The shades of night had long fallen when Mrs. Stanhope was conveyed to her home, and a doctor was brought from Cedarville and the Lanings were informed of what had happened.  The doctor said that a rib as well as the left arm had been fractured, and that the lady must be kept quiet for at least two months.  At once Dora set about doing what she could for her mother, and Nellie Laning remained at the homestead to assist her.  No one seemed to care about Josiah Crabtree, and he was allowed to hobble back to Putnam Hall on foot.

“It was the fault of those boys,” he muttered to himself.  “I’ll get even with them, see if I don’t!”

But his chances of “getting even” while at the academy were speedily nipped in the bud by Captain Putnam, who did not say anything on Sunday, but interviewed the head assistant early on the day following.

“It is perhaps needless for us to go into the details of what has occurred, Mr. Crabtree,” said the owner of the Hall.  “Your contract with me comes to an end next month.  I will pay you in full tomorrow and then I wish you to remove yourself and your belongings from this place.”

“You —­ you discharge me!” cried the teacher in astonishment.

“I do.  I have long been dissatisfied with your conduct toward my pupils, and I am now satisfied that you are not worthy of the position with which I entrusted you.”

At this Josiah Crabtree’s face fell, for he had hoped to keep his place at Putnam Hall until his marriage to Mrs. Stanhope was assured.  Now there was no telling when that marriage would occur, and in the meantime it was not likely he could get another position.

“I think I ought to have more notice than this.”

“You deserve no notice —­ since you were about to marry on the sly, so to speak, and, most likely, leave me when your contract came to an end without allowing me time to make other arrangements.”

“I would have given you at least two weeks time.”

“And I am giving you three weeks pay, which you do not deserve.  I do not think we need to prolong the discussion,” and Captain Putnam turned away.

The departure of Josiah Crabtree was hailed with satisfaction by all of the pupils excepting Dan Baxter.  Strange to say, a strong friendship had sprung up between the bully and the hot-tempered school teacher.  Baxter was the only one who shook hands when Crabtree left.

“I hope we meet again, Mr. Crabtree,” he said.  “I like you, even if the others don’t.”

“And I like you, Baxter,” answered Josiah Crabtree.  “I shall remember you.”

And Josiah Crabtree did remember the bully in a manner which was strange in the extreme.

CHAPTER XV

DAN BAXTER’S MONEY

After the departure of Josiah Crabtree from Putnam Hall, George Strong became the leading assistant, and another teacher named Garmore took second place.