"You, Carrington!" cried the squire, in some astonishment.
"Yes."
"You are running a mighty big risk," sniffed the squire.
"I reckon I can stand it," laughed Leander Carrington. "I do not believe the boy is guilty."
"I do."
"Besides, he did my wife and daughter a service that I shall ever remember," went on Mr. Carrington, warmly. "He stopped my team when your son let them run away from him."
The squire did not relish this remark, and he turned away with some saying on his lips to the effect that if a man wanted to make a fool of himself, why, it was a free country.
"You are very kind, Mr. Carrington," said Ralph to the gentleman. "I did not expect this."
"It's all right. I don't expect you'll run away."
"You can rest assured that I will not."