Page:Rover Boys Down East.djvu/276

264 Rovers might not be alone. Then he told of the meeting with Koswell, Larkspur and Darkingham; and the two went off to consult with Josiah Crabtree.

Left to himself, Dick tried his best to free himself of the bonds that held him. But the work of making him a prisoner had been done well, and all he did was to cut his wrists and his ankles.

When Sobber and Pally came back they were accompanied by Josiah Crabtree. The former teacher and jailbird wore the same dictatorial look as of yore.

"Ha! so we meet again, Rover!" cried Josiah Crabtree, pursing up his lips.

"Mr. Crabtree, is it true that you have married Mrs. Stanhope?" asked Dick, bluntly.

"Well—er—we are as good as married, yes," he stammered, taken somewhat off his guard by the suddenness of the question.

"As good as married? What do you mean?"

"I mean she has promised to be my—er—my bride as soon as we can obtain a—er—a minister to perform the ceremony."

"You are forcing her into this marriage!"

"Not at all, young man, not at all! She is going to marry me of her own free will."

"I do not believe it."