t must
be _he_.

Ha! the lights were out! He would be disappointed, the villain! Now was
the time, while his heart would be bleeding with sorrow, to wither him
with reproaches. To be sure, he seemed a large man, while Guzzy was very
small, but Guzzy believed his own thin legs to be faithful in an
emergency.

The unknown man knocked softly at the front-door, then he seemed to tap
at several of the windows.

Suddenly he raised one of the windows, and Guzzy, who had not until then
suspected that he had been watching a house-breaker, sped away like the
wind and alarmed the solitary constable of Bowerton.

That functionary requested Guzzy to notify Squire Jones, justice of the
peace, that there was business ahead, and then hastened away himself.

Guzzy labored industriously for some moments, for Squire Jones was very
old, and very cautious, and very stupid; but he was at last fully
aroused, and then Guzzy had an opportunity to reflect on the greatness
which would be his when Bowerton knew of his meritorious action.

And Helen Wyett--what would be her shame and contrition when she learned
that the man whose love she had rejected had become the preserver of her
peace of mind and her portable personal property?

He could not exult over _her_, for that would be unchivalrous; but would
not her own conscience reproach her bitterly?

Perhaps she would burst into tears in the court-room, and thank him
effusively and publicly! Guzzy's soul swelled at the thought, and he
rapidly composed a reply appropriate to such an occasion. Suddenly Guzzy
heard footsteps approaching, and voices in earnest altercation.

Guzzy hastened into the squire's office, and struck an attitude
befitting the importance of a principal witness.

An instant later the constable entered, followed by two smart-looking
men, who had between them a third man, securely handcuffed.

The prisoner was a very handsome, intelligent-looking young man, except
for a pair of restless, over-bright eyes.

"There's a difference of opinion 'bout who the prisoner belongs to,"
said the constable, addressing the squire; "and we agreed to leave the
matter to you. When I reached the house, these gentlemen already had him
in hand, and they claim he's an escaped convict, and that they've
tracked him from the prison right straight to Bowerton."

The prisoner gave the officers a very wicked look, while these officials
produced their warrants and handed them to the justice for