Then he gave me an almighty clip on the side of my head that almost
stunned me, then he knocked me over, and ran out of the house as fast
as he could run--my head aches awful!"

"The owdacious young ruffian!" ejaculated Mrs. Fox. "To beat my poor,
dear Joel so! Never mind. Joel, dear, I'll give you a piece of pie and
some cake. As for that boy, he'll be hung some day, I reckon!"

After eating the cake and pie, which were luxuries in that frugal
household, Joel said he felt better. He went out behind the house, and
taking out the five-dollar note, surveyed it with great satisfaction.




CHAPTER VI

AN EXCITING CHASE


When John Fox went to the village he usually stopped first at the
tavern, and invested ten cents in a glass of whisky. Here he met two
or three of his cronies.

"Folks say you've got a new boarder, Fox," said Bill Latimer, as he
laid down his glass on the counter.

"Yes," answered Fox, complacently. "I'm his guardeen."

"Folks say he got a pile of money for saving the train."