“No, you don’t!” cried the farmer. “You stay where you are! I’m going to have the law on you, I say! Don’t you defy the law now! Don’t you do it! If you do it’ll go hard with you, I tell you that! I’ve warned ye!” “James,” gasped Mrs. Peel, “don’t be violent! Just--just let’s hear what they have to say. You tell me, my dear, all about it.” “Then he mustn’t call Roy and Dick thieves,” answered Harry, angrily. “He’s a horrid old man, whoever he is.” “Tell Mrs. Peel all about it, Harry,” said Roy, in a bored tone. “See if you can make her understand.” “Well,” said Harry, pausing a moment to collect her thoughts, “it was like this.” And she told the story of the burglary from the time of Mrs. Peel’s departure to the station to her return. Mr. Ewing sniffed and snorted at intervals, and Dick looked several times as though he was having hard work to refrain from pitching into him, but Mrs. Peel listened attentively to every word, and when the narrative was finished turned in triumph to her brother-in-law. “There, James,” she said. “I told you you were mistaken. And these young gentlemen have put the money back in the drawer--which I’m sure they aren’t beholden to do--and it’s there now.” [Illustration: “You stay where you are!”] “A check!” scoffed the farmer. “I reckon I wouldn’t count too much on any piece of paper they give you.” But it was to be seen, nevertheless, that Mr. Ewing was somewhat shaken in mind, for it would have been very difficult for any one to have disbelieved Harry’s story. “Oh, if that’s all that’s troubling you,” said Roy, “we’ll give you the cash instead.” “And how about the other things you stole?” “We didn’t steal them. And I guess you’ll have to look for them yourself,” said Roy, wearily. “And how about my silverware?” “Oh, bother your silverware!” exploded Dick. “I don’t believe you ever owned any! Anyhow, I’m sick of hearing about it. Come on, Roy, let’s mosey along.” But the farmer strode to the door, closed it, turned the key in the lock, and dropped the key into his pocket. “You’ll stay where you are a bit longer,” he snarled. “I ain’t decided yet what to do with you.” Then, before either Roy or Dick remembered the back door, he had headed them off in that direction as well, and, with both keys in his pocket, was master of the situation. CHAPTER XXV MR. EWING IS SUSPICIOUS Dick looked eagerly at Roy, but Roy shook his head. So far they had done nothing to merit punishment, but if they set on the farmer he would have good cause for complaint against them. Besides, as Roy realized, it was doubtful if they could overcome Mr. Ewing in a tussle. Roy perched himself on the counter again and shrugged his shoulders. “You’re making a fool of yourself,” he said, “just as I begged you not to do.” The farmer paid no heed to him.