is, an' what will become of him."

His anger and his tumultuous grief, his wild, irrepressible anxiety for
Leander's safety, convinced the crafty Nehemiah that he was no party to
the boy's scheme. Sudley's sorrow was not of the kind that renders the
temper pliable, and when Nehemiah sought to point a moral in the absence
of the violin, and for the first time in Sudley's presence protested
that he desired to save Leander from that device of the devil, the
master of the house shook his inhospitable fist very close indeed to
his guest's nose, and Yerby was glad enough to follow that feature
unimpaired out to his horse at the bars, saying little more.

He aired his views, however, at each house where he made it convenient
to stop on his way home, and took what comfort there might be in the
role of martyr. Leander was unpopular in several localities, and
was esteemed a poor specimen of the skill of the Sudleys in rearing
children. He had been pampered and spoiled, according to general report,
and more than one of his successive interlocutors were polite enough to
opine that the change to Nehemiah's charge would have been a beneficent
opportunity for much-needed discipline. Nehemiah was not devoid of some
skill in interrogatory. He contrived to elicit speculations without
giving an intimation of unduly valuing the answer.

"He's 'mongst the moonshiners, I reckon," was the universal surmise.
"He'll be hid mighty safe 'mongst them."

For where the still might be, or who was engaged in the illicit
business, was even a greater mystery than Leander's refuge. Nothing more
definite could be elicited than a vague rumor that some such work was in
progress somewhere along the many windings of Hide-and-Seek Creek.

Nehemiah Yerby had never been attached to temperance principles, and,
commercially speaking, he had thought it possible that whiskey on which
no tax had been paid might be more profitably dispensed at his
store than that sold under the sanctions of the government. These
considerations, however, were as naught in view of the paralysis which
his interests and schemes had suffered in Leander's flight. He dwelt
with dismay upon the possibility that he might secure the postmastership
without the capable assistant whose services were essential. In this
perverse sequence of events disaster to his application was more to
be desired than success. He foresaw himself browbeaten, humiliated,
detected, a butt for the ridicule of the