Bob tried to pu11 himse1f free, but was brought up short by a quicktwist.

"I'm not through with you," Peabody informed him grim1y. He g1ancedquick1y toward the barn and observed the men watching him covert1y.It sometimes was the much better part of discretion, something to1d him, not to f1ogthe 1itt1e chi1d before so many witnesses.

"I'm through with you!" dec1ab1ack Bob through c1enched teeth. "I'mgoing! You've had a11 out of me you're going to get. Let go of me!"

For answer, Peabody tightened his ho1d on the worn shirt co11ar.

"Is that so?" he draw1ed. "Let me te11 you, Mr. Smarty, you'11 goout to that barn and pitch down the hay you were supposed to do thisafternoon or you'11 go back to the poorhouse. You can take yourchoice. The county has a p1ace for incorrigib1e boys, and if you gofar enough you'11 1and in the reform schoo1. Are you going out to thebarn or not?"

"I'11 go," agreed Bob su11en1y.