Rudolph took care to breakfast in good season the next morning. He felt that this day was to make his fortune. The deed which would entitle him to a life support was to be perpetrated on that day. He shuddered a little when he reflected that a life must be sacrificed, and that the life of the boy who had been for years under his guardianship, who had slept at his side, and borne with him the perils and privations of his adventurous career. He was a reckless man, but he had never before shed blood, or at any rate taken the life of a human being.

What’s the odds?” he said to himself. “The boy’s got to die some time or other, and his dying now will make me comfortable for life. No more hungry tramps for me. I’ll settle down and be respectable. Eight hundred dollars a year will relieve me from all care.”

At a few minutes after nine Tony set out on his journey. It never occurred to him that the old Quaker in suit of sober drab, who sat on the piazza and saw him depart, was a man who cherished sinister designs upon him. In fact, he had forgotten all about him, and was intent upon his journey alone.

Take care of yourself, Tony,” said James.

Oh, yes, I’ll do that,” said Tony, little dreaming how necessary the admonition was likely to prove.

I may as well be starting, too,” thought Rudolph.

About two miles on began the woods. They extended for nearly a mile on either side of the road.

I’ll explore a little,” thought Rudolph. “I shall have plenty of time before the boy comes back.”

Some forty rods from the road on the right-hand side the tramp discovered a ruined hut, which had once belonged to a recluse who had for years lived apart from his kind. This had now fallen into decay.

The general appearance of the building satisfied Rudolph that it was deserted.

A rod to the east there was a well, open to the view; the curb having decayed, and being in a ruined condition, Rudolph looked down into it, and judged that it might be about twenty feet deep.

A diabolical suggestion came to him. If he could only lure Tony to this well and dispose of him forever.

I’ll do it,” he muttered to himself.

Meantime, Tony drove rapidly to Thornton and sought the purchaser of the buggy. There was a delay of half an hour in finding him, but at last his business was done, and he set out for home.

It was not quite so amusing leading the horse as sitting in a buggy and driving him. But all our pleasures have to be paid for, and Tony was ready to pay the price for this one. After all, he reflected, it was quite as amusing as working about the stable yard, especially after it occurred to him to mount the animal.

Everything went smoothly till he entered the woody part of the road.

Now I shall be home soon,” he said to himself. “But, hello! who’s that?” as a figure stepped out from the side of the road. “Oh, it’s the Quaker. I wonder what brought him here?”

“Friend, is thee in a hurry?” asked the impostor.

I suppose I ought to get back as soon as I can,” said Tony. “Why, what’s up?”

“Thee is the boy from the hotel, is thee not?”

“Well, what do you want of me?”

“There’s a man in the woods that has fallen down a well, and I fear he is badly hurt.”

“How did you find him?”

“I was walking for amusement when I heard groans, and, looking down, I could see the poor man.”

Tony never thought of doubting this statement, and said, in a tone of genuine sympathy: “Poor fellow!”

“Will thee go with me and help get him out?”

“Yes,” said Tony, readily, “I’ll do it. Never mind if I am a little late. Where shall I put the horse?”

“Lead him into the woods, and tie him to a tree.”

“All right. I guess that will be the best way.”

The horse was disposed of as had been suggested and the two set out on what Tony supposed to be their charitable errand.

I don’t see what made you go into the woods?” said our hero, a little puzzled.

“I was brought up in the woods, my young friend. It reminds me of the time when I was a boy like thee.”

“Oh, that’s it. Well, it was lucky for the man—that is, if we can get him out. Did you speak to him?”

“Yea, verily.”

“And did he answer?”

“He groaned. I think he was insensible. I saw that I should need help, and I came to the road again. Luckily thee came by.”

“Had you been waiting long?”

“Only five minutes,” answered Rudolph.

In reality he had been compelled to wait nearly an hour, much to his disgust. In fact, he had been led to fear that there might be some other road by which one could return from Thornton, and that Tony had taken it. Should this be the case, his elaborate trap would be useless.

They had come quite near the ruined dwelling, and already the curb of the well was visible.

Is that the well?” asked Tony.

Yes,” answered the Quaker.

Let us hurry, then,” said Tony.

But the time had come when Tony was to have revealed to him the real character ............