g way from here by
this time."

She recounted her meeting with Charles in the Holton barn, and when they
expressed incredulity, she sprang up and darted from the room. When she
reappeared with the suit-case and dumped its contents on the table,
Amzi, narrowly averting apoplexy, counted the bonds carefully, and made
a calculation of the accrued and unpaid interest.

"Thunder!" he blurted. "Now, look here, Fred, don't you do anything
foolish! We'll stack these up in the bank until Kirkwood can pass on
this business. He might have them annulled, I suppose; but we'll wait
and see."

"You wouldn't have Fred steal them, Amy!"

"Steal them! Thunder! We'll run 'em through the estate and out to Fred
again. I guess Charlie took care of his sister in the original whack;
but if he didn't we'll give her a slice." He glared at Phil fiercely.
"You, Phil!"

"What's the matter, Amy?"

"You lied to the sheriff of this county!"

"If you talk to me like that I'll most certainly muss you; I will, I
will!"

"You concealed stolen property! You helped a fugitive to escape from
justice! You--you--!" Words failing him, he bent over the table, shaking
an accusing finger under her nose.

"Forget it, Amy! If I did I glory in my shame. Put that in your pipe.
Incidentally, it occurs to me that it's about time to think of going
home."

"I don't know what to say to all this," said Fred as they rose from the
table. He looked from one to the other, the deep feeling showing in his
face. "It was fine of you, Phil, to help Charlie get away; I appreciate
that. I want to say again that I think Charlie means all right. He's the
best-hearted fellow in the world."

"Well," said Lois kindly, "we hope he will find another chance and make
good." Then after a moment she added: "We most of us need two chances in
this world, and some of us three!"

"And about the farm, I didn't expect that: I'm not sure it's right to
take it back," said Fred. "I want to do the square thing."

"Thunder!" ejaculated Amzi; and then, seeing that Phil was already
engaged in repacking the hamper with the empty dishes he turned upon her
with his mock fury and demanded that she give him another pickled peach
before the jar was disposed of.

"Get that article at my house, Phil?"

Phil walked close to him and shouted in his ear as to a deaf man:--

"No, you grand old imbecile! Anybody but you would know that they
represent the perfection of Rose Bartlett's art! Now, will y