ppleby, and, unless I'm much mistaken, he also set fire to
your hay ricks. I've got the evidence for the first charge, and------"

"I've got the evidence for the other," interrupted Ray. "It's all up,
Jake. You'd better confess right now and save yourself heavier
punishment."

"Good land!" gasped the farmer. "Jake Crouse--the feller who used t'
work fer me--poisoned my horses--sot fire t' my hay? It don't seem
possible!"

"I'd a done a heap more to you if I'd had the chance!" snarled the
tramp. "You're the meanest man in seven counties, and you cheated me
out of my money. I said I'd get even with you and I did."

"Then you admit you're Crouse?" asked Tom eagerly.

"Might as well, as long as you've got the goods on me. I'll take my
medicine now, but I'll get back at you later, Jed Appleby!" and he shot
a black look at the farmer.

"It will be some time before he can carry out that threat," said Tom
easily. "Now, Mr. Appleby, I suppose you haven't a grudge against me
any longer, as it's been proved that I had no hand in your troubles."

"No, of course not. I--I'm sorry I made a complaint against ye. But
it did look mighty suspicious."

"Yes, it did," admitted Tom, "and I couldn't say anything, for certain
reasons. But they no longer exist."

"I don't exactly understand it all," said the still-puzzled farmer,
"but it's all right, an' I begs yer pardon, Tom Fairfield, an' here's
my hand!" and he held out a big palm.

"That's all right," said Tom easily, as he shook hands. "I'll explain
everything soon."

"And I'll do my share," added Ray. "I haven't acted just as I should
in this matter. But I'm on a different road now."

"I hope so," put in Mrs. Appleby, who had been a silent spectator of
the happenings. "I allers said you had a good streak in you somewhere,
Ray Blake, and if you had a mother------"

"Please don't speak of her," the boy asked gently.

"Have you a telephone?" asked Tom, anxious to change the subject, for
he saw that Ray was much affected. "If you have, we can 'phone for the
authorities to call for our friend here," and he nodded at the tramp
who, bound, sat in sullen silence.

"No, we don't have such luxuries," answered the farmer, "but I'll send
one of my hired men into town. We can lock Jake up in the smoke house
'till the constable gets here."

This was done, Jake Crouse submitting sullenly. Then, when the hired
man had driven off in the rain, the farmer and his wif