Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/269

Rh threatening actions proclaimed him to be. It was his last and desperate attempt to make him disclose the secret of the letter. Turning about, Robert perceived that the other halter had been placed about Jacob's neck, and already he was being led forth from the barn.

On the threshold Claudius Brown stopped for a moment as he glanced back and said, "We 'll swing Jake from his own apple-tree, and then we 'll see how much smoke this barn can make. We have n't got our letter, but we 'll make it a bit easier for the next man to speak when we tell him to."

Then he abruptly departed from the barn, taking Jacob with him, and before Robert could cry out he had disappeared around the corner.