He did the talking; I did the listening." "I hope you were courteous to him, my boy ?" "I was,--particularly so." "He wants your property, does he ?" ruminated Peter, rolling a crumb of bread between his thumb and forefinger.

"I wonder what's up?
He has made some bad breaks lately and there were ugly rumors about the house for a time.

He has withdrawn his account from the Exeter and so I've lost sight of all of his transactions." Here a new idea seemed to strike him: "Did he seem very anxious about getting hold of the land ?" A queer smile played about Jack's lips: "He seemed NOT to be, but he was" "You're sure ?" "Very sure; and so would you be if you knew him as well as I do.

I have heard him talk that way to dozens of men and then brag how he'd 'covered his tracks,' as he used to call it." "Then, Jack," exclaimed Peter in a decided tone, "there is something in it.

What it is you will find out before many weeks, but something.