don't you go to work?"

"You better mind your own business!" with a snarl. "I am a gentleman and
wasn't brought up to work."

"The greater misfortune!" shortly. "If you had known the dignity of
labor, you would not be the wretched man you are now. Go to work and
stop making a beast of yourself, or you may end your days on the gallows
or in a prison."

"If he don't give it to me now, I'll get it out of him another time,"
the man growled. "I've a right to the money, and I'll flay him alive if
I don't get it!"

"If I hear of your harming the boy I'll have you sent to jail," said
Dick decidedly. "Run home, boy, and give the money to your mother. If
this man troubles you or your mother, go and tell General Putnam, and we
will see that the offence is not repeated."

"We'll see whether you will or not!" hissed the man, suddenly flying at
Dick as if to annihilate him.

In a moment Dick was on the defensive, and, then, taking the offensive,
sent the man rolling into the gutter.

"There! Perhaps you think I can do as I say now!" he said. "Keep on with
your abuse of your wife and family and you will catch it still worse. A
word to the wise is sufficient."

The boy ran away, quickly disappearing down a narrow street, while the
man, getting on his feet, glared at Dick and said:

"You're a rebel, that's what you are, and all the rebels will be driven
out'n this town, and then we gentlemen can do as we like."

"You gentlemen may be in jail or hanged by that time, and so know
nothing about it," dryly. "You are a pretty sort of gentlemen! I'd
rather not be one if you are a good specimen."

"I'll keep you in mind, my fine fellow," with a snarl. "You don't strike
me for nothing, let me tell you that!"

"I did not I struck you for a good reason, and whenever the occasion
rises again I will do the same, and you may remember that!" and then
Dick turned on his heel and walked away, having caught sight of a man
whom he had seen on the other side of the city, and whom he suspected to
be one of Hughson's cronies, having seen him in the tavern near the
Bowling Green. He followed the man carelessly so as to avoid suspicion,
and presently saw him go into a low groggery down the street. The boy's
father stood watching Dick for a time and then went off, Dick following
the man he had seen and paying no attention to the other. He found the
fellow sitting on a bench with others, but kept out of sight as much as
possible, not knowing if he