et,
so that he might not take cold, and thus stiffen his muscles before
being called upon to toe the mark again, toward the end of the meet, for
the road race.

"Well, I feel just like a bird, and that's a fact, Bristles," replied
Fred, as he turned smilingly upon his chum. "Everything seems to be
coming my way, outside of this athletic meet, you know."

"I heard Colon tell how you and your father came over to his uncle's
last night, bringing a stranger along with you; and that he turned out
to be the witness you've been looking for so long--Hiram Masterson. Say,
that was the name of that farmer and his girl we helped that time;
wasn't it, Fred?"

"Sure," answered the other, for he felt that so faithful a friend as
Bristles ought to be taken into his confidence, now that all danger was
over. "He and Hiram are brothers, and both of 'em are nephews of Squire
Lemington."

"And by the way, I don't see Buck's face around; what d'ye reckon
happened to him to keep him away, when he's so set on athletics?"

So Fred, seeing his chance, explained in a few sentences all that had
happened on the preceding afternoon. Great was the astonishment of
Bristles.

"Talk to me about luck, there never was anything to equal yours, Fred!"
he declared, as he shook hands warmly. "And so Hiram gave all his
evidence under oath, and in the presence of witnesses, so there's no
chance of his being kidnapped again, I guess. That'll knock the old
syndicate silly; eh?"

"It has already, they tell me," Fred went on, composedly. "Word must
have been sent to Squire Lemington, for early this morning he was down
at the telegraph office wiring his chief, and getting an answer. My
father has received a message from the Squire saying that he and the
president of the big company would be glad to make an appointment with
him, for the purpose of talking over business matters. And he also said
that he felt sure they could come to some agreement that would be
satisfactory to both sides, and so avoid the expense and delay of a
lawsuit."

"Bully! bully, all around; that must mean a hundred thousand or two for
your folks. But I hope you keep your eye out for that tricky Squire,
Fred. If there's any loop-hole for treachery he'll find it, mark me."

"Oh! we're in the hands of Judge Colon now; and you can catch a weasel
asleep sooner than he could be found napping. Rest easy, Bristles, the
game's already won, and the fun over, all but the shouting."

"Isn't