st the infantile questioner and after the object of
his curiosity.

"Yes, the man did look funny, for a fact," said Ralph. "He was
disguised. There he is. Hey, there! whoever you are, a word with
you."

He was now in close pursuit of a scurrying figure. The object of his
curiosity turned to look at him, stumbled, and went headlong into a
ditch.

Ralph came to the spot. The man lay groaning where he had fallen.

"Help me," he muttered--"I'm nearly stunned."

"Why!" exclaimed Ralph as he assisted the man to his feet, "it is
Gasper Farrington."

It was the village magnate, disguised. He stood regarding Ralph with
savage eyes.

"I thought you had gone to Europe, Mr. Farrington," said Ralph.

"Did you? Well, I haven't," growled Farrington, nursing a bruise on
his face.

"Are you going to stay in Stanley Junction, then?"

"None of your business."

"Oh, yes, it is," retorted Ralph quickly. "You owe us thousands of
dollars, and we want it."

"You'll collect by law, then. I'll never give you a cent willingly."

Ralph regarded the man thoughtfully for a minute or two.

"Mr. Farrington," he said, "I have come to the conclusion that you are
trying to make me more trouble. This man Evans is up to mischief, and
I believe that you have incited him to it."

The magnate was silent, regarding Ralph with menacing eyes.

"I warn you that it won't pay, and that you won't succeed," continued
Ralph. "What do you hope to accomplish by persecuting me?"

The old man glanced all about him. Then he spoke out.

"Fairbanks," he said, "I give you one last chance--get out of Stanley
Junction."

"Why should I?" demanded Ralph.

"Because you have humiliated me and we can't live in the same town
together, that's why."

"You deserved humiliation," responded Ralph steadily.

"All right, take your own view of the case. I will settle your claim
for five thousand dollars and pay you the money at once, if you will
leave Stanley Junction."

"We will not take one cent less than the full twenty thousand dollars
due us," announced Ralph staunchly, "and I shall not leave Stanley
Junction as long as my mother wants to live here."

"Then," said Gasper Farrington, venomously, as he walked from the
spot, "look out for yourself."

Ralph went back to the Evans home, but found only the little child
there. He concluded he would not wait for Evans that evening. The
discovery of his old-time enemy, Farrington, had been enlightening.

"I wi