Part 13 (1/2)
They found the squire busy in his office, looking over some legal papers.
Without preliminaries Barton Reeve introduced himself. The squire listened in silence, at the same time scowling at Leo.
”Want to quit the farm and become a circus performer, eh?” said Dobb at last. ”Can't let you do it. You'll have to go back to Daniel Hawkins'
farm.”
”I never will!” returned Leo warmly. ”I'll run away entirely first.”
”We'll see,” sniffed Squire Dobb.
Barton Reeve had sized up the lawyer at a glance. He saw that the man was a crafty villain, not to be trusted.
”Squire, would you mind showing me your authority over this boy?” he remarked firmly.
”Wh-what?” was the surprised exclamation.
”I would like to learn your legal authority over Leo.”
”It's none of your business!”
”I shall make it my business.”
”Going to pry into matters, eh?”
”Yes, unless you consent to release Leo. He has been misused on the Hawkins' place.”
The face of Nathan Dobb was a study. If there was one thing he feared it was the exposure of the past. Why he feared this will be explained later.
”I'll have to see Hawkins first,” he said at last.
”When will you see him?”
”To-day. But what is Leo to do?”
”He is going to travel with me and perform in the circus.”
”He can't do anything.”
”Never mind. I'll teach him a thing or two,” replied Barton Reeve.
He was afraid if he told Squire Dobb what Leo could really do that the miserly lawyer would want money for the release.
After a little more talk Leo and Reeve left the squire's house.
On the next day Reeve got a short note from Dobb. It read:
”I have given up all claim to Leo Dunbar, and so has Daniel Hawkins.”