"James," he said, "this is the last chance I shall give you. If you confess to me, I will see that you have proper bail. If you do not, I shall let the law take its course. You may choose."
Jim was exasperated. If his father wished to be mean, let him be mean; at least he might drop this farce, this irritating pretense. He lost his temper.
"I don't care what you do!" he said fiercely. "Send me to jail if you want to. I guess I can stand it!"
"Is that all you have to say?"
Jim replied with a rebellious glance.
"Very well," said his father. "Then we will go back." Once in the room, he stepped to the squire's desk, and talked with him in low tones.
Then the justice turned to Jim again, a new gravity in his jolly face.
"Your father," he said, "refuses to go on your bond. Have you any sureties of your own to offer?"
"No, sir," said Jim.
Mr. Peaslee was outraged. What kind of a father was this! He half started forward to offer to be one of the two sureties which the law required, but—no, he dare not. The second surety might prove to be any sort of worthless fellow. But Jim in jail! He had not for a moment dreamed of that. He was very indignant with Mr. Edwards.