So he bolted the remainder of his breakfast, swallowed the black
coffee, and ran out.

He arrived at Scoville while the morning was still young. It was
not his intention to go at once to the Atterson farm. There were
matters which he desired to look into in addition to judging the
quality of the soil on the place and the possibility of making it
pay.

He went to the storekeepers and asked questions about the prices
paid for garden truck. He walked about the town and saw the
quality of the residences, and noted what proportion of the
townsfolk cultivated gardens of their own.

There was a big girls' boarding-school, and two small, but
well-patronized hotels. The proprietors of these each owned a
farm; but they told Hiram that it was necessary for them to buy
much of their table vegetables from city produce men, as the
neighboring farmers did not grow much.

In talking with one storekeeper Hiram mentioned the fact that he
was going to look at the Atterson place with a view to farming
it for its new owner. When he walked out of the store he found
himself accosted by a lean, snaky-looking man who had stood
within the store the moment before.

"What's this widder woman goin' to do with the farm old Jeptha
left her?" inquired the man, looking at Hiram slyly.

"We don't know yet, sir, what we shall do with it," the young