nloosed one handcuff from the wrist of his prisoner,
and attached the other to his own arm and lay as if in a daze until
daybreak.

Now he could inspect his prisoner clearly, and Ralph could study the
worn, frenzied face of his captor. The latter had calmed down
somewhat.

"Boy," he said, finally, "I don't dare to let you go, and I don't know
what to do."

"See here," spoke Ralph, "you are in deep trouble. I don't want to
make you any more trouble. Suppose you tell me all about yourself and
see if I can't help you out."

"Oh, I don't dare to trust any one," groaned the man.

"You spoke of Gasper Farrington," suggested Ralph. "Is he an enemy of
yours?"

"He has ruined my life," declared the convict.

"And why do you seek him?"

"To demand reparation, to drag him to the same fate he drove me to.
Just let me find him--that is all I wish--to meet him face to face."

Ralph began to quietly tell the story of his own dealings with the
village magnate of Stanley Junction. It had a great effect upon his
auditor. From dark distrust and suspicion his emotions gradually
subsided to interest, and finally to confidence.

It was only by gradations that Ralph led the man to believe that he
was his friend and could help him in his difficulties.

The convict told a pitiful story. Ralph believed it to be a true one.
To further his own avaricious ends, Farrington had devised a
villainous plot to send the man to the penitentiary. He had escaped.
He had documents that would cause Farrington not only to disgorge his
ill-gotten gains, but would send him to jail.

"I want to get to where those documents are hidden," said the convict.
"Then to find Farrington, and I shall right your wrongs as well as my
own."

Ralph reflected deeply over the matter in hand. He resolved on a
course of proceedings and submitted it to his companion.

He offered to take the convict to the isolated home of Amos Greenleaf,
where he could remain safely in retirement. Ralph promised to get him
comfortable garments and provide for his board and lodging. In a few
days he would see him again and help him to find Farrington.

The young fireman was now released from the handcuffs. He calculated
the location of the place where Greenleaf lived.

"It is about fifteen miles to the spot I told you of," he explained to
the convict.

"Can we reach it without being seen by any one?" anxiously inquired
his companion.

"Yes, I can take a route where we need no