“Who did?”
“It’s not my place to tell.”
“It ain’t, eh? Well, you’ll tell or you’ll git, and mighty quick, too!” The foreman was angry.
“Then I’ll go,” replied Fred; “if the fellow that threw that rope won’t own up and take his medicine, I’ll take it for him; but I won’t tell.”
And he went. Rolling his few clothes in a bundle, he slipped out of the old shack into the grove near by. All the word he left was this note, which he put in the till of Dan’s trunk:
Dear Dan,
I am discharged because I won’t “beller.” Perhaps I’m doing wrong, but my head is so troubled just now I can’t think very clearly. I wish I might have a word with you. Thank you for all your kindness. Say good-by to the boys. I hope they won’t think I am as bad as some would make me out to be.
Fred.
P. S. Please take care of my bridle and saddle. I’ll send for them later.