“Reuben, I don’t believe your story,” he cried at length. “You’ve taken that valise yourself, and put away the other things to make your story appear plausible. Now, I want you to tell me exactly all you have discovered, otherwise it will go hard with you.” I remained silent. What more was there to say? “Did you hear me?” stormed my guardian. “I hear you,” I replied as calmly as I could, which is not saying much. “Well, why don’t you answer then?” “I have told the truth.” I had hardly uttered the words before Mr. Norton sprang at me. “You will find I am not to be trifled with!” he exclaimed. “And you will find out that I am not to be treated like a dog,” I returned. And I ran across the room and towards the door leading to the store-room. “No, you don’t! You sha’n’t escape me like this!” he shouted. And he ran after me and placed himself directly in front of the door. For an instant I was dismayed. Then I thought of the window close at hand, and throwing it open, sprang out. “Stop! stop!” he cried as he darted towards the opening. Instead of heeding his command, I made the best possible use of my time in putting a good distance between us. I had got at least three rods away from the house when he appeared at the door and started after me. “I tell you to stop, Reuben!” he called for at least the tenth time. “I’m going to the village,” I yelled back. “If you don’t come back it will be the worse for you!” “I’ll chance it.” A look down towards the boat-landing proved that my boat was not there, and I hurried along the main road. I did not stop running until I was fully a quarter of a mile from the mill, and then it was only to drop into a quick walk. As I hurried along I thought over my situation, and made up my mind that the best thing I could do was to call on Squire Slocum and state my case. The squire had been a warm friend of my father, and I felt certain that he would give me some sound advice, and tell me how to proceed. I reached Bend Center long before seven o’clock. I was not certain whether I would find Squire Slocum up, so I walked around to the back of the house to ask the hired girl when I could best see him. “The squire went over to Bayport an hour ago,” she said. “To Bayport?” I repeated. “It’s pretty early in the morning.” “There’s some trouble at the bank there,” replied the girl. “A messenger came over and woke us all up. He wanted the squire right away, and he had to go off without waiting to get his breakfast.” My curiosity was aroused at once. “What was the trouble at the bank?” I asked. “I don’t know.” “And you don’t know when the squire will return?” “No, sir.” I walked away slowly, my head filled with all sorts of thoughts. Could there be any connection between the visit of the two strangers and the trouble over at Bayport? and where had Mr. Norton gone during the previous evening? Had he spent the time at the tavern?