While he was running farther and farther away from home, his mind kept turning upon the warmth of the lighted supper table. Ruth's golden hair in the yellow lamp light. Mrs. Byrd and fat Dicky, and all of them. The Minister Takes Ruth Hume. If he would never be there again! His life was over. Probably they would hunt him down and find him and put him in jail for a thief. Worse still, they might punish his father. They might take away his charge because his son was a thief. Tom, almost exhausted, paused for a moment by a tiny forest pool. As he stood panting heavily, a temptation to find Tobe and do something came over him, and as he thought, he heard footsteps approaching, and a moment later Tobe appeared on his way to the village. Tom prepared to stealthily follow him. There might be a chance yet to retrieve his had fortune; he would not give up all hope. Tobe trudged along as though a grim purpose held his feet to the path, and behind him in the shadow of the bushes skulked Tom. As they gained the open space Tom saw that Tobe was on his way to the little grocery store, and then he remembered that Tobe had been out of supplies for a long time and was probably going to settle up with Deacon Harvey. Tom stole up on the porch and watched through the window as Tobe ontered into an altercation with the deacon. The deacon grewled something out that Tom thought, was a refusal to trust Tobe for any more supplies. Tobe had confided in Tom.  As to the deacon's mean spirit. 