The boys might be ever so far away, looking for Mr. Berkeley, and there ought to be some one there who would attend to things. She was afraid that Joel had gone off and got drunk.
There had been times when he had done this thing, and she could imagine no other reason for his staying away and sending no message. So she resolved to send Jenny to her father to ask him if he could not come to Hyson Hall, to stay a day or two until things were straightened out. She could not be left alone another night.
After a very early breakfast, Jenny had walked to town and taken the train for a station within a mile of her father’s house. Susan was rejoiced to see the boys, but was not surprised to hear them say that they must start off again after breakfast. But they did not start off again.
When Phil heard of Joel’s continued absence, he made up his mind that they would not leave home until either Joel or Jenny’s father should arrive; but he must ride back to town to give information in regard to Emile.
They had passed by the town so early that morning that he thought Mr. Harrison—the lawyer to whom he intended to make his complaint—was probably still in bed.
As soon as possible he started off, leaving Chap behind in charge of the stock and other farm affairs, with special injunctions to take good care of Kit and get him in condition for another trip on the morrow.
Chap determined that Kit should be well fed that day, but when he went to the grain-bins he was surprised to find them all empty. Kit and the two work-horses had to get along as well as they could on hay and a little corn which Chap found in the corn-house.
When Phil reached Mr. Harrison’s office he introduced himself,—for that gentleman did not know him,—and then told the tale of Emile’s attempting to shoot him, and of his stealing his gun; also relating what Susan had told him of Emile’s conduct at Hyson Hall.
Mr. Harrison listened quietly, and then asked,—
“Were there any witnesses to young Touron’s attempt on your life?”