"Matthew De Vere!" exclaimed Mr. Simmons, with intense surprise, giving vent to a low whistle. "His father rich, proud, a banker," continued the wily Jacob, easing his grasp upon the throat of Tim. "And he, Matthew De Vere, is the villain who raised his club to hit me on the head--to murder me, perhaps?" Young Short caught at the idea of freeing himself by implicating Matthew, so he replied: "Yes, he was the fellow, but when he saw his mistake he dusted out, for it wasn't you he wanted." "Of course you would plead innocent--all outlaws do--and try to throw the blame on some one else; but you can't get away now. I shall have you arrested and locked up for an attempt at robbery and murder." "Oh, don't--don't!" pleaded Tim, with tears and bitter anguish. "Come along. I'll have to put you in safe keeping, where you will not get a chance to try this game of murder again right away." "Please don't! Oh, don't, Mr. Simmons! I will tell you all I know about it, and do anything--work all my life for you if you will only let me go." "Let you go, after this affair? Yes, I will let you go--go to the sheriff! Come along, I say." "It's all Matthew's fault--wanting to lick Fred Worthington." "Do you expect me to believe such a story? It's a fine yarn to try and clear yourself when you are the one that almost broke my leg with your club." "He told me to hit you----" "Told you to hit me?" "I mean to hit Fred, for he was waiting for him--said he wanted to get square with him." "Then, according to your own story, you hired yourself to Matthew De Vere to come here and waylay an innocent boy, and beat him with clubs, and perhaps murder him." "Yes; but I didn't think of it in that way or I wouldn't have come. Matthew hired me." "So much the worse, if you would sell yourself to do such a wicked deed. You are as guilty as he, and it is my duty to hand you over to the State." It was plainly Mr. Simmons' duty to hand young Short over to the authorities, but when he found that Matthew De Vere was the principal offender, a scheme instantly suggested itself to him--a plan to extort money from the rich banker to keep the affair a secret, and save his family from disgrace. Thus Jacob's regard for the law and justice, which was sincere at first, before he saw an opportunity of turning his knowledge to a money value, was now but an assumed position to draw Tim out, and to hold over his head the power that would frighten him into doing his bidding. By entertaining this idea of suppressing the knowledge of the crime in order to get the reward Mr. Simmons became, in a sense, a party to the assault upon himself, and morally guilty with the boys, though undoubtedly in a less degree.