int to Don as the prime mover in all this business?"

"I do not agree with you, sir."

"Well, perhaps that's hardly to be expected." laughed Jacob Farnum.
"However, since the real Jack Benson wasn't in that little picture so
neatly framed for inspection, let us get up closer to him, and ask him
to tell us just what did happen."

So Jack, as the party turned into the road, related the story of the
trap that had been sprung on him, and how he had escaped from it.

At the conclusion of the narrative, Mr. Farnum turned around to say
to Don:

"Young man, if you have engineered the whole of to-night's plan, I must
compliment you on your originality and ingenuity. Nothing but accident
prevented you from having a complete triumph."

"Be careful, sir, what you say about my son!" warned George Melville,
pompous in his anger.

"As it disturbs you," smiled Farnum, "I won't say any more about it.
The whole business will keep."

The elder Melville, however, pulled Mr. Farnum by the arm until he had
him well to the rear of the others.

"Now, Farnum," murmured the capitalist, in a conciliatory voice, "I am
ready to admit that it begins to look a bit as though my son may
possibly have been a bit reckless. I shall want the truth of it all
proved. But, if I am satisfied that Don has been wholly in the wrong
in anything that he has done, believe me, I shall be most ready to make
the matter right with you."

"Right with me?" repeated the boatbuilder, in amazement "What do you
mean by that?"

"Why, I mean, of course, that, if I am convinced that Don has been
headstrong and over-zealous--"

"Mr. Melville, listen to me, and understand me fully. It looks as
though to-night's business had been engineered on purpose to dissuade
Mr. Emerson from investing money in my enterprises. If that is true,
it is a matter of conspiracy, and I cannot hold out any hope to you that
I shall allow anyone to escape just punishment."

"Do you threaten my son?" demanded the elder Melville, a menacing frown
clouding his face.

"Of course not unless he can be shown to be undoubtedly guilty. For
your sake and his I hope that won't be the case. And now, sir, good
night."

They were nearing the streets of the village, and, Soon after the two
Melvilles fell behind, Mr. Farnum found a constable who took the
stranger in the blue uniform in charge.

Mr. Emerson excused himself, going to his own stopping place, but Mr.
Farnum and Jack continued wi