“I think I know you, Mike Frost,” he said.  “You are up to your old tricks.  When did you come out of Sing Sing?”

“Three weeks since,” answered the tramp, sullenly.

“They want you back there.  Come along with me!”

He was assisted into the buggy, and spent that night in the lockup.

“Did he take anything from you, Carl?” asked Mr. Jennings.

“No, sir; but I was in considerable danger.  How strong you are!” he added, admiringly.

“Strength isn’t always according to size!” said the little man, quietly.  “Nature gave me a powerful, though small, frame, and I have increased my strength by gymnastic exercise.”

Mr. Jennings did not show the least excitement after his desperate contest.  He had attended to it as a matter of business, and when over he suffered it to pass out of his mind.  He took out his watch and noted the time.

“It is later than I thought,” he said.  “I think I shall have to give up my plan of walking the rest of the way.”

“Then I shall be left alone,” thought Carl regretfully.

Just then a man overtook them in a carriage.

He greeted Mr. Jennings respectfully.

“Are you out for a long walk?” he said.

“Yes, but I find time is passing too rapidly with me.  Are you going to
Milford?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Can you take two passengers?”

“You and the boy?”

“Yes; of course I will see that you don’t lose by it.”

“I ought not to charge you anything, Mr. Jennings.  Several times you have done me favors.”

“And I hope to again, but this is business.  If a dollar will pay you, the boy and I will ride with you.”

“It will be so much gain, as I don’t go out of my way.”

“You can take the back seat, Carl,” said Mr. Jennings.  “I will sit with Mr. Leach.”

They were soon seated and on their way.

“Relative of yours, Mr. Jennings?” asked Leach, with a backward glance at Carl.

Like most country folks, he was curious about people.  Those who live in cities meet too many of their kind to feel an interest in strangers.

“No; a young friend,” answered Jennings, briefly.

“Goin’ to visit you?”

“Yes, I think he will stay with me for a time.”

Then the conversation touched upon Milford matters in which at present Carl was not interested.

After his fatiguing walk our hero enjoyed the sensation of riding.  The road was a pleasant one, the day was bright with sunshine and the air vocal with the songs of birds.  For a time houses were met at rare intervals, but after a while it became evident that they were approaching a town of considerable size.

“Is this Milford, Mr. Jennings?” asked Carl.

“Yes,” answered the little man, turning with a pleasant smile.

“How large is it?”

“I think there are twelve thousand inhabitants.  It is what Western people call a ‘right smart place.’  It has been my home for twenty years, and I am much attached to it.”