"Are you positive it was Ben who set them on!" Jean asked.
"Oh, yes, there is no doubt about it. I found a letter from him in the pocket of the coat of one of the men who attacked me. I have the coat now in my possession as well as the letter. The latter speaks for itself."
"And so Ben did that!" Jean murmured to herself.
"But that is not all, Miss Benton. You have heard, I suppose, what he did Friday night?"
"Yes, Mrs. Dempster has told me all about it. And you think Ben was back of that, too?"
"Indeed he was. The two men we caught said so, and they are to swear to it at the trial, and bring the other men who were with them."
"Will there be a trial?"
"It will be held to-morrow in the hall at the Corner. I am going to put a stop to such attacks and bring the guilty ones to task, if it is at all possible. It is a very strange thing for one family to rule a community like this, persecute innocent men, and drive them from the parish. It is a mystery to me that the people have permitted it for so long."
"Who will conduct the trial?" Jean enquired.
"Squire Hawkins. He is the only Justice of the Peace here."