A lively talk followed, and then upon payment for the damage done, the colored men were allowed to go, first being warned by Matt and Andy not to show themselves in the store again. Had they not paid up they would have been arrested.
After this scene was ended one of the policemen remained in the vicinity of the place for all the while the store remained open. But nothing more occurred to disturb the auction sales.
Business in Easton was so good that they remained there until Tuesday of the following week. During that time they took in nearly two hundred dollars, leaving them a profit, after all expenses were met, of forty-five dollars.
On Saturday morning Matt and Andy were called to Belvidere, the county seat, to testify against Barberry for the robbery at Phillipsburg. Strange to say, Barberry pleaded guilty, so the two boys had no trouble in the way of being detained as witnesses against him. The corn salve doctor was held for sentence.
After leaving Easton Matt and Andy struck out for Bethlehem and Allentown. The weather was now growing gradually colder, but they calculated 227 that they would have at least a month of weather which would be fit to travel in, even in this mountainous country.
“At Allentown we can stop long enough for me to take a trip to Philadelphia and buy goods,” remarked Andy as they were driving out of Easton.
“Just as you say,” returned Matt. “I am glad we have to stock up so often, and I am looking forward to the time when it will be necessary for us to buy a larger wagon and get another horse to put beside Billy.”
“It will hardly pay us to buy another horse this fall. You must remember that we are to locate in some place during the winter. I have no desire to move around much when the thermometer is below the freezing point.”
They were soon on the outskirts of Easton, and then they struck a rather rough road leading over numerous hills and around jagged rocks.
“By jinks! I believe we have missed the way,” remarked Matt, as at last he brought Billy to a standstill. “That stable-keeper said the road was a good one, and I fail to find this so.”