CHAPTER VII

A RUNAWAY IN GOOD EARNEST


Fred Hatfield, the runaway, was approaching the old, rambling
country store at Emoryville Crossroads. It was so cold an evening
that there were no loungers upon the high, railless porch which
extended clear across the front of the building. Indeed, there was
but one wagon standing before the store and probably there were very
few customers, or loungers either, inside. The stopping of the train
had brought nobody to the door.

As Fred gained the sidewalk in front of the store he glanced back.
There was Ruth crossing the tracks behind him.

"You come back! Come back immediately, Fred Hatfield!" she called.
"Come back or I shall call Mr. Cameron."

The girl had been his Nemesis all day. Fred knew he could have given
the party the slip at some station, had Ruth not kept such a sharp
watch upon him. And here she was on his very heels, when he might
have gotten well away.

The next stop would be Scarboro. Fred did not want to appear in
Scarboro again. And he had a suspicion that Ruth knew his reasons for
desiring to keep away from his home and friends.

He looked wildly about the lonely crossroads. The panting of the