, if you want to get away from that m

esponded the boy

in the crotch of the tree, his only weapon of defense,

ere's a crossing plank a littl

, dashing into the water, and he cam

ay in the direction the tramp had taken. "That fellow will be too bus

a shudder. "He's a terrible man.

t. As Frank, keeping up with his pace, neared the vehicle, he noticed across it

t to town," remarked the boy, seizing the

ou?" observed Frank. "All right, I

of the lines. The animal was old and lazy, ho

d Frank, pointing ahead a little distance

rom here," said Ned Foreman anx

mong the brush. He was slapping his face and body as if he had not yet gotten r

t fellow," remarked Frank. "Don't tremble so. He shan

the wagon, he stooped twice to pick up two pieces of wo

mile to houses. If that man overtakes us you must help me beat him off. If we can'

said the lad, "but I've got quite an amo

uddenly. "There's no nee

le that t

d just come into view. On its seat was a single passenger, with a s

eat sigh of relief. "Stop till he passes us. Oh, Mr. Houston," called out Frank to th

get a good view of the spot toward which Frank pointed. "I reck

won't follow us, will you,

here's a gang of them been hanging around Tipton the last day or two, begging, a

"for, from what this boy tells me, that f

s companion urged up his laggard horse. His face had cleared, and he

cular you're bound

es

e is

at the to

five minutes they arrived and halted on the shady sid

ve done for me. If that man had got hold of me he would have robbed me of every cent I had. I've been tryi

nd try it again when yo

an

who runs half a dozen of these scissors grinders over the country. At Tipton here another employe will relieve me.

, then?" asked the

ave been working to that end," said Ned in a serious way that won Frank's respect. "I

to get away to school myself soon. Say, what

came down, forming steps. Reaching in he moved a bracket, and a section of the side of the wagon slid back,

There was a click and a spark of light. He pulled

hat?" asked th

ned Ned. "Step in and see what a famou

Frank, as he glanced around the inte

an who owns these outfits is working up some good routes. If you ha

that made the place delightful to Frank. He was astonished and pleased to observe how deftly his companion handled the knife, putt

ame on the handl

Frank with satisfactio

d a minute later, handin

lade there that

looking over the knife in a gratified way

w who has to work and wants to work. There's my man," he added suddenly, as there was a hail outside, and F

I met you," said Frank,

ratefully. "I hope I'll meet you again some time, b

paused, and then added q

t of his aunt and changed his mind. Nothing would have delighted him more than to hav

a whistle. As he came up the walk to the house he heard voices inside. His aunt

wondering who the owner might be, stepped int

et. "Here is that precious nephew of yours, Miss Brown. I say