"How can you, Mr. Blent?" asked Mrs. Tingley, feeling some disposition to cross swords with him.
"Never you mind. I'll do it. Goin' back to-day, of course, Preston; ain't you?"
"I'm hoping to get this crowd of young folk—and Mrs. Tingley—across to the island. And I think the snow is going to stop soon."
"I'll go with you," declared Blent, promptly. "Don't you go till I see you again, Preston. I gotter ketch 'Squire Keller fust."
He hurried out of the inn. Mrs. Tingley and Ruth looked at the foreman questioningly. The girl cried:
"Oh! what will he do?"
"He's going to get a warrant for the boy," answered Preston, scowling.
"How can he? What has Jerry done?"
"That don't make no difference," said the woodsman. "Old Rufus just about runs the politics of this town. Keller will do what he says. Rufus will get the boy off the island by foul means if he can't by fair."