"I haven't got the money with me."
"You haven't!" exclaimed Bud, in dismay. "Where is it?"
"Locked up in Squire Jones' safe."
The bully was thunderstruck, and gave expression to some exclamations too forcible to be recorded.
It was evident that he was unprepared for such news, and he seemed to be eager to apply his cruel whip to the little fellow toward whom he felt such unreasonable hatred.
"I've got a settlement to make with you, any way," he said, advancing threateningly toward him.
"What have I done," asked Fred, backing away from him, "that you should take every chance you can get, Bud, to hurt me?"
"What have you done?" repeated the bully, "you've done a good deal, as you know well enough."
But at this juncture, when poor Fred thought there was no escape for him, Bud Heyland, very curiously, changed his mind.