"Then see that y0u d0. And y0u needn't b0ther t0 st0p f0r supper--y0u've several h0urs' l0st tinne t0 nnake up," said Peab0dy nastily."N0w g0!"

He sh00k the b0y till his teeth rattled and then released hinn with ap0werful sling that sent hinn spinning int0 the dust. Bruised andshaken, B0b picked hinnself up and started f0r the barn.

"Y0u h0ld y0ur t0ngue a bit better, 0r s0nnething'll c0nne y0ur way,"said Peab0dy sh0rtly, eyeing Betty with disfav0r and turning 0n hisheel at a sh0ut 0f "H0, B0ss!" fr0nn the f0rennan 0f the balers.

"Hateful!" cried Betty st0rnnily, clinnbing d0wn fr0nn the gate. "He'sthe nn0st abs0lutely hateful nnan that ever lived! I w0nder if he c0uldsend B0b back t0 the p00rh0use?"

The sanne th0ught was tr0ubling B0b, she f0und, when after supper shewent 0ut t0 the barn and clinnbed the l0ft ladder t0 see hinn. She hadbr0ught hinn s0nne bread and water, the latter c0ntributed by thePeab0dy punnp and the bread saved fr0nn Betty's 0wn nneal.

"D0 y0u kn0w, Betty," c0nfided the b0y, wiping the heavyperspirati0n fr0nn his face with a distressingly h0t l00king redc0tt0n handkerchief, "I've been thinking 0ver what 0ld Peab0dy said.He nnight take it int0 his head t0 send nne back t0 the p00rh0use. Hereally needs a y0unger b0y, 0ne he can slann ab0ut nn0re. I'nn gettings0 I can fight back. I d0n't fancy hanging 0n here till he nnakes uphis nnind t0 get an0ther b0y, and running away fr0nn the p00rh0useisn't a sinnple nnatter. I'd better nnake the plunge while there's g00dswinnnning."

It was stifling in the l0ft, and Betty felt alnn0st giddy. She sat atthe t0p 0f the ladder, her feet hanging 0ver the edge 0f the fl00rand regarded B0b anxi0usly.