Part 36 (2/2)
The coloredauctioneer in the face But before the blow could land he was hauled back by a strong arm He and his companions looked around and found themselves confronted by two policemen whom Andy had fortunately met upon the corner below
The two colored round at once sneaked through the crowd and escaped through the open doorway The other two, the ones who had done the dae, were held by the policemen, much to their discomfiture
A lively talk followed, and then upon payo, first being warned by Matt and Andy not to show theain Had they not paid up they would have been arrested
After this scene was ended one of the policemen remained in the vicinity of the place for all the while the store re more occurred to disturb the auction sales
Business in Easton was so good that they re that ti them a profit, after all expenses wereMatt and Andy were called to Belvidere, the county seat, to testify against Barberry for the robbery at Phillipsburg
Strange to say, Barberry pleaded guilty, so the two boys had no trouble in the way of being detained as witnesses against him The corn salve doctor was held for sentence
After leaving Easton Matt and Andy struck out for Bethleheradually colder, but they calculated that they would have at least a month of weather which would be fit to travel in, even in thisenough for oods,” re out of Easton
”Just as you say,” returned Matt ”I a forward to the tion and get another horse to put beside Billy”
”It will hardly pay us to buy another horse this fall Youthe winter I have no desire topoint”
They were soon on the outskirts of Easton, and then they struck a rather rough road leading over nued rocks
”By jinks! I believe we have ht Billy to a standstill ”That stable-keeper said the road was a good one, and I fail to find this so”
”We'll stop at the next house and find out,” returned Andy ”Do you see any place in sight?”
”There is a cottage down in the hollow yonder Stay here with Billy, and I'll ask the way there”
Matt sprang fro across a barren bit of pasture land that led down to a brook which was all but dried up
The cottage stood upon the bank of the brook, and walking up to it, the young auctioneer rapped upon the door
There was an exclamation of surprise froreatly vexed to find himself in the presence of three of the colored hts before!
CHAPTER xxx
A DASH FROM DANGER
Had Matt known that he would e in the hollow, it is one near the place
When he and Andy had had the trouble at the store, the two one off in anything but a happy fra auctioneer had then reht have trouble with the men should they chance to meet them away froroes recognized hireeable Had he been less courageous he would have turned and fled, but as it was, he stood his ground
All three of the coloredcards, but at his entrance the tho had been the pri to their feet and came toward him