"Twelve dollars! I'd like to see myself giving you that much money!" grumbled the farmer. "You ain't wuth but ten dollars at the most, an' I won't pay you that for you busted my mowin' machine, an' it'll take that t' pay for fixin' it." "That mowing machine was in bad order when you had me take it out," replied the young fellow, "and you know it. It was simply an accident that it broke, and not my fault in the least." "Well, you'll pay for it, just the same," was the sneering reply. "Now be off!" "Not until I get my wages. You agreed to pay me twelve dollars a month, and board me. My month is up to-day, and I want my money. It's about all I have in the world; I need it." "You'll not get it out of me," and the farmer turned aside. Evidently he had given up the idea of further chastising his hired man. The presence of Andy and his chums was enough to deter him. "Mr. Snad, I demand my money!" exclaimed the young farm hand. "You'll not get it! Leave my premises! Clear off, all of you," and he glared at the schoolboys. "Mr. Snad, I'll go as soon as you give me my twelve dollars," persisted the youth, his voice trembling. "You'll get no twelve dollars out of me," snapped the man. "Oh, yes, I think he will," spoke Andy. "You'd better pay over that money, Mr. Snad." "Eh? What's that your business?" "It's the business of everyone to see fair play," said Andy. "And we're going to do it in this case," added Tom, still in even tones. "Are you? Well, I'd like to know how?" sneered the farmer. "Would you? Then listen and you will hear, my friend," went on Tom. "Unless you pay this young man the money you owe him we will swear out a warrant against you, have you arrested, and use him as a witness against you." For a moment there was a deep silence; then the farmer burst out with: "Have me arrested! Me? What for?" "For assault and battery," answered Tom. "We saw you assault this young man with a horse-whip, and, while it might take some time to have him sue you for his wages, it won't take us any time at all to get an officer here and have you taken to jail on a criminal charge. The matter of the wages may be a civil matter--the horse-whipping is criminal. "So, take your choice, Mr. Snad, if that's your name. Pay this young man his twelve dollars, or we'll cause your arrest on this assault charge. Now, my friend, it's up to you," and taking out his pocket knife Tom began whittling a stick picked from the ground. Andy and his chums looked admiringly at Tom, who had thus found such an effective lever of persuasion. The angry farmer glanced from one to the other of the five lads. They gave him back look for look--unflinchingly. "And don't be too long about it, either," added Tom, making the splinters fly. "We're due at Kelly's for a little feed, and then we want to get back to Milton. Don't be too long, my friend, unless you want to spend the night in jail."