AT THE GENERAL STORE.
Both Squire Paget and the postmaster were surprised to see Ralph in conversation with Uriah Dicks and the young gentleman who was a stranger to them.
The squire had expected to hold a quiet talk with the keeper of the general store, and he was much disappointed to learn that this was to be denied to him.
However, he put on a bold front, and approached Uriah without hesitation, just as the latter looked up.
"Why, here is Squire Paget now!" exclaimed Uriah Dicks. "Squire, you are just the man I want to see!"
"I can say the same for you," returned the squire, with a sharp glance at Ralph.
"I got a twenty-dollar bill from your son yesterday, and it looks like it was going to make trouble for me," went on the storekeeper.
"It has already made enough trouble for me," retorted the squire, pointedly.
"Squire Paget, this is Mr. Kelsey, the gentleman that gave me the twenty-dollar bill," put in Ralph.
"Humph! He might have given you a twenty-dollar bill, but this is not the one," growled the squire.