“What are you going to do with him, Mr. Strong?” he asked. “It will be five years for him at least, if you take it to court--and maybe longer.” “I don't believe, Mr. Dickerson, that you have upheld Pete in all the mean tricks he has played on me.” “Indeed I haven't! And since I got a look at myself--back there when the wife was hurt----” Sam Dickerson's voice broke and he turned away for a moment so that his visitor should not see his face. “Well!” he continued. “You've got Pete right this time--no doubt of that. I dunno what makes him such a mean whelp. I'll lambaste him good for this, now I tell you. But the stacks----” “Make him pay for them out of his own money. Mrs. Atterson ought not to lose the stacks,” said Hiram, slowly. “Oh, he'll do that, anyway, you can bet!” exclaimed Dickerson, with conviction. “I don't believe that sending a boy like him to jail will either improve his morals, or do anybody else any good,” observed Hiram, reflectively. “And it'll jest about finish his mother,” spoke Sam. “That's right, too,” said the young farmer. “I tell you. I don't want to see him--not just now. But you do what you think is best about this matter, and make Peter pay the bill--ten dollars for the two stacks of fodder.” “He shall do it, Mr. Strong,” declared Sam Dickerson, warmly. “And he shall beg your pardon, too, or I'll larrup him until he can't stand. He's too big for a lickin', but he ain't too big for me to lick!” And the elder Dickerson was as good as his word. An hour later yells from the cart shed denoted that Pete was finally getting what he should have received when he was a younger boy. Before noon Sam marched the youth over to Mrs. Atterson. Pete was very puffy about the eyes, and his cheeks were streaked with tears. Nor did he seem to care to more than sit upon the extreme edge of a chair. But he paid Mrs. Atterson ten dollars, and then, nudged by his father, turned to Hiram and begged the young farmer's pardon. “That's all right, etc.,” said Hiram, laying his hand upon the boy's shoulder. “Just because we haven't got on well together heretofore, needn't make any difference between us after this. “Come over and see me. If you have time this summer and want the work, I'll be glad to hire you to help handle my celery crop. “Neighbors ought to be neighborly; and it won't do either of us any good to hug to ourselves any injury which we fancy the other has done. We'll be friends if you say so, Peter--though I tell you right now that if you turn another mean trick against me, I'll take the law into my own hands and give you worse than you've got already.” Pete looked sheepish enough, and shook hands. He knew very well that Hiram could do as he promised. But from that time on the young farmer had no further trouble with him.