er lover, for this was the relation my young tyrant
sustained to her, in spite of his and her tender age. He was not quite
willing to ask her himself, but he purposed to find out by some means. I
was very sure that Ham's father had not given him thirty dollars for
horse hire within two months.

I did not sleep much that night, I was so nervous and excited. Early the
next morning I went down to Riverport with Clarence. As we drove by the
post-office I saw Captain Fishley and the senator come out of the house.
I felt safe then. How Flora hugged me when I met her! How she wept when
I told her I had been put in jail! And how glad Emily was to see me!

We breakfasted with our friends, and as my examination before the
magistrate was to take place at ten o'clock, the whole party started for
Torrentville immediately. Sim Gwynn had some doubts about going up to
Torrentville, and said "Hookie" with more than usual emphasis, when the
thing was proposed to him; but Mr. Goodridge promised to save him from
Barkspear's wrath, and he consented to go.

At ten o'clock our entire party, seven in number, entered the office of
Squire Ward, where the preliminary examination was to take place.

CHAPTER XXVI.

CONCLUSION.

"You are the fellow that stole the money Ethan sent me," squealed Miss
Larrabee, as I entered the office.

"Not much," I replied.

"O, but I know you did it; Ham Fishley says so, and I reckon he knows
who took it."

"I reckon he does, too," I answered, as I took a seat assigned to me by
the constable.

Captain Fishley and Ham soon appeared, attended by the squire, the
latter of whom, to the apparent horror of his brother, took the trouble
to come to me, and cordially shake my hand.

"You ought to have told me about this trouble before," said he, in a
whisper.

"I meant to keep my promise, whatever happened to me," I replied,
cheered by his kindness and good will.

Ham Fishley looked very pale, and his father looked very ugly. Quite a
number of witnesses were present, including the postmaster of Riverport.
The examination was commenced, and I pleaded not guilty. Clarence had
employed the smartest lawyer in town to manage my case, and I had had a
long talk with him the night before. The missing letter was traced to
the Riverport office, after which it had disappeared. Captain Fishley
swore that I brought the mail up to Torrentville, and Ham that he had
seen me counting what appeared to be a large sum o