“Whar you been an’ what you been a doin’ of?” demanded the latter, as if he had a right to know.

“I’ve been over to Don’s house,” answered David; “and while I was there I found out that you and father borrowed my ten dollars.”

“’Tain’t so nuther,” cried Dan, trying to look surprised and indignant.

“I believe everything Don and Bert tell me.  They have never lied to me and you have.”

“Whoop!” yelled Dan, jumping up and knocking his heels together.

“I mean every word of it,” said David, firmly.  “You have got me into a tight scrape, but I’ll work out of it somehow.  And let me tell you one thing, Dan; you’ll never have a chance to steal any more of my money.”

“Then why don’t you divide it like a feller had oughter do?” asked Dan, angrily.

“Why don’t you divide with mother and me when you have some?”

“Kase I work hard for it an’ it b’longs to me; that’s why.”  And knowing by his past experience that he could not hold his own in an argument with his brother, Dan turned about and went into the house.

David worked faithfully at his traps, paying no further heed to his brother’s movements.  He tried to keep his mind on what he was doing, but now and then the recollection of the heavy loss he had sustained would come back to him with overwhelming force and the tears would start to his eyes in spite of all he could do to prevent it.  Then he would throw down his hammer and wander about with his hands in his pockets, wondering what was the use of trying to do anything or be anybody while things were working so strongly against him.

It was during one of these idle periods that Don and Bert came up.  David’s hopes arose immediately when he caught sight of Don’s smiling face, for he was sure that he was about to hear something encouraging.  Indeed, Don’s first words confirmed this impression; but it turned out that they had come there simply to offer him work that would keep him busy for two or three weeks.  Of course David wanted work, but just then he wanted money more.  He wanted to pay that grocery bill, so that he could look Silas Jones in the face the next time he met him.

When the brothers got into their boat and rowed away, David went back to his traps, while Dan, who had been disappointed in his hopes of hearing some private conversation between the visitors and his brother, shouldered his rifle and disappeared in the woods.

David worked away industriously until the sun told him that it was nearly four o’clock, and then he put on his coat and started off to keep his appointment with Don and Bert.  He found them waiting for him at the General’s barn, and he was not a little surprised when they seized him by the arms and pulled him into the carpenter-shop, the door of which they were careful to close and lock behind them.

“Now I know we can talk without danger of being overheard,” exclaimed Don.  “We’ve got lots to tell you; but in the first place,” he added, opening his pocket-book, “there’s your money.”