"We want to hear your story first," said the doctor's son.
"If this here feller stole them things, as you say he did, the best thing to do is to tote him off to the lock-up," interposed Aaron Masterson. "He's evidently tryin' to make up a slick yarn so as to git off."
"Aaron, you can't take him to the town jail to-night, it's too late," said the farmer's wife. "Remember, the travelin' is powerful bad, too."
"Then I reckon we can tie him up in the barn till mornin'," answered her husband, with an inquiring look at the two young hunters.
"We can do that," said Snap. "But first we might listen to what he has to say."
"You won't let me go—if I tell you something very important?" asked
Kiddy Leech.
"Not yet."
"All right then, I won't say a word," answered the tramp, and a set look came over his somewhat besotted face.
He realized that he was in a serious situation and made up his mind that Ham Spink and Carl Dudder must help him out of it. He knew the two boys were well-to-do and reasoned that their parents would do almost anything to keep their sons out of jail.
"Going to tie me up in the barn and starve me to death, eh?" he said sourly. "I wouldn't treat a dog that way."