The stranger climbed back into his buggy and took up the lines
again with a preoccupied headshake.

"Now, I promised Lettie," he muttered, "that I'd find out all
about that boy--and maybe bring him home with me. Funny that man
gave his such a bad character. Wish I could have seen the lad's
face the other night--that would have told the story.

"Well," and he dismissed the matter with a sigh, for he was busy
man, "if he's got my card, and he is out of a job, perhaps he'll
look me up. Then we'll see."



CHAPTER VI

THIS DIDN'T GET BY HIRAM

"I've sure got plenty of time now to look for a job," observed
Hiram Strong when he was two blocks away from Dwight's Emporium.
"But I declare I don't know where to begin."

For his experience in talking with the farmers around the market
had rather dashed Hiram's hope of getting a place in the country
at once. It was too early in the season. Nor did it look so
much like Spring as it had a week ago. Already Hiram had to turn
up the collar of his rough coat, and a few flakes of snow were
settling on his shoulders as he walked.