“Then what did you do?”
“I started after him—and I hadn’t gone more than half way up the street before I saw flames burst from the shed.”
In silence all those in the circle heard these words.
“Do you want to have the boy taken up for this, Jed?” finally asked Mr. Martin.
“No. I don’t want to bring trouble to anyone, but I’m not going to have the house burnt over my head without getting some return. I want to find Pud Snooks and ask him some questions, and then I want to have a talk with his father.”
“You’re a sensible man, Jed,” declared Mr. Martin. “Just come along with me and we will go find Pud’s father. Come, Harry! Come, Paul.”
Without more words Mr. Martin turned on his heel, and led the way up the street, several of the more curious among the crowd tagging at his heels.
CHAPTER XI—“OLD GROUCH”
“I don’t believe it was Pud who set fire to Mr. Brown’s house,” exclaimed Harry, as they walked along.
“Don’t you s’pose I know him when I see him? I have good reason to!” retorted the crippled veteran.