"By the way, Joel, come up here about the middle of the forenoon; I
want to say a few words to you in private."
"All right, I'll come. I must go downstairs now."
"I wonder what he wants to see me about?" said Joel, to himself.
Joel made a pretty shrewd guess, and resolved, by all means, to keep
the appointment.
He was anxious to get his father out of the way, but John Fox was
unusually deliberate in his motions. Finally, about half-past nine, he
left the house for the village.
Presently his mother said: "Joel, if you'll stay and mind the house,
I'll run over to Mrs. Bean's and borrow some sugar."
His mother put on her bonnet, and started across a field to her
nearest neighbor's.
"Now's my time," thought Joel. "Mam's sure to get talkin' with
Mrs. Bean and stay half an hour or more."
He ran up the garret stairs, and drew the bolt that held Harry
captive.
"Joel, I want you to let me out of this place."
"Oh, gracious!" exclaimed Joel, in apparent dismay. "Dad would give me
the wu'st kind of a lickin'."
"Would he know how I got out?" asked Harry.
"I don't know. What are you willing to give?"
Harry saw that it was merely a matter of bargaining, and finally
prevailed upon Joel to release him for a five-dollar bill.
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