hree came
home and learned what had happened, they were all on the point of
rushing over to the Morris house to thank Dab, but Mrs. Foster
interposed.

"I don't think I would. To-morrow will do as well, and you know they're
expecting Mr. and Mrs. Morris this evening."

It was harder for the boys than for Mr. Foster, that waiting, and they
lingered near the north fence two hours later, even though they knew
that the whole Kinzer family were down at the railway station waiting
for Ham and Miranda.

There was a good deal of patience to be exercised, for that train was
behind time, and the darkness of a moonless and somewhat cloudy night
had settled over the village and the outlying farms long before the
engine puffed its way in front of the station platform. Just at that
moment, Ford Foster exclaimed, "What's that smell?"

"It's like burning hay," replied Frank.

"Where can it come from, I'd like to know? We haven't had a light out at
our barn."

"Light?" exclaimed Frank. "Just look yonder!"

"Why, it's that old barn away beyond the Morris and Kinzer house.
Somebody must have set it on fire. Hullo! I thought I saw a man running.
Come on, Frank."

There was indeed a man running just then, but they did not see him, for
he was already very nearly across the field, hidden by the darkness. He
had known how to light a fire that would smolder long enough for him to
get away. There had been no sort of lingering at the railway station,
for Ham and Miranda were as anxious to get at the "surprise" they were
told was waiting for them as their friends were to have them come to it.
Before they were half-way home, however, the growing light ahead of them
attracted their attention, and then they began to hear the vigorous
shouts of "Fire" from the throats of the two boys, now re-enforced by
Mr. Foster himself. Dabney was driving the ponies, and they had to go
pretty fast for the rest of that short run.

"Surprise!" exclaimed Ham. "I should say it was. Did you light it before
you started, Dabney?"

"Don't joke, Hamilton," remarked Mrs. Kinzer. "It may be a very serious
affair for all of us. But I can't understand how that barn could have
caught fire."

CHAPTER XVI.

The Morris farm, as has been said, was a pretty large one, and the same
tendency on the part of the owners which had made them set up so very
extensive and barn-like a house, had led them, from time to time, to
provide the most liberal sort of storage for