or apprehension. He found a lamp on a low mantel and
lighted it. As he went toward the room adjoining, he heard Mr. Rack call
cheerily, "Light up the car, boys! Drive up to the yard here, if you
will."

The scene Phil discovered in the front room would have been horrifying
but for the calm upon him, to which allusion has just been made. Mr.
Peek, dressed as if for work, sat on the edge of the bed, his face
covered by his hands while blood stained his fingers and dripped, like
the dropping of water, upon the oil-cloth covering the floor.

Hastily Way helped the old man to rise. He wanted the outer air he
said--his chair near the kitchen door. The lad led him as he wished,
then brought water and a towel. Helping himself, then, Mr. Peek bathed
an ugly wound above and to the left of his left eyebrow. A revolver in
his hand, Mr. Rack sat on the lower steps of the porch. His prisoner sat
on the ground before him and the detective had taken the precaution of
slipping handcuffs upon him.

Billy, Paul and Dave had now arrived upon the scene, but not one
ventured a word.

"Are you able to ride to town, Mr. Peek?" asked Mr. Rack. "You'll be so
much better there than here."

But no, the old gentleman would not go. He was not much hurt, he said,
and would feel perfectly safe to remain alone. "Safer than I have really
been for many a day, I don't doubt," he added. "But if he had struck the
temple, as he surely tried to, he would have killed me," shuddered the
aged farmer. "Lord, I have suffered as I have deserved!"

The latter words were low, as if spoken in prayer. Then quite aloud
again, "Take him with you. You might drop in to-morrow. Maybe my boys
will be out this way." The latter words were accompanied by a smile.
"You and your automobile did good work to-night, boys! However you
happened along, I can't think! And this gentleman with you?"

"It's quite a story, Mr. Peek. I'll tell you all about it when you've
rested some," said Way, holding a lamp, while Billy tied a soft, clean
handkerchief over the wound. Worth was gentle and clever as a woman at
such things.

"Thunder and lightning! It's _Pickem!_ I thought----"

Paul's violent exclamation caused all the boys to look at once to the
man on the ground. The dull glow of the lamp had suddenly fallen upon
the fellow's face.

"So did I! I thought----"

"That it was Coster," broke in Bob Rack gently. "But it is neither he
nor any other than Mr. Adam W. Kull, of Harkvil