.

This was what no one could answer.

It surely seemed as if the squire had been prompted by an unkind fate
to lay the heavy hand of the law upon this particular branch of the
minstrel business, in order to deter others from traveling in the same
path, and to prevent this company from inflicting stale jokes upon the
public.

Finding that the chief performers could not suggest a way out of the
difficulty, the manager took Jet as far aside as the size of the cell
would permit.

"How much money have you got?" he asked in a whisper.

"None that belongs to me. The five dollars I loaned you was put in my
hands for an especial purpose, and I really had no right to dispose of
it as I did."

"But if you've got enough to pay these fines, I'll promise faithfully
that you shall have every cent we take in until the full amount is paid
back. There isn't any risk, my boy, for we shall certainly do a big
business here."

Although Jet had had but little experience in this line, he knew that
the receipts at the door, even if the small hall should be filled,
would not amount to enough to settle the bills, and from it must
necessarily be taken sufficient to carry the party to the next town.

"I haven't got half as much as you need, and if I had it would be wrong
to use it."

"Then you intend to pay your own fine and give us the slip, eh?"

"I should have a perfect right to do so, because I took no part in the
stealing of the fruit; but I shall stay with the rest."

During the next ten minutes the manager pleaded in vain with the boy,
and then recognizing the uselessness of his arguments, left the
building in a pet.

Meanwhile the members of the company did not look upon the imprisonment
as such a very great hardship.

"Say, who has to pay our board while we are here?" one of the party
asked the jailer.

"I reckon it'll come on the town."

"Then so long as it costs us nothing, what's the use of repining?" and
the man started a song, in which he was joined by his companions, until
the dilapidated building fairly shook with the alleged melody.

As a matter of course, this had the effect of drawing the idle ones to
the jail doors, and the applause from the outside induced a continuance
of the free concert.

All those who could show any right to enter the building crowded in,
and among them was the constable whom Jet had recognized.

While his companions were amusing the visitors and themselves, he edged
along as nea