''Twould ease the mind o' Mrs.Ben Steven.' This latter was a weighty argument.

Mrs.
Haddon's terror of the big woman with the terrible tongue was very real.
'Well, well, well,' she said pitifully.

'You--you won't beat him roughly ?' 'I'm a father, as you know, ma'am,' said Peterson, 'an' know what's a fair thing by a boy.' Cann was unbuckling his belt, and the widow stood trembling, clasping and unclasping her hands.

It was a severe ordeal, but public spirit prevailed.

Mrs.Haddon turned and fled into the house, and shutting herself in her bedroom buried her head in the pillows and wept.
Ten minutes later she was called out, and Dick was delivered into her hands.
'Better lock him up fer the night,' said Peterson, looking in a puzzled way at Dick.
The boy bad not shed a tear nor uttered a cry.