?" demanded Frank, not yet guessing what was likely to detain
his friend.

"Because he's at our house," chuckled Zeke. "Dad and Squire Pope have
carried him to the poorhouse, and he's goin' to stay there for good."

This was a surprise. In his astonishment, Frank nearly let go his rod.
He was eager now to question Zeke further.

"You don't mean to say Phil has been carried to the poorhouse against
his will?" he exclaimed.

"I reckon he was anxious to go," said Zeke.

"Where was he when your father and Squire Pope committed this outrage?"
said Frank indignantly.

"I thought you'd be mad," said Zeke, with the same unpleasant chuckle.

"Answer my question, or I'll pitch you into the river," said Frank
sternly.

He did not mean what he said, but Zeke drew back in alarm.

"Quit now! I didn't have nothin' to do with it," said Zeke hastily.
"Me and him was over in Haywood's pasture when dad come along with the
squire in his wagon. Well, they made Phil get in, and that's all of
it, except I promised I'd come and tell your folks, so you needn't get
scared or nothin' when he didn't come back to-night."

"He will come back to-night," said Frank. "He won't stay in the
poorhouse."

"Yes, he will. He can't help himself. Dad's goin' to lock him up in the
attic. I guess he won't jump out of the window. Where you go-in'! You
ain't got through fishin', be you?"

"Yes, I'm through," answered Frank, as he drew his line out of the
water. "Just tell Phil when you go home that he's got friends outside
who won't see him suffer."

"Say, ain't you goin' to give me nothin' for comin' to tell you!" asked
Zeke, who was always intent on the main chance.

Frank flung a nickel in his direction, which Zeke picked up with
avidity.

"I guess it pays to run errands when you can get paid twice," he
reflected complacently.

CHAPTER XI. PHILIP'S NEW ROOM.

We return to Phil.

"Foller me, boy!" said Mr. Tucker, as he entered the house, and
proceeded to ascend the front steps.

Philip had formed his plans, and without a word of remonstrance, he
obeyed. The whole interior was dingy and dirty. Mrs. Tucker was not a
neat woman, and everything looked neglected and slipshod.

In the common room, to the right, the door of which was partly open,
Philip saw some old men and women sitting motionless, in a sort of weary
patience. They were "paupers," and dependent for comfort on the worthy
couple, who regarded them merely as human mach