I don't like their coming so often. I don't like the way
they make so many presents. I don't like their asking for so many
notes, and I have heard too much of what begins to sound like flattery.
Oh, I hope father will not have trouble!"

"_I_ hope too, that I shall not have trouble," said Fabens with rising
agitation; "but you seem to wake me out of a singular dream. What
_have_ I been doing? Why have I given them power so to deceive and
defraud me, if they chance to have the wicked will? I must go and see
if all is well. I fear, I fear they deceived me! What have I done?"

Early the next morning Fabens set off to see Fairbanks. He designed
first to inquire if Fairbanks had preserved, and could produce the old
notes represented as paid, and next ascertain whether the last one left
him liable; and in his anxiety, and the wakefulness of his reason and
judgment, he gave no thought to the idea of quitting his fine old farm
for a merchant's life, except to wonder how such an idea had been
permitted to enter his head. A cool hour's ride brought him to the
village where Fairbanks traded, and his fears were in no wise relieved,
by finding the store still closed, and failing to obtain an answer to
his rap and call.

He stepped over to the tailor's shop across the way, and there he was
informed that the store was closed by a sheriff the day before, on an
old judgment from New York, and there were not goods enough on hand to
cancel the liability. That the neighborhood was all in excitement, for
astonishing things had come to light. That Fairbanks had obtained
money at the banks in considerable amounts on the endorsements of
several citizens; and still was owing for two or three crops of wheat
and other produce; besides leaving a large board bill unsettled; horse
hire, cigar and liquor bills, and hired help unpaid; and with Frisbie
had left the town, no doubt, never to return!

"What _shall_ I do?--Can it be possible?--Can I believe it? You amaze
me! How they did deceive me!" were the answers of Fabens to each
unwelcome item of this news.

"Then they run away in your debt, too, did they, Square?" asked the
tailor, as he finished the hurried tale of recent disclosures. "If
he's in debt to you, you've a plenty of company. A good many were took
in by the rascals. I begun to smell the rat after it was too late.
Each of 'em owes me now for a suit of Sunday clothes. When I set
pressing 'em off at midnight, I littl