"I want both of you boys to be here at exactly two o'clock. Don't fail to come, no matter how much business you may have on hand."
"What's the matter?" Teddy asked, immediately thinking some new trouble threatened him.
"There will be plenty of time for explanation after you get here," was the mysterious reply, and then the deacon signified that the interview was at an end by turning to speak with some gentlemen who had been watching the boys closely.
"What do you suppose is up now?" Teddy asked with a sigh, and Dan replied, mournfully:
"I'm sure I don't know," but in his own mind he was convinced that the deacon intended to surrender the boy whose surety he had appeared willing to become on the evening previous.
Teddy was so disturbed by dismal forebodings that Dan was very careful to hide his suspicions, since it could do only harm to discuss them, and the two parted, feeling as if Uncle Nathan had outwitted Mr. Harvey.
On retuning to his place of business Teddy did not have the heart to wait upon the customers, and after telling Tim what had been said to him, he added:
"I can't work; it's no use to try. There must have been something new come up, an' I won't be able to show that I'm innocent of robbing the store."
Dan could give him no consolation, for he also felt that matters were approaching a dangerous crisis, and he simply said:
"Loaf around, old fellow, an' I'll look out for the work here. Try to put it out of your mind, for things won't be made better by worryin' over 'em."