"Yesterday he tried to steal some fish we caught, and to-day he mussed up Jack's boat and ruined some berries that both of us had picked," explained Randy. "I took him to task about it and then he threw the mud at me. Then I chased him and caught him, as you saw." "Preposterous! My boy would not steal!" said Mrs. Bangs, tartly. She looked meaningly at Jack. "I presume you and your family are very bitter against us now," she added, significantly. "Bitter against you?" said Jack, puzzled. "Yes--because of that iron works affair." "I don't know anything about that, Mrs. Bangs." "Oh, then you haven't heard yet." The fashionable woman was nonplussed. "Never mind. You must leave Robert alone." "Ain't you going to get that policeman and lock them up?" asked the son, anxiously. "If I am locked up, you'll be locked up, too," said Randy. "And the charge against you will be stealing as well as malicious mischief." "Yes, and we'll prove our case," added Jack. "Bob doesn't know what witnesses we have." At this announcement Bob Bangs' face grew pale. "Yo--you can't prove anything," he faltered. "You don't know about that," said Randy, taking his cue from Jack. "I will look into this affair later--just now I have no time," said Mrs. Bangs, after an awkward pause. "Robert, you had better go into the house and clean yourself up. John, you can drive on." And then, while the fashionable woman was driven into her grounds, her son lost no time in sneaking off into the house. As he entered the door he turned and shook his fist at our hero and Jack. "Jack, I don't think we have heard the last of this," remarked Randy, as he and his companion started away. "Perhaps not, but I think we have the best of it," answered Jack. "I don't know about that. Mrs. Bangs is a very high-strung woman and thinks a good deal of Bob." "I'd like to know what she meant about the iron works matter," went on Jack, with a troubled look on his face. "I hope Mr. Bangs hasn't got the best of father in that deal." "You had better ask your father when you get home." "I will." The two lads hurried back to the boat and placed the craft where it belonged. Then the berries were divided, and each started for his home little dreaming of the trouble that was in store for both of them. CHAPTER VI THE IRON WORKS AFFAIR When Jack arrived at home he took the berries around to the kitchen and then hurried upstairs to the bathroom, to wash and fix up for supper. He was in the midst of his ablutions when he heard his father come in and go to the library. An animated talk between his two parents followed. "Something unusual is up," thought Jack, and went below as soon as he was fixed up. He found his father sitting near the library table, his head resting on his hand. His face looked careworn. Mrs. Bartlett sat by an open window clasping her hands tightly. Their earnest talk came to a sudden end as Jack entered.