He flung himself from the porch, and was confronted by Jonas Ingram.  The old fellow emerged from behind a lilac-bush with a guilty yet excited air.

“Young man, I ain’t given to eaves-dropping, but I was strollin’ along here and I heered it all; and as I was calculatin’ to give my niece a present—­” He broke off and laid a hand on Joe’s arm.  “Where is that dod-blasted fool of a Lanham?  I’ll pay him; then I’ll break every bone in his dum body!” he exclaimed, waxing profane.  “Come here disturbin’ decent folks’ weddin’s!  Where is he?”

He started off down the path, striking out savagely with his stick.  Joe watched him a moment, then put after him, and Harry Barker followed.

“If this ain’t the liveliest weddin’!”

Nevertheless, he was disappointed in his expectations of an encounter.  When the trio emerged through the gap in the wall they found only Sarah Norton awaiting them.

“Lanham’s come and gone,” she announced.  “No, I didn’t give him a thing, except a piece of my mind,” she answered, in response to a look from Joe.  “I told him that he was acting like a fool; that father was in for a thousand dollars to you in the fall, and that you would pay then, as you promised, and that he’d better clear out.”

“Oh, if I could jest git a holt of him!” muttered Jonas Ingram.

“That seemed to sober him,” continued the girl; “but he said he wasn’t the only one that had got scared; that Merrill was going for his tables and chairs; but Lanham said he’d run up to the cottage, and if he was there, he’d send him off.  You see, father threw out as if he wasn’t owing you anything,” she added, in a lower voice, “and that’s what stirred ’em up.”

Joe turned white, in a sudden heat of anger—­the first he had shown, “I’ll stir him—­” he began; then his eyes met hers.  He reddened.  “Oh, Sarah, I’m ever so much obliged to you!”

“It was nothing.  I guess it was lucky I wasn’t invited to the wedding, though.”  She laughed, and started away, leaving Joe abashed.  She glanced back.  “I hope none of this foolishness’ll reach Mis’ Elsworth’s ears,” she called, in a friendly voice.

“I hope it won’t,” muttered Joe, fervently, and stood watching her till the old man pulled his sleeve.

“Lanham may not keep his word to the girl.  Best go down there, hadn’t we?”

The young man made no answer, but turned and ran.  He longed for some one to wreak vengeance on.  The other two had difficulty in keeping up with him.  The first object that attracted their attention was the bureau.  It was standing beside the back steps.  Joe tried the door; it was fastened.  He drew forth the key and fitted it into the lock, but still the door did not yield.  He turned and faced the others. “Some one’s in there!”

Jonas Ingram broke forth into an oath.  He shook his cane at the house.

“Some one’s in there, and they’ve got the door bolted on the inside,” continued Joe.  His voice had a strange sound even to himself.  He seemed to be looking on at his own wrath.  He strode around to a window, but the blinds were closed; the blinds were closed all over the house; every door was barred.  Whoever was inside was in utter darkness.  Joe came back and gave the door a violent shake; then they all listened, but only the pecking of a hen along the walk broke the silence.