Bill, who was an all-around scoundrel,
merely regarded him as a favorable object of robbery when he spied his
gold watch chain. Now, however, the boy was a source of danger.

"Come over here, and I'll tell you all about it," said Bill. "Oh, you
needn't be scared. I won't hurt you. I got all I wanted off of you. You
see your friend got a little uppish after we carried him off, and so we
had--_to hit him this way_!"

The last words were spoken quickly and were accompanied by a terrific
blow aimed at Billy's chin. The boy sank in the roadway without a moan.
He lay white and apparently lifeless, while Bill, with a satirical grin
on his face, regarded him.

"Well, you won't come to life this little while, young feller," he
muttered. "I'll just put you over this hedge for safekeeping, so as you
won't attract undue attention, and then be on my way."

He picked the unconscious boy up as if he had been a feather and placed
him behind the hedge. Then, with unconcern written on his brutal face,
the rascal walked on. He was bound for a neighboring village to get
provisions; for, till they knew how the land lay, none of the Judson
gang dared to leave the deserted house. Bill, in his rough clothes,
would attract little or no attention. But the others were smartly
dressed and wore jewelry, and Donald had on yachting clothes. Had they
been seen they could not have failed to be noticed in that simple
community.

"This must be my lucky day," muttered Bill, as he walked along. "I got
my pay for that job last night, and now I've got a gold watch and chain
and fifteen dollars beside. Tell you what, Bill, old-timer, I won't go
back to that old house again. I'll just leave that bunch up there, and
beat it out of these parts in my motor-boat. That's what I'll do--go,
while the goin's good, because I kin smell trouble coming sure as next
election."

CHAPTER XIX.

WHAT A "HAYSEED" DID.

Billy opened his eyes. His head swam dizzily, and he felt sick and
faint. The hot sun was beating down on him, but at first he thought he
was at home and in bed. Then he began to remember. He sat up, and then,
not without an effort, rose to his feet dizzily.

"Where on earth am I?" he thought. "And what happened? Let's see what
time it is."

But his watch pocket was empty, and then full recollection of what had
occurred came back to him. He was still rather painfully trying to
regain the road when he heard the sound of a voice. It was a very