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 rested, and legged it for a telephone to let me know. I was out at the time; he kept after me until I answered. I got the car and came right down."

So that was why Bill had stumped away. "I might have known he wasn't running away from me," Bert said.

"Who? Bill? Bill would never run out on a friend. Now, let's get at the bottom of this. Is Sam seriously hurt?"

"Only a cut on the head."

"That's good to begin with. How did it happen?"

Bert told him the story, beginning with the visit and the proposals of Old Man Clud, and ending with the attack on Sam.

The Butterfly Man's face was grave. "Sam was on his way out of the store?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then you hit him from behind."

Bert sighed and, after a moment, dropped his head.

"There, there!" the man said gently. "Forgive me, Bert; but hitting from behind always has a bad ring. I guess you didn't think."

"I didn't think of anything," the boy answered, "except that he was walking out free and leaving me to face everything. It made me wild, and I threw what was in my hand."

"Does your father know?"