CHAPTER VII

FACE TO FACE

"If you catch Porton, Dave, what will you do--turn him over to the authorities?"

"Yes, Roger."

"Is Bixter much of a place?"

"Oh, no. There are but two stores and two churches and not over thirty or forty houses."

"Then you may have some trouble in finding an officer. Probably the village doesn't boast of anything more than a constable and a Justice of the Peace."

"I am not worrying about that yet, Roger," returned our hero, grimly. "We have got to catch Porton first."

"Oh, I know that. But if he started for Bixter on foot we ought to be able to locate him. A stranger can't go through such a small place without somebody's noticing it."

On and on trotted the horse, past many well-kept farms, and then through a small patch of timber land. Beyond the woods they crossed a frozen creek, and then made a turn to the northward. A short distance beyond they came in sight of the first houses that went to make up the village of Bixter.

"Well, we've not seen anything of him yet," remarked the senator's son, as they slowed up and looked ahead and to both sides of the village street.

"No, and I don't understand it," returned Dave. "From what that carpenter's helper said, I thought we should overtake him before we got to Bixter. Either he must have left this road, or else he must be some walker."

"I don't see where he could have gone if he left the road, Dave. All we passed were lanes leading to the farms, and a path through that wood. It isn't likely he would take to the woods in this cold weather--not unless he was going hunting, and that chap back in Clayton didn't say anything about his carrying a gun." What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who was trying to catch someone?
2. Who was he trying to get?
3. Where?
4. That a big city?
5. How big?
6. Any commerce?
7. What?
8. Will the police be involved?
9. What animal is mentioned?
10. Was someone riding?
11. Who has a politician for a dad?
Answer: 1. Dave
2. Porton,
3. Bixter
4. no
5. thirty or forty houses."
6. yes
7. two stores
8. possibly
9. horse
10. unknown
11. roger

Chapter XXXIV

Violence

It had been arranged at Folking, before Hester had started, that Caldigate himself should drive the waggonette into Cambridge to take her back on the Wednesday, but that he would bring a servant with him who should drive the carriage up to the Grange, so that he, personally, should not have to appear at the door of the house. He would remain at Mr. Seely's, and then the waggonette should pick him up. This had been explained to Mrs. Bolton. 'John will remain in town, because he has so much to do with Mr. Seely,' Hester had said; 'and Richard will call here at about twelve.' All her plans had thus been made known, and Mrs. Bolton was aware at what hour the bolts must be drawn and the things removed.

But, as the time drew nearer, her dislike to a sudden commencement of absolute hostilities became stronger,--to hostilities which would seem to have no sanction from Mr. Bolton himself, because he would then be absent. And he too, though as he lay awake through the dreary hours of the long night he said no word about the plan, felt, and felt more strongly as the dawn was breaking, that it would be mean to leave his daughter with a farewell kiss, knowing as he would do that he was leaving her within prison-bars, leaving her to the charge of jailers. The farewell kiss would be given as though he and she were to meet no more in her old home till this terrible trial should be over, and some word appropriate to such a parting would then be spoken. But any such parting word would be false, and the falsehood would be against his own child! 'Does she expect it?' he said, in a low voice, when his wife came up to him as he was dressing. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who should drive the waggonette?
2. Where?
3. On what day?
4. Who was he to bring with him?
5. Why?
6. Where was he to stay until this trip?
7. Who was this explained to?
8. At what hour was Richard to call?
9. Did Mr. Bolton have a child?
10. Son or daughter?
11. What was he thinking of giving her?
12. Who would he be leaving her to the charge of?
13. How was the trial described?
14. Would his words to her be true when she left?
15. Who approached him as he dressed?
16. At what location had the situation been thought out?
17. What was the daughter's name?
18. Where would the servant be driving?
19. Did Mr. Bolton sleep well that night?
20. Was he still thinking of his daughter as the sun was rising?
Answer: 1. Caldigate
2. Into Cambridge
3. Wednesday
4. A servant
5. So that he wouldn't have to go to the door
6. Mr. Seely's
7. Mrs. Bolton
8. About twelve
9. Yes
10. Daughter
11. A farewell kiss
12. Jailers?
13. Terrible
14. No
15. His wife
16. Folking
17. Hester
18. Up to the Grange
19. No
20. Yes

Have you ever listened to young children talking in the playground? They are always boasting. They say things like, "My Dad's car is bigger than your Dad's," and "My Mom is smarter than yours." They particularly like to boast about their families.

There were three little boys, Harry, Ted and Gavin, who were always boasting. Gavin was the worst. Everything about his family was always the best or the biggest or the most expensive.

Whatever the others said, he could always go on better. One day when they were walking to

school, Harry said, "My father had a bath twice a week," Ted spoke next. "That's nothing," he said. "Having a bath twice a week is dirty. My father has a bath every day, sometimes twice a day." Ted looked at Gavin. Now it was his turn. But what could he say? "This time," Ted thought, "I'm going to win." Gavin didn't know what to say. He couldn't say that his father had a bath three times a day. That was silly. He walked on in silence. Ted smiled at Harry, and Harry smiled back. They were sure that for once they had beaten Gavin. They reached the school gates. Still Gavin said nothing. "We've won," Ted said to Harry, but he spoke too soon. On the way home, Gavin said, "My Dad is so clean that he doesn't have to bathe at all." What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Where were the boys walking to when Harry started talking about his father?
2. Who was he boasting about?
3. What did he say his dad had had two of that week?
4. Who thought his dad was better than Harry's?
5. How often does Ted's dad take a bath?
6. Only once a day?
7. Whose turn was it to boast next?
8. Did he say anything?
9. What would it be if he said his dad bathed three times a day?
10. Did Gavin know what to say right then after Ted had finished talking?
11. Did Harry and Ted think they'd finally beat Gavin?
12. Had Gavin said anything before they reached the school gates?
13. When did Gavin finally speak?
14. Did he say his dad was cleaner or dirtier than the other boys' dads?
15. How often did Gavin boast his father had to wash himself?
16. Were Harry, Ted and Gavin little boys or little girls?
17. Were any of their parents divorced?
18. Has one of the boys ever said their mom was smarter?
19. What did one of the boys previous brag that their dad's was bigger?
20. Did the boys like talking about their families?
Answer:
1. school
2. his father
3. baths
4. Ted
5. every day
6. sometimes twice a day
7. Gavin's
8. yes
9. silly
10. no
11. yes
12. no
13. On the way home
14. cleaner
15. he said he doesn't have to bathe at all
16. little boys
17. unknown
18. unknown
19. unknown
20. yes