n。　So　they　had　noisily　pretended　to　obtain　the　picture　books　and　then　quietly　tiptoed　out　into　the　backyard；　which　was　not　so　stuffy　as　the　parlour。
  Detecting　the　meritorious　doings　in　the　Gashwiler　barnyard；　they　perched　in　a　row　on　the　alley　fence　and　had　been　excited　spectators　from　the　moment　that　Merton　had　mounted　his　horse。
  In　shrill　but　friendly　voices　they　had　piped；　〃Oh；　Merton　Gill's　a　cowboy；　Merton　Gill's　a　cowboy！　Oh；　looka　the　cowboy　on　the　big　horse！〃
  For　of　course　they　were　motion…picture　experts　and　would　know　a　cowboy　when　they　saw　one。　Wide…eyed；　they　followed　the　perilous　antics　of　Dexter　as　he　issued　from　the　alley　gate；　and　they　screamed　with　childish　delight　when　the　spurs　had　recalled　to　his　memory　that　far…off　dreadful　day　with　the　busy　bees。　They　now　balanced　precariously　on　the　alley　fence；　the　better　to　trace　Merton's　flight　through　the　dust　cloud。　〃Merton's　in　a　runaway；　Merton's　in　a　runaway；　Merton's　in　a　runaway！〃　they　shrieked；　but　with　none　of　the　sympathy　that　would　have　become　them。　They　appeared　to　rejoice　in　Merton's　plight。　〃Merton's　in　a　runaway；〃　they　joyously　chanted。
  Suddenly　they　ceased；　frozen　with　a　new　and　splendid　wonder；　for　their　descriptive　phrase　was　now　inexact。　Merton　was　no　longer　in　a　runaway。　But　only　for　a　moment　did　they　hesitate　before　taking　up　the　new　chant。
  〃Looky；　looky。　He's　throwed　Merton　right　off　into　the　dirt。　He's　throwed　Merton　right　off　into　the　dirt。　Oh；　looky　Merton　Gill　right　down　there　in　the　dirt！〃
  Again　they　had　become　exact。　Merton　was　right　down　there　in　the　dirt；　and　a　frantic；　flashing…heeled　Dexter　was　vanishing　up　the　alley　at　the　head　of　a　cloud　of　dust。　The　friendly　Ransom　tots　leaped　from　the　fence　to　the　alley；　forgetting　on　her　bed　of　pain　the　mother　who　supposed　them　to　be　engrossed　with　picture　books　in　the　library。　With　one　accord　they　ran　toward　the　prostrate　horseman；　Calvin　ahead　and　Elsie　a　close　second；　holding　the　hand　of　little　Woodrow。
  They　were　presently　able　to　observe　that　the　fleeing　Dexter　had　narrowly　escaped　running　down　a　motor　car　inopportunely　turning　at　that　moment　into　the　alley。　The　gallant　animal　swerved　in　time；　leaving　the　car's　driver　and　his　wife　aghast　at　their　slight　margin　of　safety。　Dexter　vanished　to　the　right　up　shaded　Spruce　Street　on　a　Sabbath　evening　as　the　first　call　to　evening　worship　pealed　from　a　neighbouring　church　tower。
  His　late　rider　had　erected　himself　and　was　beating　dust　from　the　new　chaps　and　the　front　of　the　new　shirt。　He　picked　up　the　ideal　hat　and　dusted　that。　Underneath　all　the　flurry　of　this　adventure　he　was　still　the　artist。　He　had　been　set　afoot　in　the　desert　by　a　treacherous　horse；　he　must　find　a　water　hole　or　perish　with　thirst。　He　replaced　the　hat；　and　it　was　then　he　observed　the　motor　car　bearing　down　the　alley　upon　him。
  〃My　good　gosh！〃　he　muttered。
  The　Gashwilers　had　returned　a　full　two　hours　before　their　accustomed　time。　The　car　halted　beside　him　and　his　employer　leaned　out　a　warmly　hostile　face。
  〃What's　this　mean？〃　he　demanded。
  The　time　was　not　one　to　tell　Gashwiler　what　he　thought　of　him。　Not　only　was　there　a　lady　present；　but　he　felt　himself　at　a　disadvantage。　The　lady　saved　him　from　an　instant　necessity　for　words。
  〃That　was　our　new　clothesline；　I　recognized　it　at　once。〃　The　woman　seemed　to　pride　herself　on　this　paltry　feat。
  〃What's　this　mean？〃　again　demanded　Gashwiler。　He　was　now　a　man　of　one　idea。
  Again　was　Merton　Gill　saved　from　the　need　of　instant　speech；　though　not　in　a　way　he　would　have　chosen　to　be　saved。　The　three　Ransom　children　ran　up；　breathless；　shouting。
  〃Oh；　Merton；　here's　your　pistol。　I　found　it　right　in　the　road　there。〃　〃We　found　your　pistol　right　in　the　dirt　there。　I　saw　it　first。〃　〃You　did　not；　I　saw　it　first。　Merton；　will　you　let　me　shoot　it　off；　Merton？　I　found　your　pistol；　didn't　I；　Merton？　Didn't　I　find　it　right　in　the　road　there？〃　The　friendly　tots　did　little　step　dances　while　they　were　thus　vocal。
  〃Be　quiet；　children；〃　commanded　Merton；　finding　a　voice。　But　they　were　not　to　be　quelled　by　mere　tones。
  〃He　throwed　Merton　right　off　into　the　dirt；　didn't　he；　Merton？　Merton；　didn't　he　throw　you　right　off　into　the　dirt；　Merton？　Did　he　hurt　you；　Merton？〃　〃Merton；　will　you　let　me　shoot　it　off　just　once　just　once；　and　I'll　never　ask　again？〃　〃He　didn't　either　find　it　first；　Merton。〃　〃He　throwed　you　off　right　into　the　dirtdidn't　he　throw　you　right　off　into　the　dirt；　Merton？〃
  With　a　harsher　show　of　authority；　or　perhaps　merely　because　he　was　beardedso　unreasoning　are　the　inhibitions　of　the　youngGashwiler　stilled　the　tumult。　The　dancing　died。　〃What's　this　mean？〃　he　repeated。
  〃We　nearly　had　an　accident；〃　said　the　lady。
  〃What's　this　mean？〃
  An　answer　of　sorts　could　no　longer　be　delayed。
  〃Well；　I　thought　I'd　give　Dexter　a　little　exercise；　so　I　saddled　him　up　and　was　going　to　ride　him　around　the　block；　whenwhen　these　kids　here　yelled　and　scared　him　so　he　ran　away。〃
  〃Oh；　what　a　story！〃　shouted　the　tots　in　unison。　〃What　a　bad　story！　You'll　go　to　the　bad　place；〃　intoned　little　Elsie。
  〃I　swear；　I　don't　know　what's　gettin'　into　you；〃　declared　Gashwiler。　〃Don't　that　horse　get　exercise　enough　during　the　week？　Don't　he　like　his　day　of　rest？　How'd　you　like　me　to　saddle　you　up　and　ride　you　round　the　block？　I　guess　you'd　like　that　pretty　well；　wouldn't　you？〃　Gashwiler　fancied　himself　in　this　bit　of　sarcasm；　brutal　though　it　was。　He　toyed　with　it。　〃Next　Sunday　I'll　saddle　you　up　and　ride　you　round　the　blocksee　how　you　like　that；　young　man。〃
  〃It　was　our　clothesline；〃　said　the　lady。　〃I　could　tell　it　right　off。〃
  With　a　womanish　tenacity　she　had　fastened　to　a　minor　inconsequence　of　the　outrage。　Gashwiler　became　practical。
  〃Well；　I　must　say；　it's　a　pretty　how…de…do；　That　horse'll　make　straight　back　for　the　farm；　we　won't　have　any　delivery　horse　to…　morrow。　Sue；　you　get　out；　I'll　go　down　the　road　a　piece　and　see　if　I　can　head　him　off。〃
  〃He　turned　the　other　way；〃　said　Merton。
  〃Well；　he's　bound　to　head　around　for　the　farm。　I'll　go　up　the　road　and　you　hurry　out　the　way　he　went。　Mebbe　you　can　catch　him　before　he　gets　out　of　town。〃
  Mrs。　Gashwiler　descended　from　the　car。
  〃You　better　have　that　clothesline　back　by　seven　o'clock　to…morrow　morning；〃　she　warned　the　offender。
  〃Yes；　ma'am；　I　will。〃
  This　was　not　spoken　in　a　Buck　Benson　manner。
  〃And　say〃Gashwiler　paused　in　turning　the　car〃what　you　doing　in　that　outlandish　rig；　anyhow？　Must　think　you're　one　o'　them　Wild　West　cowboys　or　something。　Huh！〃　This　last　carried　a　sneer　that　stung。
  〃Well；　I　guess　I　can　pick　out　my　own　clothes　if　I　want　to。〃
  〃Fine　things　to　call　clothes；　I　must　say。　Well；　go　see　if　you　can　pick　out　that　horse　if　you're　such　a　good　picker…out。〃
  Again　Gashwiler　was　pleased　with　himself。　He　could　play　venomously　with　words。
  〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Merton；　and　plodded　on　up　the　alley；　followed　at　a　respectful　distance　by　the　Ransom　kiddies；　who　at　once　resumed　their　vocal　exercises。
  〃He　throwed　you　off　right　into　the　dirt；　didn't　he；　Merton？　Mer…tun；　didn't　he　throw　you　off　right　into　the　dirt？〃
  If　it　were　inevitable　he　wished　that　they　would　come　closer。　He　would　even　have　taken　little　Woodrow　by　the　hand。　But　they　kept　far　enough　back　of　him　to　require　that　their　voices　should　be　raised。　Incessantly　the　pitiless　rain　fell　upon　him〃Mer…tun；　he　throwed　you　off　right　into　the　dirt；　didn't　he；　Merton？〃
  He　turned　out　of　the　alley　up　Spruce　Street。　The　Ransom　children　lawlessly　followed；　forgetting　their　good　home；　their　poor；　sick　mother　and　the　rules　she　had　laid　down　for　their　Sabbath　recreation。　At　every　moment　the　shrill　cry　reached　his　burning　ears；　〃Mer…tun；　didn't　he　throw　you　off？〃　The　kiddies　appeared　to　believe　that　Merton　had　not　heard　them；　but　they　were　patient。　Presently　he　would　hear　and　reassure　them　that　he　had；　indeed；　been　thrown　off　right　into　the　dirt。
  Now　he　began　to　meet　or　pass　early　churchgoers　who　would　gaze　at　him　in　wonder　or　in　frank　criticism。　He　left　the　sidewalk　and　sought　the　centre　of　the　road；　pretending　that　out　there　he　could　better　search　for　a　valuable　lost　horse。　The　Ransom　children　were　at　first　in　two　minds　about　following　him；　but　they　soon　found　it　more　interesting　to　stay　on　the　sidewalk。　They　could　pause　to　acquaint　the　churchgoers　with　a　matter　of　common　interest。　〃He　throwed　Merton　off　right　into　the　dirt。〃
  If　the　people　they　addressed　appeared　to　be　doubting　this；　or　to　find　it　not　specific　enough；　they　would　call　ahead　to　Merton　to　confirm　their　simple　tale。　With　rapt；　shining　faces；　they　spread　the　glad　news；　though　hurrying　always　to　keep　pace　with　the　figure　in　the　road。
  Spruce　Street　was　vacant　of　Dexter；　but　up　Elm　Street；　slowly　cropping　the　wayside　herbage　as　he　went；　was　undoubtedly　Merton's　good　old　pal。　He　quickened　his　pace。　Dexter　seemed　to　divine　his　coming　and　broke　into　a　kittenish　gallop　until　he　reached　the　Methodist　Church。　Here；　appearing　to　believe　that　he　had　again　eluded　pursuit；　he　stopped　to　graze　on　a　carefully　tended　square　of　grass　before　the　sacred　edifice。　He　was　at　once　shooed　by　two　scandalized　old　ladies；　but　paid　them　no　attention。　They　might　perhaps　even　have　tickled　him；　for　this　was　the　best　grass　he　had　found　since　leaving　home。　Other　c