up for the way
you have treated me, too."

"Are you two going to settle down here?" asked Sam, just for something
to say.

"That is none of your business," answered Josiah Crabtree. "Now I want
you to leave."

"Sobber, what has become of Jerry Koswell and Bart Larkspur?" asked
Dick, wishing to know something of those former good-for-nothing
students of Brill College.

"Never you mind what has become of them," answered Sobber. "But don't
think you have seen the last of them, Dick Rover. They haven't forgotten
how you treated them on Chesoque Island and elsewhere, and they mean to
even up that score."

"Are they here with you?"

"No. But I'm going to keep in touch with them, and some day we---- But
never mind now. Just you wait, that's all!" finished Tad Sobber,
meaningly.

"You'll try to play us foul,--just as you tried in the past," said
Dick. "Very well, I'll remember that, Sobber. And you remember what I
told you. The next time there is trouble we'll fight it out to the
bitter end."

There was a moment of silence.

"I want you to go away," said Josiah Crabtree, and there was just a
trace of nervousness in his tones. Evidently Dick's firm words had had
some effect.

"We are going," answered Dick. "Both of you remember what I said." And
then he motioned to his brothers; and all three left the old mill.

"Well, did ye find the feller ye was after?" queried Peter Marley, as
the boys came out to where he stood with the horses.

"We did," answered Dick, and nudged his brothers, to keep them quiet.
"It's Josiah Crabtree all right. And we had quite a talk with him."

"Wot's he going to do here?"

"He says it is his property--left to him by a distant relative. He
ordered us away."

"Must have been Foxwell left him the place. Is he going to start the
mill up ag'in?"

"He didn't say."

"If he's a jailbird I'll hate to see him in these parts," went on the
farmer soberly.

"Well, it won't hurt you to keep an eye on him, Mr. Marley," answered
Dick, and then, struck with a sudden idea, he continued: "And if you
see or hear anything wrong about him, will you do us the favor to let us
know at once, over the telephone, or otherwise? I'll pay you for the
calls."

"Sure I'll let you know--if I hear anything."

"I might as well tell you that he is down on us and down on some of our
friends, and he and a young fellow with him named Tad Sobber may try to
play us foul in some way. So, if you hear of anything str