"Then depend on it he never will, if we can prevent it. I don't quite understand this thing. It seems so unnatural for even a strong-tempered man like Mr. Dobson to hate a poor little chap like you so much. He acts as if he had a personal spite against you, Jed. Do you know of any reason why this should be so?"
Frank asked this because he shrewdly fancied that there must be something back of the whole thing besides mere cruelty on the farmer's part.
"Yes, I believe I do," admitted the other, slowly.
"Would you mind telling us, Jed?" continued Frank.
"No, because you are my good friends, all of you. I would trust you with anything in the world."
As the lad spoke his hand sought the bosom of his ragged shirt. When he drew it out they could see that he was holding something which he handled with the utmost reverence.
Naturally, all of the boys crowded around, anxious to see what it was he had wrapped up in that small piece of cloth in the shape of a tiny bag, and which had been fastened with a small safety-pin inside his cotton shirt.
So Jed opened it, and took out a small locket.
"I have thought from the start that he wanted to get hold of this, though why he should I could never guess. Many times he searched my clothes. Why, the first night I was in his house he crept into my attic room after he thought I was asleep, and went through all my pockets; but I had it under my pillow. That made me afraid, and I hid it away."
"Please go on. We are all mightily interested," said Frank.