resolute.

"So I will when I have got what I want," answered the tramp.

"What do you want?"

"Look at me and you can tell what I want."

"I presume you want money, but I have none to give you."

"You are lying. You have plenty of money about your clothes."

"I said I had no money to give you."

"Didn't I see you get a roll of bills at the bank?"

"Very likely you did, but what about that?"

"I want some of them. I won't take all, but I am a poor man, and I need
them more than the man you are taking them to."

"Whom do you think I am taking them to?"

"Squire Carter. He is the only man in Arden that keeps no much money in
the bank."

"You are mistaken; the money is not his."

"Whose, then?"

"I don't feel called upon to tell you."

"Well, that's neither here nor there. I want some of it. I'll be content
with half, whoever owns it."

"You won't get any. Let go the horse, or I'll run you down."

"You're a smart kid, but you are no match for me. I don't scare worth a
cent."

"Listen to me," said Andy; "if you should succeed in robbing me, you
would be caught and sent to jail. How will that suit you?"

"It wouldn't be the first time I've been in jail. I'd just as soon be
there as to tramp around without a cent of money."

Andy was not surprised to hear that he had to deal with an ex-convict.
He understood that this man was a desperate character. He saw that he
was a strong, powerful man, in the full vigor of life.

Any contest between them would be most unequal. He was but sixteen and
the tramp was near forty. What could he do?

"I'll tell you what I'll do," he said, willing to try an experiment.
"I've got two dollars of my own. I'll give you that if you'll let go my
horse's bridle and give me no more trouble."

The tramp laughed mockingly.

"Do you take me for a fool?" he asked.

"Why?"

"Do you think I will be satisfied with two dollars, when you have a
hundred in your pocket? Two dollars wouldn't last me a day."

"I have nothing to do with that. It is all I mean to give you."

"Then I shall have to help myself."

His cool impudence made Andy angry, and he brought down the whip
forcibly on the horse's back.

Naturally the animal started, and nearly tore himself from the grasp of
the tramp.

"So that is your game," said the fellow between his closed teeth. "If
you try that again I'll pull you out of the buggy and give you such a
beating as you never had before."

Andy remained co