"Thank you, Mr. Growdy. And now I'm going to tell you something. Perhaps
you will find it hard to believe me, and again you may not just
appreciate our way of taking matters in our own hands, when the request
of the women of Stanhope didn't have any effect. Look around your
dooryard, Mr. Growdy. Do you see anything changed here?"

The farmer held up the lantern, and what he saw caused him to utter an
exclamation.

"Ev'ry one o' 'em gone, by hokey! If so be ye've smashed all my rigs,
Paul Morison, I'll have the law on ye, as sure as my name's Peleg
Growdy!" he roared, aghast at what he deemed a serious discovery.

"Come with me, Mr. Growdy. Notice as you go that this place doesn't look
much like a pigpen now. In fact, I calculate it's as clean as any
dooryard around Stanhope. Even the ladies can drive past now without
being shocked. And Mr. Growdy, if you will take the trouble, sir, to look
under that wagon shed, you'll see every one of your vehicles just where
they should be when not in use!"

The old man stared, as well he might.

"By gum!" Paul heard him mutter; and the words seemed to express the
situation so well that the boy could hardly keep from laughing outright.

Finally the puzzled farmer turned and looked at the lad who stood there
beside him. Easily might Paul have made his escape at any time now; but
that was really the last thing he thought of doing. He would much rather
remain and see the bewilderment of Peleg Growdy reach its conclusion.