The deacon inferred, with reason, from the sudden manner in which this conversation ceased as he came in, and the scowl Mrs. Pipkin gave him, that his own conduct had been the topic of remark.
“Peternot is hard as a rock!” he said; then added quickly, addressing Mrs. Pipkin, “Call the boys, or your husband; tell ’em to harness up old Maje and put him in the buggy, while I change my clothes. I’ve thought of a little business in the city to-day.”
Mrs. Chatford and Annie exchanged glances; and the former whispered, “I knew he couldn’t be satisfied to let Jack go off so!” Then, following him to the bedroom, “I’m glad you are going! I want you to see the doctor, and tell him about Jack. _He_ will do what he can for him, I’m sure!”
“I guess there’s no danger but what Jack will have everything done for him he deserves,” was the ambiguous reply.
“Couldn’t you have any influence at all with the squire?” said Mrs. Chatford, handing him his second-best suit of clothes.
“No more than the wind that blows! Strange,” added the good deacon, “how a man can be so set in his way, and refuse to let any considerations of reason or humanity have weight with him!”
“Yes, it is, very strange,” remarked Mrs. Chatford, quietly.
“O papa!” cried Kate, running into the room, “what is it about bailing Jack? Would that keep him out of jail? and could you do it?”
“Hush, child!” said her father. “Bailing him might keep him out of jail a little while; but what will that amount to? He will have his trial all the same, when the court sits. The evidence is clear against him. He did break into Peternot’s house; and if he didn’t steal the money, he stole the bag it was in; that’s the way the squire argues. I’d bail him if that would get him clear of the scrape, but it won’t.”
Just then Mose came in haste into the house, with the astonishing announcement that two of the “Huswick tribe” wanted to see his father.
“Cub and Hank?” cried Mr. Chatford from the bedroom.
[Illustration: BRINGING IN THE TREASURE.—Page 241.]
“No; Hod and Hick.” Hick (short for Hezekiah), aged twelve, was the sixth of this interesting family of boys. “They’ve got something; I shouldn’t wonder—”
“Bring ’em in!” said the deacon, “and be quick! What can the scamps be after!”