lynch him.

His wife did not know what to make of such actions and finally
demanded an explanation, and when it was not forthcoming
threatened him with the broom, which she had used as a weapon of
offense several times previously.

"They say he's dead!" finally burst out Joel. "They are goin'
ter lynch me for it. Hide me, Mandy, hide me!"

"Who is dead, Joel Fox?"

"The boy I shot at fer stealin' them apples. Oh, they'll lynch
me; I feel it in my bones!" groaned the old man.

"Who was it?"

"Harry Smith of Oak Run."

"And he is dead?"

"So they say. But I didn't calkerlate I hit him at all," whined
Joel.

"No more you did, for I saw him run away, and he went clear out
o' sight up the road. Who told you this?" demanded Mrs. Fox.

"Those Rover boys, Tom an' Sam."

"Those young imps! Joel, they are fooling you."