then a crashing in the bushes. Footsteps came close to where Matt and Marvelling stood.
"He's coming this way!" cried the young auctioneer. "Let us stop him!"
"You stop him!" stammered the store-keeper. "He is—is a very ugly man to deal with."
And as the old fellow in question appeared in sight, the store-keeper dropped down behind the rail fence, leaving Matt to face Joe Yedley alone.
This the young auctioneeer did without hesitation.
"Stop where you are!" he cried out, and as Yedley attempted to leap the fence, he caught the fellow by the leg and dragged him to the ground.
"Let go of me!" howled the man savagely. "Let go, boy, or it will be the worse for you!"
"Don't you attempt to rise, or I'll knock you down," was Matt's undaunted reply. "Just you remain where you are until Mr. Jackson gets back."
But Yedley would not remain still, and as a consequence, a fierce struggle ensued. Matt called to Isaac Marvelling to come to his assistance, but the store-keeper was too afraid to do so, and only screamed for Jackson to come and secure the thief.
Yedley, although well along in years, was very strong and active, and Matt gradually found himself being overpowered. But he held on until
