“Answer my question, or I’ll pitch you into the river,” said Frank sternly.
He did not mean what he said, but Zeke drew back in alarm.
“Quit now! I didn’t have nothin’ to do with it,” said Zeke hastily. “Me and him was over in Haywood’s pasture when dad come along with the squire in his wagon. Well, they made Phil get in, and that’s all of it, except I promised I’d come and tell your folks, so you needn’t get scared or nothin’ when he didn’t come back to-night.”
“He will come back to-night,” said Frank. “He won’t stay in the poorhouse.”
“Yes, he will. He can’t help himself. Dad’s goin’ to lock him up in the attic. I guess he won’t jump out of the window. Where you goin’! You ain’t got through fishin’, be you?”
“Yes, I’m through,” answered Frank, as he drew his line out of the water. “Just tell Phil when you go home that he’s got friends outside who won’t see him suffer.”
“Say, ain’t you goin’ to give me nothin’ for comin’ to tell you!” asked Zeke, who was always intent on the main chance.
Frank flung a nickel in his direction, which Zeke picked up with avidity.
“I guess it pays to run errands when you can get paid twice,” he reflected complacently.