"Hullo, Harris," Geoffrey sung out. "Is McFarlane here for me?"

"Ain't seen him. Guess it's too stormy for the old man," Harris replied
dropping the mail bag into his wagon.

"Then you've got to drive me out."

"What, all the way to your place? No, sir, I guess it is too stormy for
me, too."

But Geoffrey at last, by the promise of three times what the trip was
worth, induced Harris to change his mind. He stepped into the mail cart,
and having stopped at the post-office to leave the bag, and at the
stable to change the cart for a sleigh, they finally set out on their
five-mile drive.

"Guess you come up to see about Mr. May's house being robbed?" Harris
hazarded before they had gone far.

"You're a nice lot, aren't you?" returned Geoffrey. "Five robberies and
not a motion to catch the thief!"

"Oh, I dunno, I dunno, there is a big reward out to-day," said Harris,
divided between pride in the notoriety and shame at the lawlessness of
his native town.

"Yes, but not by any of you."

"Well, the boys did talk some of a vigilance committee, if any more