s school?"

"I will do so, if you authorize me."

"I don't think we can do any better. Were you aware that Mr. Fox was the
notorious outlaw?" asked Ernest, after a pause.

"I did not know, but latterly I have suspected it. You may be surprised
that under the circumstances I should have consented to serve him. But I
felt that I might be of assistance to the boy, and that my refusal would
occasion him embarrassment. Your letter is satisfactory, as showing that
the fortune of your ward is not made up of ill-gotten gains. Were it
otherwise, he would hardly be allowed to keep it. Does Frank know his
father's character and reputation?"

"I don't think so."

"It had best be kept from him. I will see that it does not become known at
school. It would wound the boy to be twitted with it by his schoolmates."

Thanks to Mr. Hardy, Ernest found that the new charge imposed upon him
would not materially interfere with his plans. A week later than he had
originally intended he and Luke Robbins left Emmonsville.

As they rushed rapidly over the prairies, Luke Robbins turned to his young
companion and said: "Our journey thus far has been adventurous. I wonder
what lies before us."

"We won't trouble ourselves on that score, Luke. I feel hopeful."

"So do I, and yet we have less than two hundred dollars between us."

"That's true."

"Still, I have captured an outlaw, and you at the age of sixteen are the
guardian of an outlaw's son."

"I don't think we shall meet with anything stranger than that."

Two days later, in a newspaper bought at an important station, there was
an article that deeply interested both travelers. It related to the Fox
brothers, recounting their daring attempt to escape from the jail where
they were confined. John Fox got away, but James was shot dead by one of
the prison guards.

So Frank was an orphan, and Ernest now felt that his responsibility was
increased.

CHAPTER XXIV

STEPHEN RAY AND HIS SON

Leaving Ernest and Luke Robbins on their way to California, our attention
is called to other characters who must play a part in the drama of the boy
from Oak Forks.

A few miles from Elmira, upon an eminence from which there was a fine view
of the surrounding country, stood the handsome country mansion of Stephen
Ray, already referred to as the cousin of Ernest's father. It passed into
his possession by inheritance from poor Ernest's grandfather, the will
under which the bequest was made c