“So I could,” returned Vernon, more reassured by this consideration than by his faith in Temple’s fair dealing.
“Well, if you’re all ready, we may as well vanish. You can stay with me to-night, and go to the city in the morning. Watch the papers, and see if there is anything that promises advantage to us.”
“All right.”
The two men moved off, much to Harry’s relief. He was in momentary dread of a sneeze, and this would betray his whereabouts to Temple and his partner.
What these two desperate men would have done to him, had they discovered him, it was not easy to guess; but, under the influence of vexation and alarm, they might have brought upon him worse trouble than any he had yet experienced.
Such, indeed, was likely, from what he knew of Ralph Temple. He was generally considered a disreputable character, and the villagers were ignorant as to how he made his living.
From time to time he came to the village store provided with money; but where it came from no one knew, as he was not known to do anything, except to roam the fields and woods with his gun. Sometimes he disappeared for a week or a fortnight at a time, but where he went, unless to the city, no one knew.
Harry conjectured, from what he had just seen, that Temple was in league with wicked men in the city, with whom he was engaged in violations of the law, and in this surmise he was correct.
He understood a little better now Ralph Temple’s object in selecting as his abode this lonely and out-of-the-way place.
Harry did not venture to descend from his elevated perch until the two men had ample time to get beyond sight and hearing.