“Let us go over to Judge Green’s office in Bayport,” said Squire Slocum. “Maybe we can fix it up. I wouldn’t care to take the responsibility alone.”
This was agreed to, and the two went off at once, and the jailer locked me in once more.
But I was now lighter hearted and time passed quickly. Three hours later Mr. Markham and the squire returned, and I was let out under five thousand dollars bail.
The necessary papers had hardly been made out in Squire Slocum’s office when the jailer rushed in pale as a ghost.
“Norton has escaped!” he ejaculated.
CHAPTER XVII.
BACK TO THE MILL.
For the moment there was intense excitement among the half-dozen men who were present. The escape of a prisoner from Bend Center was an unheard-of occurrence, and for a while nobody seemed to know what to do.
“Norton escaped!” ejaculated the squire, jumping up from his chair.
“Yes, sir,” replied the jailer.