"Well, good-bye, if you call that going. But there is no need of his knowing anything about it."
"I tell you I have nothing to do with it."
"All right. But when you speak to your father about it just remember this: Mr. Gibbons is talking of bringing him before 'Squire Sprague to answer some questions he shall ask him. I'll be there when he wants me, and shall be ready to tell what I know about the codicil. Good-bye."
Gus Layton was never more frightened than he was when he opened the iron gate and started up the walk to see his father. He easily found his way into the library, for the door was not locked. He discovered his father pacing up and down the room.
"Why, Augustus, where have you been?" he demanded. "I have sent all around the house and grounds for you."
"I told you I was going to go up and see about those ponies, did I not?" replied Gus. "Well, Bob has got the advantage of us. He has paid a month's board for them, and we can't get them. He wanted me to go to that old skinflint, Mr. Gibbons, for an order, but I could not see it. We haven't got quite so far down as that yet."
"You did right and proper. We have no business to go to him for anything," said his father. "But, Augustus, you look sort of worried about something. Has anything happened to disturb you?"
"Well, yes. While I was coming up here from the livery-stable," said Gus, fixing his eyes upon his father, "Sam Houston came up and asked me if I knew who wrote that codicil."
"Who is Sam Houston, and what does he know about the codicil?" asked Mr. Layton, leaning one arm upon the mantel-piece and rubbing his hands together. His face grew a shade paler, and Gus was sure he was on the right track.
"He said you wrote it. And he said, further, that he could tell me something about it that I wanted to know. I referred him to you."