orse than ever, and
he had hard work to master the fellow.

"Help me, Ferris!" howled the tough.

"Don't you dare come near," said Hal.

"Don't mind him--help me," said Macklin again.

Ferris hesitated, but at last approached and caught Hal by the arm.

"Let Macklin up," he said.

Instead of replying Hal sprang to his feet. In one hand he held the key,
and with the other he shoved Ferris up against the wall.

"Now let me pass!"

"Don't do it!" howled Macklin.

"I won't," replied Ferris.

He caught Hal by the coat tail. This compelled the youth to turn once
more. He aimed a blow at Ferris' head, and the fellow went down over the
table.

Hal now thought he saw his way clear to escape. He bounded toward the
door, and was just inserting the key into the lock when Macklin sprang
up.

Beside the stove lay a heavy billet of wood, which the man had intended
to split up for kindlings. Macklin caught up the stick, and jumping
behind Hal, hit the youth a fearful blow directly on the top of the
head.

With a low cry, Hal sank down in a heap. Macklin gave a sudden gasp, and
Ferris straightened up.

"Have you--killed him?" asked Ferris in a tone, of horror.

"I don't know," replied the tough. "Dat was a kinder heavy crack, wasn't
it?"

Ferris shuddered. A thin stream of blood was issuing from Hal's head,
and this made the tall boy sick. He approached and gazed at Hal's pallid
face and motionless form.

"I'm afraid you have killed him, Macklin," he said.

"Me killed him?" cried the tough. "I kinder think you had as much ter do
wid it as me."

Ferris had a sudden chill dart down his back-bone at these words. If
anything was wrong it was certain Macklin did not intend to shoulder the
blame.

"What made you hit him so hard?" he asked.

"I couldn't help it. Let's see how bad he is."

Macklin approached Hal and turned over the limp body. Then he placed his
hand over the youth's heart.

"He ain't dead yet. Dat was a hard crack, but he's got a strong
constitution, dat feller has. Say?"

"Well?"

Macklin came up close to Dick Ferris, who was now as white as a sheet.

"We is good friends, Ferris, ain't we?"

"Ye-as."

"Den let me do sum'thin' fer yer."

"What is it?"

"I'll tell yer. Yer see der feller ain't----"

Macklin broke off short, as a footstep sounded in the hall-way.

"It's der old woman comin' back," he muttered.

"Your wife?"

"Yes."

"Oh, what shall we do with the--the body?" crie