The convict told a pitiful story. Ralph believed it to be a true one. To further his own avaricious ends, Farrington had devised a villainous plot to send the man to the penitentiary. He had escaped. He had documents that would cause Farrington not only to disgorge his ill-gotten gains, but would send him to jail.
“I want to get to where those documents are hidden,” said the convict. “Then to find Farrington, 233 and I shall right your wrongs as well as my own.”
Ralph reflected deeply over the matter in hand. He resolved on a course of proceedings and submitted it to his companion.
He offered to take the convict to the isolated home of Amos Greenleaf, where he could remain safely in retirement. Ralph promised to get him comfortable garments and provide for his board and lodging. In a few days he would see him again and help him to find Farrington.
The young fireman was now released from the handcuffs. He calculated the location of the place where Greenleaf lived.
“It is about fifteen miles to the spot I told you of,” he explained to the convict.
“Can we reach it without being seen by any one?” anxiously inquired his companion.
“Yes, I can take a route where we need not pass a single habitation.”
It was afternoon when they reached the home of old Amos Greenleaf.
Ralph experienced no difficulty in arranging that the convict remain there for a few days. He gave Greenleaf some money, and, promising to see the convict very soon, proceeded to Wilmer.