sed," said Alice, as she slipped her arm about the waist of
the trembling old lady. "I heard the sheriff say you could stay on
for some time yet."

"I know, dearie, but it wouldn't be _our_ farm, and Pa and me
wouldn't feel like stayin' when Squire Bladsell owns it. It would be
like livin' on charity. No, we'll go as soon as the sale is over. But
you're a dear, good girl to try and help us."

"They have helped us a lot, Mother--all of 'em!" exclaimed Mr. Apgar.
"You movin' picture folks have been real kind to us, and the money
you paid for the use of the farm come in mighty handy, seein' that
some of the crops wasn't over and above good. Yes, we'll never forget
you--never."

He and his wife turned into the house, and the hired men went about
their tasks.

"I suppose we'll have to wait until Sandy comes back," spoke Mr.
Pertell. "I don't want to set the barn afire until he's here. For,
not only do I want him on hand, as I said, to represent his father,
but I'm depending on him to lead his men, and some of the others, in
an attempt to put out the fire. I want plenty of action in this
scene. So we'll wait."

"I wonder what has happened to him?" mused Ruth. But no one knew.

The carpenter Mr. Pertell had hired to cut away part of the roof
asked if he should set about his task.

"No, I think we'll wait until Sandy comes back," replied the manager.
"You can get all ready, though. Russ, I suppose your camera is in
shape?"

"Oh, yes. In fact I've got two--one for emergencies."

"That's good. Plenty of film on hand?"

"All we'll need, I think."

"Well, then, the only thing to do is to wait."

Meanwhile Sandy was keeping on after the daring and mysterious
fugitive. Fortunately for the young farmer his horse was a
comparatively fleet one, or he would have lost sight of the auto soon
after the strange race began. As it was he managed to keep the
doctor's car in sight for a considerable distance.

And then, so suddenly that it seemed like a trick of fate, something
occurred which completely turned the tables in favor of Sandy. The
fleeing man in the auto found himself behind a load of hay, that
occupied a considerable part of the road. Sandy was close enough to
hear the frantic tooting of the horn, but either the driver of the
hay wagon did not hear, or he had a constitutional objection to
autoists, for he did not pull out.

Thus the strange man was obliged to turn to one side and, unluckily
for him, but luckily