"Why did Matthew De Vere wish to waylay Fred Worthington?" asked Judge Plummer thoughtfully, as if to get at the bottom of the facts. "He said he wanted to get square with him." "Is that all?" "That and to teach him not to interfere with him." "How had Fred interfered with him?" "I don't know that, but I am sure Matthew did everything he could to injure him." "Did he do more than attempt to waylay him?" "Yes, he played friendship with Fred and got the bartender to drug him, and that was what made him drunk that time when everybody talked about him." Now every one looked at Fred, but these were congratulatory glances, with a bit of hero worship about them. Mr. Farrington and Dr. Dutton, who sat near Fred, leaned over and congratulated him with a warm grasp of the hand. Every cloud that had hovered over our young friend was now swept away--every mystery was at last explained, and he stood triumphant over all opponents, the hero of the village--much stronger and far more popular than if he had never been _under fire_. He was tried and not found wanting in the qualities that go to make a strong man with a noble character. In answer to further questions of the judge, Tim stated that they knew of no legitimate way to raise the money, as Matthew did not dare speak to his father about it; that they were forced to do something, believing Jacob Simmons would have them arrested if they failed to produce the amount demanded. He further stated that Matthew and he were driven almost crazy by these repeated demands from Simmons, and committed the robbery without realizing what they were doing. They burned the store, he said, to cover their theft. All the money found he claimed was given to Mr. Simmons, together with some articles that would not excite suspicion. Among the latter was the knife Fred discovered in Jacob's possession, and which led to the detection of the guilty parties. "Did you give Jacob Simmons all the goods you took from the store?" asked the judge. "No, sir. We were afraid he would suspect us, so we gave him only a few things besides the money," answered Tim. "We hid the other things in the pine grove." "Are they there yet?" "Yes, sir." "Then you didn't make up the full three hundred dollars for Jacob Simmons?" "No; but Matthew promised to pay him the balance, so he agreed to do nothing further." It could not be shown that Jacob Simmons had directly incited the boys to commit the robbery, though he was unquestionably the cause of it. Neither could it be proved that he had knowingly received stolen goods. The narrative of the legal proceedings would be entirely out of the design of this story. I will therefore state merely the final results.