mself as he read this brief note. He knew
now that Ben had been somewhere around. No doubt he had been peering
through the window and watching him talking to the professor and his
daughters. How he longed to get a rap at the cowardly cur. The
pick-handle would not be necessary; oh, no, his fists would be
sufficient. But Ben knew enough to keep out of the way and let others
do his dirty work.

Douglas said nothing about the night affair to the Jukes, as he was not
in a talkative mood. His head was quite sore where he had been struck,
and he wondered about the man who had received the force of the
pick-handle. But he could not remain silent long, for Jake was
bubbling over with excitement when he returned from the store whither
he had gone for a barrel of flour. Dinner was waiting him, and he had
no time to speak until he had stabled the horses and washed himself.

"Say, John," he began as soon as he had taken his seat at the table,
"what were ye up to last night?"

"So you have been hearing something, have you?" Douglas enquired.

"Sure I have. Why, the hull place is buzzin' with the news, an' Si's
as mad as blazes. Guess he's goin' to have ye arrested right off."

"Have me arrested!" Douglas exclaimed in surprise. "Why, what for?"

"Fer waylayin' Billy Keezer an' Tom Oakes last night, an' breakin'
their heads with a stick. They're all used up, an' Tom swears that you
stole his coat."

Douglas leaned back in his chair and laughed so heartily that Jake and
his wife looked at him in astonishment.

"So Billy and Tom are sick, are they?" he chuckled. "Well, I hope they
have learned a lesson and will mind their own affairs after this."

He then told the story of the fight the night before, and when he had
finished he went to his room and brought down the captured coat, and
read the note he had found in the pocket.

"Great punkins!" Jake exclaimed, as he hit the table with his fist and
made the dishes rattle. "I'm mighty glad ye've got that letter. It's
sure proof that Ben was back of the hull affair. And so ye knocked 'em
both out with the pick-handle, did ye? Bully fer you! I wish ye'd got
a tap at Ben while ye was about it."

"Did you see Billy and Tom?" Douglas asked.

"No. They're in bed. The doctor's been to see 'em, so I learned."

"And Si is going to have me arrested, eh?"

"So I heard. He was rampin' around like a lion."

"I wish he would," Douglas quietly remarked. "It would cle