"What are you doing here, Mr. Wolverton?"
Wolverton started, dropped the razor in the river, and, with an expression of alarm, looked up into Bob's face.
MR. WOLVERTON MEETS TWO CONGENIAL SPIRITS.
"What are you doing here, Mr. Wolverton?" repeated Bob, sternly.
"Oh, it's you, Bob, is it?" said Wolverton, with assumed lightness. "Really, you quite startled me, coming upon me so suddenly in the dark."
"I noticed that you were startled," responded Bob, coolly. "But that isn't answering my question."
By this time Wolverton was on his feet, and had recovered his self-possession.
"What right have you to put questions to me, you young whelp?" he demanded, angrily.
"Because I suspect you of designs on my property."
"I will tell you; I think you meant to cut the rope, and send my boat adrift."
"How dare you insult me by such a charge?" demanded the agent, working himself into a rage.
"I have reason to think that you meant to do what I have said."
"In order to injure me by the loss of my wheat."
"You are a fool, young man! I am inclined to think, also, that you are out of your head."
"If you had any other purpose, what is it?"
Wolverton bethought himself that in order to avert suspicion, he must assign some reason for his presence. To do this taxed his ingenuity considerably.
"I thought I saw something in the water," he said. "There it is; a twig; I see now."
"And what were you going to do with the razor?"
"None of your business!" said Wolverton, suddenly, finding it impossible, on the spur of the moment, to think of any reason.
"That is easy to understand," said Bob, significantly. "Now, Mr. Wolverton, I have a warning to give you. If anything befalls my boat, I shall hold you responsible."
"Do you know who I am?" blustered Wolverton. "How do you, a boy, dare to talk in this impudent way to a man who has you in his power?"
"It strikes me, Mr. Wolverton, that I hold you in my power."
"Who would believe your unsupported assertion? sneered the agent."
"It is not unsupported. I brought with me Edward Jones, my faithful assistant, who has seen your attempt to injure me."
At this, Edward, a stalwart young man of twenty-four, stepped into view.
"You are ready to lie, and he to swear to it," said Wolverton, but his voice was not firm, for he saw that the testimony against him was too strong to be easily shaken.