little effort to solve the mystery.

That it should now be cleared up so satisfactorily, with all blame
removed from Fred, was gratifying to him in the extreme, for he was a
true and sincere friend of our young hero.

Mr. Simmons' surprise at seeing officer Coombs on such an errand can
hardly be imagined. Of course he had to give himself up and go with the
sheriff--a prisoner charged with a grave offense.

A hearing in his case was arranged for the following day to come before
Judge Plummer.

Mr. Simmons gave bonds for his appearance at the trial, and devoted the
rest of the day to preparing his defense with his lawyer. Wondering why
he had been arrested, and going over in his own mind every possible
cause that could lead to it, he thought of the statement which Tim and
Matthew had signed about the assault. He took his pocketbook from his
coat, and looked among his papers for it.

It was not there. He was alarmed to find it missing. He asked his wife
about it, but she knew nothing of it.

"I must have lost it somewhere," he admitted to himself with a shudder.
"Fool that I was for doing wrong. I believe it has led to my arrest, but
why I cannot understand."

When Matthew learned that Jacob Simmons had commenced work on the
flockers with Fred he was alarmed. He talked the matter over with Tim.
Both felt uneasy and unhappy, but they could see no way to help the
case, so left it to fate, which speedily did its work.

Revenge to Matthew was a sad failure--had almost ruined him. Every
effort he had made had recoiled upon him so unexpectedly and
persistently that now he was beset on all sides with danger of exposure
and punishment.

Fred--his rival--had stood up manfully under fire without flinching. He
had won at every point and was now fast regaining his old position.

"His friendship, too, with Nellie Dutton is re-established, and I can do
no more to prevent it," sighed Matthew regretfully. "I met her this
morning and she would not speak to me, but she entertained Fred all last
evening."

While thus meditating, the report that Jacob Simmons had been arrested
for burning Mr. Rexford's store reached Matthew. He hurried home and to
his room, and there threw himself upon his bed and wept bitterly.
Disappointment, disgrace, and humiliation all crowded upon him, and the
inevitable step that he must take stared him cruelly in the face.

His heart beat with bitter anguish as he thought of all this--of his
good home