“Do you mean to say that you don’t trust me?” To this I made no reply. “Answer me!” “I’m going to have the thing settled by law, sir.” “And how soon?” he sneered. “As soon as possible. I’ll go and see Squire Slocum to-morrow.” I had hardly uttered the words when Mr. Norton grasped me by the collar and jammed me up against the wall. “You’ll do nothing of the kind!” he foamed. “I won’t have the money squandered in court!” “Let go of me!” I cried. “No, I won’t; until you promise to behave and do as I say!” “I――I――won’t promise.” Mr. Norton’s grasp was a tight one, and I was in danger of choking. I tried to break away, but he held me fast. “You will promise!” he stormed. “I am not to be tricked by a boy!” For reply I kicked out with my right boot as hard as I could. The blow caught the man in the shin, and howling with pain he relaxed his grip, and I squirmed away and made for the door. “Stop! stop!” “I won’t stop,” I returned, when I was at a safe distance. “I am not to be treated like a dog.” “Come here, Reuben! I’m not going to treat you like a dog. I only want you to act reasonably.” “I am acting reasonably.” “No, you’re not. Come in here and get supper ready. It’s time we had it――going on eight o’clock.” What was I to do? I was tremendously hungry, and to a growing boy his appetite is an important thing. I lingered on the doorstep. “Come in here and prepare supper,” he repeated. “Will you promise not to touch me if I do?” “Yes, I’ll promise,” he replied somewhat doggedly. For an instant more I hesitated, and then I re-entered the living-room of the mill. Mr. Norton did not offer to lay hands on me, and I set to work getting the evening meal on the table. “Do you know this Carney?” he asked after a long spell of silence. “I know of him,” I replied briefly. “Who were the other two men?” he went on, pulling out his pipe and filling it. “Strangers around here,” I said, but did not add that they were the two that had called on him during my absence. “Were they with this Carney when he went away?” “Yes, sir.” Mr. Norton got up and took several turns about the room. “Got that supper ready?” he asked abruptly. “Almost.” “Well, hurry up! I want to go down to Bend Center this evening.” “This evening!” I exclaimed. “It’s rather late.” “Isn’t the tavern open?” “I suppose it is.” There was another period of silence, and we sat down to eat. I wondered what had put Mr. Norton in the notion of going to the Bend that night. Was he really going to the tavern, or was he going to head me off by seeing Squire Slocum before I had the chance of doing so? It did not take him five minutes to finish, and then he arose and put on his hat. “Do you know the way?” I asked. “Of course I do,” he snarled. “Didn’t I live here years ago?” That was true; and this put the thought into my mind that perhaps he was going to call on some old acquaintance.