mind whom he could
approach, in order to get this information, the manager joined him, as
he asked:

"What did the boys say when you told them what was to be done?"

"I didn't wait to hear very much; but it struck me that they were not
particularly well pleased."

"Why not?"

"They think it is foolish to work for the money when it may be possible
to tire the squire out by holding on a while and letting the town
support them."

"Is it possible they can be such fools? Come with me, and we'll see if
it isn't possible to beat some sense into their stupid heads."

Jet did not want to waste the time; but since he could make no good
excuse, there was nothing for it but to comply, and the two started at
once.

On arriving at the jail, the turnkey informed them that it was against
orders to admit any one after dark; but he intimated that the matter
might be arranged with any one of the constables who had brought the
prisoners there.

"Then it won't take us long to fix it," the manager said, as he
beckoned Jet to follow him, and when they were in the open air again,
he added: "Barker will see that we get in."

"Who is he?"

"Why, Jabe Barker, the constable who wants to take the company on the
road."

Jet made no reply, but congratulated himself on thus having the house
pointed out to him without any questions on his part.

A walk of ten minutes brought them to quite a large residence on the
outskirts of the village, and the manager said:

"That's where he lives, and I'm told he owns the entire property, so
you see we'll have a capitalist to back us."

"I guess I'd better not go any farther with you," Jet said,
half-apologetically, as he halted.

"Why not?"

"You and he may want to talk business, and, perhaps, it wouldn't look
well for me to be where I could listen."

"You are right, my boy. Go back to the hotel, and I'll meet you there
in a short time."

Jet turned as if to obey, and walked slowly toward the center of the
village, until he saw that the manager had been admitted to the
building, when he clambered over a fence, ran across a piece of plowed
land, and stood at the rear of the out-buildings when Mr. Barker and
the manager emerged.

Not until they were lost to view in the gloom did he dare to make a
move, and then he crept softly around in search of a place of vantage
from which the house could be watched.

He finally found it immediately behind the woodshed, where, by climbing
on the sl