man beside him.

"I?"

"Exactly. You tried your best to get me out of the way," went on Ralph, in
rather a loud voice. "And now you have failed, I want to know what your
next move is going to be."

"Hush, not so loud!" cried Martin Thomas in alarm. "Never mind what I am
going to do."

"Will you tell me why you tried to take my life?"

"Hang it, boy, don't talk so loud!"

"Then tell me your object."

"I won't."

"You will have to."

"What's that, boy?"

"I say you will have to."

"Nonsense. Get out of my way. I am in a hurry."

Martin Thomas tried to brush past Ralph, but the boy caught him by the arm.

"Let go of me, boy, unless you want me to do something desperate. You
escaped me three times, but----"

Martin Thomas broke off short, and his face turned a sickly green. He had
just caught sight of the policeman and Mickety, who were dodging behind
him.

"Why--er----" he began.

"Dat's der feller, officer!" cried out Mickety. "Didn't yer hear wot he
said?"

"I did," replied the policeman.

"Arrest this man, officer," put in Ralph. "And be careful, for he is a
desperate criminal."

"This is an outrage!" cried Martin Thomas, but he was too overcome to put
any courage in his words.

"I will make a complaint against the man," said Ralph, calmly. "This boy
will be a witness for me, and I can get other witnesses against him if it
be necessary."

"That's all I want," said the policeman. "You just come with me," he went
on, to Martin Thomas.

The rascal begged, pleaded and threatened, but all to no purpose. The
policeman held him on one side, while Ralph ranged up on the other, and
Mickety marched behind. In this order they soon reached the station-house.

Here Ralph told his whole story, and Mickety related what he knew of the
affair. Then the country boy sent a special messenger to Horace Kelsey.

The arrival of the rich insurance agent helped Ralph's case considerably.
Martin Thomas was locked up in default of a thousand dollars' bail, pending
trial for atrocious assault.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

BEGINNING OF THE END.

"It would be a great thing if you could get this Martin Thomas to confess
his secret," remarked Horace Kelsey to Ralph, after the hearing was over.

"That is true," returned the boy. "But I don't see how I am going to do it.
He is very stubborn."

"He won't be stubborn long. He knows the charge against him is too grave.
You might intimate to him that it will go easier