lacksmith spoken with more real concern, Matt would have
believed what he said, but there was that in the fellow's manner which
tended to make the boy suspicious.

"How long ago was it that the colored man left the horse?" he asked,
after a pause.

"Not more than an hour ago."

"An hour?"

"About that, as near as I can remember. I've been rather busy this
morning."

"That horse did not get away until about fifteen minutes ago,"
returned Matt coldly.

"Oh, you must be mistaken," returned the blacksmith smoothly.

"No, I am not mistaken," replied Matt, and his tones began to grow
sharper. "He just got away from me, after I rescued him from a burning
stable. He is my horse, and I intend to take him away."

As Matt spoke he crossed the blacksmith shop to where a doorway led to
the little yard beyond.

"Hold up there!" cried the blacksmith roughly. "You are not going out
there!"

"Yes, I am, and you can't stop me," returned Matt spiritedly. "I own
that horse, or at least I own a half-interest in him, and if you dare
to molest me you'll get into trouble."

"Will I?" sneered the blacksmith.

"Yes, you will. If you stop me, I'll call in the police."

At these words the blacksmith's face fell. Evidently he had not
anticipated that a mere boy would take such a decided stand.

"Yes, but that colored man--" he began, more mildly.

"If there was a colored man in the case, you can explain matters to
suit yourself. As for me, I believe you caught the horse yourself and
wanted to do what you could to keep him."

"How dare you!" cried the blacksmith, with a threatening gesture. "Do
you take me for a thief?"

"Never mind what I take you for. That is my horse, and I am going to
take him away."

And undaunted by the blacksmith's manner, Matt marched out into the
yard, and untied Billy, who was covered with sweat, and still
trembling from fright.

"It's playing a bold game you are," grumbled the man of the anvil, as
the boy led the horse through the blacksmith-shop toward the front
door. "I reckon you think you are mighty smart."

"One has to be smart to deal with such a man as you!" retorted Matt.
"Had you done the fair thing at the start, I might have rewarded you
for stopping the horse, but as it is, I don't believe you deserve a
cent."

And with this parting shot, which, by the way was fully deserved by
the dishonest blacksmith, Matt sprang upon Billy's back and rode off.

When the boy reached the alleyway