Part 9 (1/2)

”I rather think not,” replied Leo, and popped into the room again.

At once Daniel Hawkins called his wife.

”Marthy! Marthy!”

”Wot, Daniel?”

”Leo's up in the house a-tryin' ter climb out o' the winder!”

”You don't say!”

”Run up an' catch him!”

”Why don't you go?”

”I want ter watch out here fer him! If I go up he'll drop anyway.”

”Drat the boy!” muttered Mrs. Hawkins, and she went for her old-time weapon, the broom.

Armed with this, she ascended the stairs. She entered the side bedroom, to which her husband had pointed, only to find it empty.

”He ain't here!” she cried from the window.

”He's somewhere? Root him out!” shouted Daniel Hawkins.

So Mrs. Hawkins ran around from room to room.

But she did not find Leo, for the simple reason that the young gymnast had, by running through two rooms, reached the stairs and gone down to the front door.

He opened this and ran outside just as Daniel Hawkins appeared around the corner of the porch, whip in hand.

”Stop, Leo!”

”Not to-day!” retorted the boy.

And away he went, Daniel Hawkins lumbering after him.

The farmer was no match for the young gymnast. Soon Leo was out of his sight, and he returned to the farmhouse to talk the matter over with his spouse.

”I'll fix him yet, see ef I don't!” he said to Martha.

Soon his bony nag was. .h.i.tched up to a buckboard, and away went the farmer in pursuit of the lad, who was doing his best to get away.

”I'll teach him a lesson he won't forget in a hurry when I collar him,”

thought the miserly man savagely.

On went the boy until nearly half the distance to Lendham, the next town, was covered. Wis.h.i.+ng to throw the farmer off the scent, Leo did not head for the circus grounds.

As it was a hot day he was soon pretty well winded and he dropped into a walk.