When he had finished his breakfast, Mrs. Jones went with him to the office, and calling the superintendent aside, said,—
“This boy is no thief. He is honest and right in what he has done.”
“We shall soon find out about it,” was the reply. “Here comes Rosencamp.”
Captain Bill rode up to the office door, dismounted, and tied his horse. To the group of men and boys who quickly surrounded him he told, with many threats and much rough language, the story of his night ride, and denounced the wickedness of Joe.
“Ef I once git my hands on ’im,” he muttered, “he’ll never want to see another hoss agin as long as he lives!”
Tired with his journey, splashed with mud, his face red with anger, he entered the office and demanded the gray horse.
“Was it your horse that the boy took?” inquired the superintendent.
“Course it was,” replied Captain Bill, with a fine pretence of indignation.
“Where did you get the horse?” was the next question.