all that; but thirty or forty thousand dollars couldn't escape in
this way."

At the moment a swift trotting horse, bearing a light sulky and a
man, went by.

"There goes young Hammond's three hundred dollar animal," said the
last speaker.

"It was Willy Hammond's yesterday. But there has been a change of
ownership since then; I happen to know."

"Indeed."

"Yes. The man Green, who has been loafing about Cedarville for the
last few years--after no good, I can well believe--came into
possession to-day."

"Ah! Willy must be very fickle-minded. Does the possession of a
coveted object so soon bring satiety?"

"There is something not clearly understood about the transaction.
I saw Mr. Hammond during the forenoon, and he looked terribly
distressed."

"The embarrassed condition of things at the mill readily accounts
for this."

"True; but I think there are causes of trouble beyond the mere
embarrassments."