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 note Clud is getting only legal interest. You can't prove he put the screws on you for $25 interest."

"But he did."

"You can't prove it. The note says he gave you $175. You signed to that effect. He's got your signature to it. He's got you hooked."

"Suppose we can't pay it?"

"He'll sell you out as he sold out the farmer."

And then the business would be gone! Bert drew a long breath.

"I should have come to you first."

"You should have gone to your father," the man said quietly. "You promised me you would."

The silence that followed ran on for many minutes. When Bert spoke again his utterance showed that he had been thinking.

"Old Man Clud will never get $175 for the things in our store. How is he going to get the balance?"

"Clud usually knows how to protect himself. By the way, who signed that note? You and Sam together, or you alone?"

"I signed it alone."

Tom Woods bit hard on his pipe stem. One hand found its way to Bert's shoulder.

"Does that make it worse for me?" the boy demanded.

"I'm afraid it does," the Butterfly Man said quietly. "Here! There's a way out of this. Let