“Oh, there’s no one for me to annoy with new clothes and fine jewelry.” “Where did Rodney go?” “Blamed if I know.” “It’s sort of mysterious.” “Not very. You see, since the burning of the new steamer and the accident to the _Warrior_, steamboating has ended on the lake for this season. That is why we have so many passengers to-day. They say Judge Oglesby is working for a charter to build a railroad around the lake.” “Sho! but won’t that knock this old stage higher’n a kite.” “It isn’t built yet. That sly covey, Dean Mercer, kind of knocked the wind out of three or four. Duped the judge, as shrewd as he is, out of about eight thousand, and he soaked Montague out of a lot.” “Can’t they get any trace of him?” “Nope. Oh, he’s sly enough not to come within a thousand miles of Millville. Gracious! how they’d like to get sight of him.” Dean could scarcely keep still as he listened to the conversation, learning beyond doubt that everybody at Millville believed him guilty of the crime which made him a fugitive from justice. It was a sorry homecoming--disguised and disgraced. The coach made a more rapid journey than usual, and due at Millville at eight o’clock, it rounded the last hill at the limits of the village at dusk. “Stop the wagon!” ordered a voice from the inside, that Dean recognized as that of Daley. “Want to get off here?” demanded the driver, checking the horses. “Yes. Hand down the satchels!” Dean did not dismount. He decided that such a move might arouse the suspicions of Daley and Spofford. Besides, as he saw them go toward a dilapidated, deserted shanty near the river, he knew that they must intend to make a transient rendezvous of it. “I’ll ride on to the first line of timber,” he decided, “and then get off where they cannot see me.” “Who are they?” asked Abner Littleton of the driver. “Dunno.” “Strangers?” “I reckon. Hello! Look there!” Dean looked, too. Walking in the timber, and with rather unsteady steps, were two familiar figures. “Yes,” laughed Abner, “my governor and the colonel.” “Why, I thought they were bitter enemies?” exclaimed the driver amazedly. “They were.” “But----” “Affliction makes friends!” “How’s that?” “Well, you see, since Judge Oglesby talks of running a railroad----” “Yes.” “It means ruin to both the stage line and the lake steamers.” “Sure!” “Therefore, dad and the colonel have joined forces to try and outwit Judge Oglesby.” “And seem to have been celebrating it?” “Yes, they are a little over the bay,” replied Abner, the graceless. “They are scheming to beat the judge.” “Can they do it?” “Yes.” “How?” “They intend to buy narrow strips of land all around the lake, and when the judge tries to get the right of way for his railroad, block him in a dozen places.” “Ho! ho! clever schemers, eh?” “I should say so.” Dean Mercer dropped from the coach noiselessly, and glided to the timber. Neither the driver nor Abner Littleton noticed his departure.