"What's the matter?" thundered the colonel again. "Why don't you write?"
"I—I——" stammered Benny. "I'm not very well."
"I should say not!" responded the other, angrily. "Let me see that paper."
He took it from the trembling lad's hand.
"Is that your son's handwriting?" he demanded, turning to the squire.
Old Mr. Bartlett glanced at it quickly, a look of amazement upon his face.
"No," he said, "it isn't. Benny, why don't you write in your usual way? Why don't you do as the gentleman tells you? And what's the meaning of this, anyway?"
Benny took the pen again, this time weakly.
"I'll write it," he said. "Here."
Colonel Harvey dictated it again relentlessly.