with much curiosity.

"From what they told me in town," Hi said, holding out his hand
with a smile, "you must be Henry Pollock?"

The boy blushed, but awkwardly took and shook Hi's hand.

"That's what they call me--Henry Pollock--when they don't call me
Hen."

"Well, I'll make a bargain with you, Henry," laughed Hiram. "I
don't like to have my name cut off short, either. My name's
Hiram Strong. So if you'll agree to always call me `Hiram' I'll
always call you `Henry.'"

"It's a go!" returned the other, shaking hands again. "You going
to live around here? Or are you jest visiting?"

"I don't know yet," confessed Hiram, sitting down beside the boy.
"You see, I've come out to look at the Atterson place."

"That's right over yonder. You can see the roof if you stand
up," said Henry, quickly.

Hiram stood up and, in the light of the early sunset, he caught a
glimpse of the roof in question.

"Your folks going to buy it of the old lady Uncle Jeptha left "
it to? asked Henry, with pardonable curiosity. "Or are you "
going to rent it? "