he would eventually pay him all that -was due to him. - -Larry remained at Mr. Howlitt’s, probably the happiest of the entire -number who had come to Basinburg. - -So far Tom and Jerry had not found situations to work, and had remained -at home. But Rob secured a chance for employment in a portable sawmill, -where they went to work. - -This was a severe “breaking in” for them, and more than once both were -on the verge of throwing up their jobs. Probably the only thing that -kept them at work was the fear that Little Hickory would send them -back. Their task was to take away boards after they had been thrown -from the carriage by the sawyer, and at times they had to hustle to -keep the “run” clear. Not a night but found them glad to seek their -rude bunks at an early hour, where they slept “like Turks,” as the -expression goes. - -As the mill was located more than three miles from home, and stood in -the midst of the timber-lot, they did not go home oftener than once a -week. - -They boarded with the rest of the hands in the “shanty,” but, as there -was not room enough for them there to sleep, they had to make up -“shake-downs” in the mill. As it was warm weather they rather liked -this arrangement. - -They were reasonably faithful to their employer, and everything -appeared to be going on well, until one afternoon, while the sawyer was -crowding them uncommonly hard with boards, they got behind, so that the -course got completely filled. - -Now, it is always easier to keep square with one’s work than to catch -up, once any time is lost. The fault, such as it was, was really Tom’s, -as he had taken half an hour’s rest, saying it would be an easy matter -to clear the run. - -But the time lost could not be recovered, and in vain they worked to -gain what they had neglected to keep. The sawyer was a crusty old man, -who shouted angrily to them to clear the way. Unfortunately, the boss -happened along just then, and, seeing the situation, he ordered that -another hand should be put on the work. - -Tom resented this, and answered back somewhat hastily. Bitter words -followed, and almost before he knew it, Tom had lost his situation and -Jerry was frightened over the affair. - -It was then nearly night, and, having a dread of going home, Tom -resolved to remain with his brother until morning, intending then to -acknowledge his fault and beg of the boss to be allowed to return to -his post. Had he done this then and there it would have saved him an -ordeal of which he little dreamed. - -It could not have been far from midnight, as he was tossing uneasily -on his rough couch, while he pondered upon his recent mistake, when he -heard some one moving about the mill. Then he discovered two youths a -little older than himself moving cautiously about the premises. - -One of the couple carried a lighted torch in his hand, and which he -kept moving to and from as he led his companion over the place. - -“Look out, Phil,” said the latter, “or you will set the old shell on -fire.” - -“Sho! this wouldn’t burn, it’s so green,” and, as if to prove his -words, he thrust the burning brand into the midst of a pile of -combustible matter. To his dismay, the dried material instantly -ignited, and the flames sprang upward with a suddenness and fury that -frightened the newcomers. - -“You have set the mill on fire!” gasped the other. - -“Quick!” exclaimed the one who had done the mischief, dropping the -torch in his terror, “run for your life, Nate. We must not be found -here.” - -By this time Tom had sprung from his couch, but he was too late to stop -the runaway boys, though he did reach the scene of the fire and just -picked up the smoldering torch as one of the millmen, who had been -attracted by its light, appeared on the scene. - -“Here, you little devil!” he roared. “Trying to burn up the mill, are -you? It’s lucky I have caught you at your devilish work.” - -Tom was powerless to flee, if he had wished to, and in a moment he -found himself flung to the floor by a pair of strong arms, and just as -his brother reached the spot he was tied hands and feet. - -Jerry was then seized and treated in the same manner. - -Though others came speedily to the scene the fire had gained such -headway in a short time that the mill was burned down in spite of all -that could be done to save it. - -In vain Tom and Jerry pleaded their innocence. The latter had not seen -the two boys prowling about the place, and Tom’s story was ridiculed -until he held his tongue in bitter silence. His quarrel with the boss -of the previous afternoon was retold, and, with the hatred of their -former associates raised against them, the hapless brothers were taken -as prisoners, on the serious charge of incendiarism. - -“That’s good for twenty years apiece,” said ’Squire Hardy, rubbing his -hands in a pleased manner. “We’re picking them off, one by one, and now -the deacon has got shut off, the work will be easier.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII. “IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS.” - - -A terrible blow to those at Break o’ Day was the misfortune which had -fallen upon Tom and Jerry. This seemed but the precursor of even worse -troubles to follow. - -Aunt Vinnie was distracted, and the rest had all they could do to keep -her from going to see “her boys,” as useless as would have been such a -course. - -Rob and Joe, the bravest of the little party, did all they could to -soothe the sorrow of their friends, trying to solace them with the, to -them, hopeless thought that it is always darkest just before dawn. - -“Do not give up,” said Rob. “Larry and I are earning wages, and we will -hope that Tom, Jerry and Mary will be set free when their trials come. -Mrs. Cornhill only yesterday seemed very sorry that she had proceeded -against Mary.” - -“But, my boys, how can you save them? Ah, it was the sorriest day -of my life when we left the city, with all its wickedness, for this -friendless wilderness, where everybody is against us.” - -“Not all of them, auntie,” said Joe. “Let us not give up.” - -Deacon Cornhill’s affairs were rapidly growing worse, and the poor man -seemed to be failing in strength, as if the ordeal was more than he -could stand. Mrs. Cornhill grew fretful, and more than once she accused -Rob of bringing the trouble upon them. - -“It came with you,” she repeated. “If the deacon had not provoked -’Squire Hardy by bringing you and your friends to Break o’ Day, he -would never have done what he has against us, and I firmly believe he -is at the root of this evil.” - -Rob would attempt no reply to this rather contradictory speech, but -kept on at his work, resolving to be faithful to his benefactor, let -the result be what it might. - -About ten days after the arrest of Tom and Jerry, as Rob was down to -the village on business for the deacon, he found that everybody there -was wildly excited over a robbery that had been committed the night -before, the store and post office having been broken into by burglars -and considerable money and property stolen. - -A crowd of men gathered on the piazza, among whom ’Squire Hardy was -conspicuous, were arguing the matter pro and con as Rob drew near. - -“Sam Sawyer is ready to swear on the witness stand,” the ’squire was -saying, “that the man he discovered climbing out of the store window -last night, and who was one of the burglars, if there was more than -one, was the same man he met yesterday afternoon on the Hare road, and -who inquired the way to Mount Riga, which was the name once given to -Break o’ Day.” - -“Didn’t Sam give the name of this stranger?” asked a bystander. - -“He did; and that is the best part of it. He said he was one Gideon -Bayne, and that he lived in town here when he was a small boy, but -thought perhaps people had forgotten him now, as he had forgotten the -country.” - -“Bayne?” half queried, half exclaimed, another, as if the name was -one that he vaguely recalled. “Wasn’t that old miser’s name Bayne, -who lived and died at the old red house when such a flurry was raised -hereabouts?” - -“Just that--Timothy Bayne. Folks thought he was killed by his hired -man, but neither could be found when they come to look for ’em. They -were a hard crowd.” - -“But old Tim Bayne had neither chick nor child, living all alone.” - -“That does not hinder him from having thieving relatives, running -around the country breaking into stores and post offices, does it?” - -“But Tim Bayne owned all of that quarter of the town when he died, -though I can’t say it was very valuable.” - -“Just so; and there being no one to claim it when he died or -disappeared--I never thought the man was dead--the Cornhills got the -whole of it for a mere song. But it hasn’t done the deacon much -good. Ill-gotten gains never do,” added the squire, aiming to be -philosophical. - -“I don’t quite recall any other Bayne in town them days,” declared an -old resident, “though my memory doesn’t often go back on me.” - -“That may be, but it doesn’t require much to recall the fag-end Bayne -that we have with us now,” remarked ’Squire Hardy, who had just seen -Rob, who had stopped at the outside of the party. “Say, youngster, -wasn’t your father Gid Bayne?” - -The question was so unexpected, the situation so ominous to him in its -outcome, that Little Hickory had hard work to command his feelings. As -it was, he feared a moment later that he had betrayed himself by his -looks. - -“I have just come, sir, and I do not know what you mean.” - -“Calculate you’d know if you wanted to. There is no doubt you belong -to the same breed of cats, for there was never but one family by that -name. By ----! it is a mighty apt one, too! I don’t see why Stanyan -don’t come. If I was sheriff, I’d manage to be on hand once in my life.” - -Rob thought it good policy for him to withdraw from the company, but he -had not taken half a dozen steps before the ’squire thundered to him: - -“You stop where you are, Rob Bayne. We are going up to your place as -soon as the sheriff gets here, and we want you to go with us.” - -“What errand can you have to our home, sir?” demanded Little Hickory, -with flashing eyes, having recovered his usual self-possession. - -“Your stupid head is thicker than I thought for, if you do not know -already. If you do not know it may save you a short time of the bitter -dose you are going to take. Here comes Stanyan, and there is no need to -delay longer.” - -The sheriff was indeed driving up to the place, and the ’squire -immediately ordered his team brought in front of the store. - -“Here is the chip-of-the-old-block Bayne,” declared Hardy, waving his -hand toward Rob. “I thought it would be a good thing to take him right -along.” - -“A capital idea,” replied the officer. “Jump in here with me, young -man, and, mind you, no monkeying about this!” - -Rob’s first thought was to refuse to go, but, fortunately, a wiser -thought decided him, and he entered the sheriff’s wagon, saying: - -“I do not understand what you want of me, but I am willing to go, for I -have done no wrong.” - -“That remains to be seen,” retorted the officer, sharply, and a moment -later he started in the direction of Break o’ Day, with the ’squire -close behind him, while as many as a dozen teams followed the latter. - -Rob’s mind was deeply impressed that evil was about to fall upon him -and his friends, but he could not see clearly its nature. He could not -realize that his father, after all the years he had been away, had -appeared in this country town, making his coming more tragical by being -concerned in the recent robbery. As yet he could not believe his father -had sunk so low as to become a common housebreaker. - -As they came in sight of his home Rob caught sight of his mother at one -of the windows, but she quickly disappeared. - -“Look out sharp for the youngster, Hardy,” called out the sheriff. “I -will look after our man inside, while the rest of you”--addressing -his companions--“surround the house and see that the dog does not -escape. Remember, you will be justified in shooting him if he offers -resistance.” - -Having given this command, Mr. Stanyan started toward the door. - -It was opened by Mrs. Little, who asked: - -“What is wanted?” - -“We want him!” exclaimed the officer. “I am the sheriff, so stand aside -for the law.” - -“There is nobody here that you can want, sir. We are honest----” - -“We are after Gid Bayne, and we know he is hiding here. If he’ll give -up peaceably we’ll not hurt the rest of you.” - -“Who said he was here?” asked the frightened woman, and through that -question the hopes of Rob fell like lead. His father was there! - -“I do!” thundered the sheriff, and Mrs. Little retreated before his -terrific appearance. - -How Little Hickory chafed at his own helplessness, and catching sight -of his mother at that moment, he cried to her: - -“Do not let them frighten you, mother. They cannot harm you.” - -“What do you accuse my husband of now?” she demanded of the officer, -bravely facing the other. - -“Of breaking and entering the store and post office of Basinburg.” - -“He is innocent, sir!” - -“Bah! who heeds the words of such as you? It will prove a sweet job for -him when we catch him. Where is he?” - -“That remains for you to say, and not me, sir. I am only a defenceless -woman, but it will be a sorry hour if you harm me.” - -With these spirited words, she stepped aside, allowing the officer and -his followers to enter. - -A furious search followed, when the old house was ransacked from cellar -to garret. Every corner and niche imaginable was searched, the sheriff -sparing neither time nor the building, but, look where and how he -would, he could find no trace of the fugitive. - -Finally, his dark features livid with rage, he joined ’Squire Hardy, -giving expression to words unfit to repeat here. - -“He must have got word of our coming and run away,” declared the -’squire. “But, if so, we can and must find him, Stanyan.” - -“You can bet your bottom dollar I will find him if I have to move -heaven and earth to do it,” replied the sheriff. “More than that, I -will take the boy here with us, and if he doesn’t get a place to hang -his hat for the next ten years I’ll resign my office.” - -Then the party prepared to drive away, with Little Hickory a prisoner -among them. - -Seeing what was being done, Mrs. Bayne rushed out of the house, crying, -in her despair: - -“Oh, sir! do not take my boy. He has done nothing but what is right. -His father had rather----” - -“Stop, mother!” cried Little Hickory, sternly. “Say nothing you may -repent of later. I go without resistance, and you must keep up good -courage here until I get back.” - -’Squire Hardy looked back with a mocking laugh at the weeping -spectators they were leaving behind. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII. THE SKELETON IN THE CELLAR. - - -Mrs. Bayne was wild with grief, as she saw Rob taken away in this -heartless way. - -“This is the worst blow yet,” she moaned. “Oh, why have they taken my -boy--our support?” - -“And my poor Mary,” cried Mrs. Little. - -“And my boys, Tom and Jerry,” added Aunt Vinnie. - -It was a hopeless group, and Joe, the only one among them who could -look bravely up, had all she could do to try and console them. - -“Let us hope for the best,” she said. “They cannot harm Rob. He has -surely done no wrong.” - -“But we are so helpless,” said Mr. Little. “That infernal----” - -“Hush! Hush!” spoke up Joe. “You must be careful how you speak. We can -only hope and wait.” - -“Oh, that Gideon should come home at this time and under such -conditions as these!” moaned the distracted wife. - -“Don’t condemn him,” said Joe, courageously. “We know all the others -are innocent, and we will think he is until we know differently.” - -“He says he is not guilty of this terrible thing. But what will become -of us? We are so helpless!” - -“We must not give up,” said Joe. “I wonder what they will do with Rob? -I’ve a mind to go to the village.” - -“Go, Joe. We can take care of ourselves.” - -“I think you had better,” assented Mr. Little. “How I wish that I was -well again. It is so hard to suffer and do nothing when one is so -needed.” - -“But you are so much better than in the city,” said Mrs. Little. “It is -that alone which keeps me from wishing that I was back to the city once -more.” - -Having decided to go to Basinburg, Joe lost no more time in making such -preparations as she could for the visit, having really no idea of what -good it could do. She hoped to find out what would be done with Rob, -and that was incentive enough. - -She was ready to start in less than five minutes. She had very little -change to make in her apparel, for the reason that, despite the desires -of Rob, she had not allowed much to be bought for her. She did have a -new print dress, a pair of shoes, and a straw hat. These she put on in -place of her everyday clothes, and bidding the others be of good cheer -until she returned, she started on a run toward the village. - -So rapidly did she go that inside of half an hour she came in sight of -the village. - -The crowd about the store was larger than when Rob had been there, and -the excitement was running higher than even. She learned that Rob had -been put under close surveillance, and that the sheriff and his posse -were searching for Gideon Bayne. - -At first nobody seemed to notice her, and then she began to attract -attention, when sneering remarks were made, and she heard several -suggest that it would be the proper thing to arrest her as one of a -gang of outlaws and public enemies. - -She did not mind this as much as she would have done under ordinary -circumstances. In her anxiety to learn what she could of Rob, she dared -much, ay, jeopardized her own safety. - -She had become confident that no harm would be done him until another -day, when he would be given a justice trial before being taken to jail. - -Determined to be present, she started homeward, happily unconscious -that it had already been decided to arrest her, though she was not -followed to her home. - -Incidentally she had learned that Deacon Cornhill had been demanded -to meet his liabilities, and that he was about to sign over all his -property to satisfy his creditors. - -These things were among those she told to her anxious friends at home, -whom she found anxiously awaiting her coming. - -No new development had taken place since her departure, except that two -or three men had been seen hovering about the house, who it was thought -were spies who had been left by Sheriff Stanyan. - -So the occupants of the old red house saw the shades of night fall with -dire misgivings. - -To make their situation more gloomy, threatenings of a storm appeared, -and the wind moaned through the trees overhanging the back side of the -building. - -“I shall go crazy,” declared Aunt Vinnie. - -At that moment Chick and Ruddy, their faces white with terror, burst -into the room, exclaiming: - -“We have heard it ag’in! There are ghosts, and they are crying and -moaning, ‘Murder! Murder!’” - -This announcement, given at this time, sent a thrill of horror through -the frames of the little group, the most of whom shivered and remained -silent. - -“Nonsense, Chick,” said Joe. “You are frightened and imagined you heard -such sounds.” - -“Come up into the back chamber if you think we lie, Joe. I----” - -A peal of thunder caused the frightened Chick to stop in the midst of -his speech, while he crept nearer the others. - -The first alarm of the rising storm was quickly followed by another -flash of lightning, and a second peal of thunder louder and nearer than -the first. - -Soon after the rain began to fall, while the lightning and the thunder -gradually passed over, but not until it seemed as if the old house -would be destroyed. - -When the fury of the storm was beginning to wane, the little party of -frightened people slowly gained courage. - -“It must be leaking into the chambers,” said Joe. “I will get one or -two of those old buckets in the cellar and put them under the worst -places.” - -“Oh, don’t dare to move,” admonished Aunt Vinnie. “This is awful.” - -Not to be deterred from her purpose, Joe lit the stump of a candle, and -carefully descended the old stairs leading to the damp, musty cellar. -But she had not gone far before she was startled to find a light -already in the dismal place. - -At first she thought the house must be on fire, but a second look -showed her that the glare came from a lantern, and in a moment she was -alert for what might be discovered. - -Concealing her own light behind her, instead of crying out or beating -a hasty retreat, she descended the stairs more stealthily than before -until she could command a full view of the cellar. - -What she now saw was a sight calculated to have sent a thrill of terror -to the heart of a less brave girl. - -Three men were near the farthest corner, one of them holding the -lantern, while another was digging hurriedly into the earth, the third -seeming to have no other occupation than to watch the work of his -laboring companion. - -“Hark!” he exclaimed, suddenly. “I thought I heard some one move.” - -“Bosh!” said the one with the lantern. “I never see you so nervous, -Jed, as you are to-night. It was only one of the trees scraping against -the roof of the old house.” - -“I guess you’d be nervous if you were in my place. A man’s mind plays -the devil with him sometimes. I ain’t forgot----” - -“So does his tongue,” interrupted the other. “The--ha! you have reached -it, Bill!” - -Joe could hear the spade strike something which gave back a hollow, -metallic sound that sent a shiver through her body, but she bravely -stood her ground. - -The man with the spade resumed his work, throwing up the earth faster -than before, until suddenly he stopped. He peered closer into the pit -he had dug. - -“Hold the lantern lower, Bill.” - -The other quickly obeyed, when the one who had made the request gave -expression to a low cry of dismay. - -The one holding the light now looked sharper down into the ground, when -he exclaimed: - -“Great heavens! it is a human skeleton! What does this mean, Jed?” - -Then the trembling man called by this name glanced downward, to start -back with a wild cry of fear. - -“I made a mistake, boys. I--I----” - -He started to flee without finishing his sentence. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX. “I AM GIDEON BAYNE.” - - -Before Joe could realize just what was taking place, and the terrified -man had not taken his second step, a section of the big chimney which -had been built from the bottom of the cellar was torn down, and from -out of the midst of flying brick and _débris_ stood the figure of a man. - -Seen by the dim lantern light he appeared like a giant in stature, -while in either hand he held a cocked revolver, one weapon leveled -at the fleeing miscreant, while the other was pointed toward his -confederates, and his stentorian voice, sounding uncommonly loud and -clear in that underground room, commanded: - -“Hold! Another step and I will measure the earth with your foul body!” - -“I’m lost!” cried the frightened fugitive, falling upon his knees. -“It’s the ghost of Tim Bayne!” - -It was little wonder if the man’s companions stood trembling with fear, -and that Joe Willet, brave girl that she was, nearly fainted. - -Slowly advancing from the cloud of dust and dirt which had enveloped -his form, the man with the deadly weapons continued: - -“I have caught you in your own trap. The man who lifts a finger dies -like a dog. It would be a blessing to man if I should send these -bullets through your worthless bodies.” - -“Oh, spare me! Spare me!” begged the wretch upon his knees. “I did not -want to come here, but they made me. It was the buried treasure that -did it. We were going away as soon as we got that.” - -A commotion which had been suddenly started overhead at that moment -arrested the attention of the others. Besides loud voices, could be -heard the tramp of many feet, so that it seemed as if a large party had -forced an entrance into the house. - -Joe had heard this sudden outbreak above, and it had suddenly occurred -to her that the sheriff and his posse had returned. - -But the peril, as great as it was, seemed to arouse her to swift -action. Though the man who was holding the desperadoes at bay was -unknown to her, he was proving himself an enemy to the night marauders, -and this fact told her that she could look to him for friendship. - -In this dilemma she boldly addressed him. He showed no surprise at her -words. - -“I need your assistance,” he said. “Get me some strong cord or rope, so -I may secure my birds. After that we will look further. - -“I will get you the rope in a minute,” replied Joe, starting up the -stairs. - -It was prudent that she should move cautiously, expecting, as she did, -that she was to find enemies in the house. But she had barely reached -the top of the stairs before the well-known voice of Little Hickory -came to her ears, sending a thrill of joy to her heart. - -“Where is Joe?” he asked. - -“Here!” she replied, bursting into the room; and regardless of the -others present, she threw herself into his arms, sobbing: - -“I am so glad you have come, Rob.” - -“I hope nothing more has happened here to harm you, Joe. Dr. Menter got -home this evening, and upon hearing of my predicament he would not rest -until he had seen me. Then he called ’Squire Hardy out of his bed, and -demanded my release in such terms that I was given up. But he has come -with us. Thank him, Joe, for what we owe to him.” - -Joe now saw that the genial doctor was present, and he stepped forward -to grasp her hand. She also saw Larry, who was clasped in his mother’s -arms. Besides these twain there were others present, whom she did not -recognize in her joy, while she murmured her thanks to Dr. Menter for -the kind assistance he had given Rob. - -“I am his debtor still,” replied the physician. “I am glad I got home -as I did. I wish I had been here before, for I might have saved you -much suffering.” - -Then Joe acted very queerly, as it seemed to the others, for she -suddenly sprang back, exclaiming: - -“Oh, the man in the cellar. I forgot him. You must go to his help, Rob, -with a rope.” - -In a few hurried words she explained the startling _tableau_ being -enacted below them, when Rob and the men with him started to see what -could be done, while the women stood all together in a group, half in -tears and half in fright over the strange situation. - -No change had taken place in the cellar, for the unknown man held his -victims so at bay not one dared to move. The lantern had dropped from -the hand of the man called Bill, but it had not been extinguished. - -“They are a string of precious scamps on whose heads there is a good -price set. Tie them fast and firm.” - -Willing hands did this, and though the baffled outlaws raved and -cursed, begged and implored, they were soon prisoners. - -“We came in the nick of time,” said Dr. Menter, “and though I do not -fully understand what this move means, I feel certain it is going to -work in your favor, Robert. Ha! what means this skeleton here in the -ground? I believe we are about to get at the mystery of the old red -house.” - -“You are,” said the stranger, who had put aside his revolvers, and -having brushed the dirt from his clothes, appeared before the rest a -fine specimen of manhood. “I think I can give you the key. But let us -go above, as I have matters of closer interest to me that I want to -speak of first. - -“Rob, though you have grown so I should not have recognized you if your -name had not been spoken, I am Gideon Bayne, your father!” - - - - -CHAPTER XXX. THE TRIUMPH OF RIGHT. - - -It was not until he had been folded in the arms of his new-found father -that Little Hickory could realize the truth of what had been spoken. - -They had reached the floor now, and his mother stood close beside them, -while the others stood apart, silent but appreciative spectators. - -“I am so glad,” murmured Mrs. Bayne. “Your father did come yesterday, -though I had not the opportunity to tell you. It seems strange but -natural that he should have come here. Then the officers came, and -knowing he was again a hunted man, he concealed himself in the opening -made in the old chimney for that very purpose by his eccentric uncle, -Timothy Bayne.” - -“What your mother says is true, my son,” said the father. “At last I -am free from the law, and no longer a fugitive. I sought for you and -your mother in the big city till I was forced to give up. Then I came -here simply because Uncle Tim lived here when I was a boy, and I was -naturally attracted hither. I reached the village in the night to see -these miscreants here just as they left the store on their depredation. -It proved that I was wretched, and, instead of hunting for the real -culprits, I was again made a fugitive. But I did not know this until I -had reached here. - -“You may judge of my surprise and pleasure at finding your mother here.” - -The others were deeply moved by the simple story of a man who had been -more wronged than guilty. He was a man still in the prime of life, with -a stalwart form and clear, fearless manner. - -“Now that I have found you,” he resumed, “I mean to stay by you, unless -you drive me away, or the law does. At any rate, I shall consider -myself a fugitive no longer.” - -“Neither are you,” spoke up Dr. Menter. “If I mistake not, these men in -captivity here have a story to tell which will lift much of the cloud -that hangs over you. At any rate, I am not going to let Rob remain any -longer the victim of a man who has persecuted him out of a matter of a -little spite against another.” - -“You are very kind,” replied Rob. - -“Not half as kind, nor one-hundredth part as brave as you were when you -staked your life to save my dear boy and girl.” - -“This is a happy moment,” said Aunt Vinnie, “and if my boys were only -here I could enjoy it with the rest of you.” - -“And my Mary,” said Mrs. Little. - -“Mary will be with us again before another night,” spoke up Larry. -“Only this evening I learned of a strange thing, and I was coming -to tell you of it. Lucy Howlitt was up to Deacon Cornhill’s this -afternoon, and Mrs. Cornhill told how Mary, as she thought, had been -taking things, and it wasn’t half an hour after that before Lucy caught -a tame crow belonging there carrying off a silver spoon in its bill. -She called Mrs. Cornhill, and they watched the crow go straight to a -place where he had hidden all the things that had been lost. Then Mrs. -Cornhill knew that the crow, and not Mary, had stolen what she had -missed, and she cried, she felt so bad over it.” - -“That will set Mary free, and Mrs. Cornhill is willing to do anything -she can to be forgiven.” - -“I am so glad,” murmured the mother. “I knew my daughter could not be -guilty of such a thing as stealing.” - -“It looks as if we were coming out all right,” said Rob. - -“So you are, my boy,” said the doctor. “Right always triumphs in the -end. I had rather be in your place than ’Squire Hardy’s, by a big -difference. Now listen, Aunt Vinnie, for I have a bit of news that will -give you joy as well as the others. - -“The boy who was out on a night’s lark with Phil Hardy has confessed -that he and Phil were at the sawmill the night it burned, and that -young Hardy set it on fire. Of course Phil denies it, but it is a -crushing blow for the Hardys, and it will save your boy from jail.” - -“Hurrah!” cried Aunt Vinnie, shaking her apron in the air. “This is -the happiest moment in my life, or will be when I clasp my boys once -more in my arms. I did not never see anything like this,” getting her -language somewhat twisted, but her heart was all right, and the others -felt as joyous as she did. - -Leaving the inmates of the old red house to enjoy their new peace of -mind, and to anticipate the happiness of the coming day, Dr. Menter -looked to the safety of their prisoners. - -When he had seen that they were still secure, he called Rob to one -side, saying: - -“While our friends here stand guard over the captives, how would it do -for you and I to do a little investigating on our own hook?” - -Little Hickory and his father willingly assented, when the three -returned to the cellar. - -“I thought it might be as well to keep our business to ourselves in -part,” said the doctor, as soon as they were alone. “I have reason to -think that we are about to make important discoveries. - -“I do not think it good policy to say so now to every one, but I am -ready to say to you that one of these precious fellows upstairs is the -murderer of Timothy Bayne. They have said enough to let us know that -they were here after a buried treasure. Do you know anything about -this, Mr. Bayne?” - -“Only that uncle was supposed to be very wealthy, but eccentric. He was -killed for his money, as it was supposed, by a man who had been working -for him. I am sure the ruffian upstairs is the man. Whether he got -uncle’s money is more than I know. They were seeking for something of -the kind here to-night.” - -“Well, we will do a little digging ourselves.” - -Mr. Bayne then took the shovel, and in a few minutes a skeleton of a -man was divulged to their sight. Nothing more. - -“It is probably that of Mr. Bayne,” said the doctor. “I do not believe -we had better dig any more, and we will leave the bones just as we -found them.” - -“I thought the shovel struck something that was not a rock. Let me take -it,” said Little Hickory. - -Beginning to dig a little to one side of the exposed skeleton, he soon -unearthed an iron box of considerable size, and which proved to be of -great weight. - -With what feelings the three raised the buried box may be imagined. - -“Hold, my son!” said his father. “This treasure, if it shall prove -such, has been found on the property of another man. It is not ours.” - -“By as good a right, and better, than any one else’s,” said Dr. Menter. -“This property is now in the hands of Deacon Cornhill, who came into -possession by a collector’s deed, it being sold for taxes some eighteen -or nineteen years ago. A deed of this kind is open to contest for -twenty years. So as the heir to Timothy Bayne, it looks to me as if you -could hold the treasure. But here we are arguing over what may be a -valueless thing. Then, too, the deacon is an honest man, and will not -try to hold what does not belong to him.” - -It was decided not to open the box until another day, and further -investigation had been made, so the three returned to those who were -anxiously awaiting in the room above. - -It was not told to the outsiders of the discovery that had been made, -but the inmates of the house listened to the description of the find -with unbounded interest. - -Never was day waited for more eagerly than by the party here, and as -its first rosy light appeared, the harbinger of a fair and a happy day, -Dr. Menter started for the village, taking one of the men with him. -In a few hours Sheriff Stanyan came, but he brought no terror to the -members of Ragged Rob’s young republic. - -He spoke graciously to them, and complimented Rob on his good fortune. - -“The ’squire is pretty badly cut up over Phil, and well he should -be, for he is a bad boy. It will take a good slice of the old man’s -property to settle this matter, but I do not think Phil will have to go -to jail.” - -With these words the sheriff took away the sullen prisoners from the -red house, leaving the others in easier spirits. - -Half an hour later Dr. Menter returned accompanied by Deacon Cornhill, -who greeted his colonists with great affection. - -“The light is breaking,” he said, gladly, “and you are coming out all -right, thanks to Rob, here.” - -“Not more to me than to our friends,” said Little Hickory. - -The deacon had aged in appearance more than ten years since the others -had last seen him, and the hearts of all went out to the kind-hearted -man, who had done so much for them, and had himself suffered so much. - -But the moment of darkness was already fleeting, and a new light was -coming into their lives. - -The iron-bound box was soon broken into, and the overjoyed spectators -beheld a sight which made them fairly wild with strange visions of joy -and of mystery. - -It was a treasure box indeed. - -Made up of bank notes, government bonds, gold and silver, it held the -equivalent of over fifty thousand dollars. - -Is it a wonder there were dancing and wild exclamations? - -The more sober of the party could not realize it as true, while the -others did not try to realize anything but their joy. - -At last, when something like rational feelings again held sway, Rob -suggested that it belonged to Deacon Cornhill, but he would not admit -it. But there was a happy compromise. - -Little Hickory proposed that a portion go to him, and this, under -consideration of his difficulties, he accepted with tears in his eyes, -and blessings upon his lips. - -So the hoardings of Timothy Bayne at last came to do much good. It -cleared Deacon Cornhill from his debts. It placed the members of Rob’s -young republic all in comfortable circumstances, for it was his own -wish and that of his father and mother, that it should be shared among -all alike. - -What followed can be imagined. - -First of all, Mary Little and Tom and Jerry were restored to home. -The prisoners were given a fair trial, at which it was shown that one -of them was the murderer of Timothy Bayne, and that he had buried the -miser’s body in the cellar. He had afterward got a clew of the treasure -buried in the cellar near where he had made the grave of his victim. He -was induced to accompany his companions to dig for the treasure. The -result is known. He and his pals were the ones who had robbed the store -and post office, also the masked men who had tried to rob our hero on -Flying Jump. - -They were sentenced as their crimes demanded, and the public felt safer. - -Phil Hardy, as Dr. Menter had said, escaped the jail. It was evident -he had not really intended to set the fire, and the mill owner was -more willing to receive pay for his property than to see the boy go to -prison. It was a good lesson to Phil. Nor was it lost on his father, -who afterward treated Rob and his friends as they deserved. - -In fact, the families of Break o’ Day were now looked upon as the -equals of any others in town. Rob knew this came about largely from the -fact that they were among the richest now, but he did not mind that, -having resolved to merit the good bestowed upon him. - -Three new houses were built that fall on Break o’ Day, so it was a busy -season. They had decided to live there, though the village people had -hoped they would come into town. - -Then followed plans for the future. As ours is a story of to-day, these -cannot be followed to any great extent. Mr. Bayne and his happy wife -live in a comfortable home, eagerly waiting to welcome their son home -from college, while Mrs. Willet, quite recovered from former illness, -lives with them, waiting, too, for a daughter to graduate, when the two -young people expect to join their fortunes in married life. - -There will be another marriage at the same time, when Larry Little will -wed sweet Lucy Howlitt, and go to her home to live. Larry is destined -to be a prominent citizen of Basinburg, and the coming Fourth he is to -deliver the oration of Gainsboro, without having to borrow anything -from that consummate snob and worthless fellow, Pluto Snyder. - -The other boys and girls of Break o’ Day are also finishing their -education, for they believe in acquiring such knowledge as they can to -help them in after life. I do not know what their plans are, but I do -know that Rob intends to begin the study of medicine with Dr. Menter, -and when next I go to Basinburg I expect to find him the regular -physician there. - -Deacon Cornhill has fully recovered his old-time spirits, and happy in -the good work that he was instrumental in bringing about. He is honored -and respected in Basinburg, and everywhere he is known, while he never -tires of telling the story of his visit to “the big, wicked city, where -houses are built edgewise, and men live under the streets.” - -I do not think I have left anything unsaid which cannot be readily -understood. Of course the strange sounds heard at the old house were -not of a supernatural origin, unless the branch of a tree moved by the -wind so as to scrape on the roof of the dwelling could be called such. - -It has been nearly twenty years since I last visited Break o’ Day, but -I remember distinctly the old red house where I stopped overnight, -listening that evening to the thrilling story of the murder and mystery -of “Old Tim Bayne.” I remember with equal vividness the dreary camps -of the coal burners, then falling into decay, and but one of them -occupied. I also remember the picture of utter loneliness the dismal -scene presented, as the setting sun sank behind the distant forest. But -all this has changed, and where then existed darkness and desolation -are now to be found life and activity, comfort and happiness, peace -and prosperity, for here, on the site of that thriving village known -by the happier title of Mount Delight, was founded, under such adverse -circumstances as must have discouraged a less courageous heart, Ragged -Rob’s young republic. - -THE END. - - * * * * * - -FRANK MERRIWELL’S _Book of_ Physical Development - -_By BURT L. STANDISH_ - -This book, written by the author of the famous Tip-Top Weekly, is -the most complete work of its kind. It contains directions for a -thorough and systematic course of athletic training, which, if followed -faithfully, cannot fail but aid all young men of the present day to -acquire what they are striving for--physical perfection. - -It is printed on good paper and is illustrated with full-page half-tone -cuts. - -_FOR SALE BY ALL NEWSDEALERS_ - -If sent by mail, add FOUR CENTS for postage - -STREET & SMITH, NEW YORK - - * * * * * - -THE BOYS’ FAVORITE - -_THE WORKS OF Horatio Alger, Jr._ - -This author’s books are perhaps better known than those of any other -author of his class. He had the happy faculty of depicting boy-life -as it really is, and his stories are full of incident, adventure and -interest. - -Buy one and you will want them all. Published in the MEDAL LIBRARY. - - 42. The Young Acrobat. - 50. Dean Dunham. - 51. Tom Tracy. - 52. From Farm Boy to Senator. - 53. The Adventures of a N. Y. Telegraph Boy. - 61. The Erie Train Boy. - 78. Both Sides of the Continent. - 87. The Five Hundred Dollar Check. - 93. A New York Boy. - 118. Ned Newton, or, The Fortunes of a N. Y. Bootblack. - 122. Tom Brace. - 130. From Canal Boy to President. - 138. Striving for Fortune. - 154. Paul, the Peddler. - 159. Phil, the Fiddler. - 163. Slow and Sure. - 166. Try and Trust. - 170. Strong and Steady. - -These books are for sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid, by the -publishers, upon receipt of price and 4 cents additional to cover -postage. - - _Street & Smith, Publishers - 238 WILLIAM STREET NEW YORK_ - - * * * * * - -GREAT BOOKS FOR BOYS - -BY OLIVER OPTIC. - -The Boat Club Series - -Every boy knows how interesting the works of this author are. We have -published six of his best in the MEDAL LIBRARY. - -Every intelligent boy should read them.... - - =No. 1--The Boat Club.= - =No. 3--All Aboard.= - =No. 5--Now or Never.= - - =No. 9--Try Again.= - =No. 46--Poor and Proud.= - =No. 160--Little by Little.= - -For sale at all newsdealers or sent postpaid by the publishers upon -receipt of price and 4c. additional to cover postage. - - _Street & Smith, Publishers - 238 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK_ - - * * * * * - -_G. A. HENTY_ - -This author’s famous books have been read with breathless interest by -the youth of every country. His stories are extremely interesting, -being crowded full of exciting sport and adventure. - -The following are published in our Medal Library. Every boy should read -them. - - 14. The Young Colonists. - 19. Jack Archer. - 23. The Dragon and the Raven. - 25. Through the Fray. - 29. True to the Old Flag. - 32. The Curse of Carne’s Hold. - 35. In the Reign of Terror. - 85. Facing Death. - 90. Out on the Pampas. - 95. By Sheer Pluck. - 100. Maori and Settler. - 106. The Boy Knight. - 113. The Bravest of the Brave. - 119. The Final Reckoning. - 124. St. George for England. - 128. For Name and Fame. - 134. Orange and Green. - 140. The Young Buglers. - 145. Friends Though Divided. - 149. With Wolfe in Canada. - 153. Bonnie Prince Charlie. - 158. With Lee in Virginia. - 164. The Cornet of Horse. - 168. Among Malay Pirates. - 172. The Young Midshipman. - -For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid, by the publishers, upon -receipt of price and 4 cents additional for postage. - - _Street & Smith, Publishers - 238 WILLIAM STREET NEW YORK_ - - * * * * * - -_DID YOU EVER READ ABOUT_ - -Don Kirk The Boy Cattle King - -By GILBERT PATTEN - -_Author of the Rockspur Athletic Series_ - -No? Well you have missed something, boys. The two books in this series -are among the best we have ever had the pleasure of offering you. Don -Kirk is a poor boy with plenty of grit, who by dint of his skill and -business head becomes a rich man in spite of the machinations of his -enemies. - - =No. 10--Don Kirk, The Boy Cattle King= - =No. 12--Don Kirk’s Mine= - -These two books are copyrighted and to be found only in our Medal -Library. - -Also (by the same author), - - =No. 24--The Boy From the West= - =No. 28--The Boy Boomers= - =No. 33--Jud and Joe, Printers and Publishers= - -Postpaid from the publishers at the same price. - - STREET & SMITH, - 238 WILLIAM STREET - NEW YORK - - * * * * * - -_Here is a good one, boys!_ - -The Cruise _of_ The Restless - -OR - -_On Inland Waterways_ - -By JAMES OTIS - -Is one of the most captivating stories of the season. Read it and -you will tell your friends to read it. This book can be had in Medal -Library, No. 99, and is for sale by all booksellers and newsdealers. - - STREET & SMITH - 238 William St., New York City - - * * * * * - -The Frank Merriwell Stories - -[Illustration] - -No modern series of tales for boys and youth has met with anything like -the cordial reception and popularity accorded to the Frank Merriwell -Stories, published exclusively in Street & Smith’s Tip Top Weekly, -a publication which has today a circulation larger than that of all -similar publications combined. - -There must be a reason for this, and there is. Frank Merriwell, as -portrayed by the author, is a jolly, whole-souled, honest, courageous -American lad, who appeals to the hearts of the boys. - -He has no bad habits, and his manliness inculcates the idea that it is -not necessary for a boy to indulge in petty vices to be a hero. Frank -Merriwell’s example is a shining light for every ambitious lad to -follow. - -There is sometimes, with parents, a prejudice against all forms of -boys’ literature in novel style. - -We earnestly ask all parents to examine the Tip Top, confident that -they will commend it to their boys as suitable and profitable to be -read. - -Issued Weekly. Sold by all newsdealers. - -5 Cents a copy - -STREET & SMITH, Publishers, New York - - * * * * * - -BOUND TO WIN LIBRARY - -A weekly publication devoted to high-class literature for boys. Feb. -28, 1903. - -NO. 4 - -Public records will show that there have been more women restored to -health and strength, and more lives saved by - -Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound - -than by any other medicine in the world. - -It therefore _must_ be the best medicine in the world for woman’s -special ills. - -NOTE.--If you are ill why don’t you write to Mrs. Pinkham at Lynn, -Mass., and get the advice which has restored more than a million women -to health? 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