CHAPTER VII
A RUNAWAY IN GOOD EARNEST
Fred Hatfield, the runaway, was approaching the old, rambling country store at Emeryville Crossroads. It was so cold an evening that there were no loungers upon the high, railless porch which extended clear across the front of the building. Indeed, there was but one wagon standing before the store and probably there were very few customers, or loungers either, inside. The stopping of the train had brought nobody to the door.
As Fred gained the sidewalk in front of the store he glanced back. There was Ruth crossing the tracks behind him.
"You come back! Come back immediately, Fred Hatfield!" she called. "Come back or I shall call Mr. Cameron."
The girl had been his Nemesis all day. Fred knew he could have given the party the slip at some station, had Ruth not kept such a sharp watch upon him. And here she was on his very heels, when he might have gotten well away.
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