“Oh, yes, I think he will,” spoke Andy. “You’d better pay over that money, Mr. Snad.”
“Eh? What’s that your business?”
“It’s the business of everyone to see fair play,” said Andy.
“And we’re going to do it in this case,” added Tom, still in even tones.
“Are you? Well, I’d like to know how?” sneered the farmer.
“Would you? Then listen and you will hear, my friend,” went on Tom. “Unless you pay this young man the money you owe him we will swear out a warrant against you, have you arrested, and use him as a witness against you.”
For a moment there was a deep silence; then the farmer burst out with:
“Have me arrested! Me? What for?”
“For assault and battery,” answered Tom. “We saw you assault this young man with a horse-whip, and, while it might take some time to have him sue you for his wages, it won’t take us any time at all to get an officer here and have you taken to jail on a criminal charge. The matter of the wages may be a civil matter—the horse-whipping is criminal.
“So, take your choice, Mr. Snad, if that’s your name. Pay this young man his twelve dollars, or we’ll cause your arrest on this assault charge. Now, my friend, it’s up to you,” and taking out his pocket knife Tom began whittling a stick picked from the ground. Andy and his chums looked admiringly at Tom, who had thus found such an effective lever of persuasion.