beef, another of chipped beef, one of deviled ham and three tins of
sardines. Also she bought a basket to carry her purchases in and
although old Sol constantly sought to "pump" her concerning her past
life, present history and future prospects, she managed to evade
successfully his thirst for information. No doubt the fellow was a
great gossip, as old Eben had declared, but Mary Louise knew better
than to cater to this dangerous talent.

The proprietor accompanied her to the door and she drew back,
hesitating, as she observed an old man in a bottle-blue swallowtail
coat pace in deliberate, dignified manner along the opposite side of
the street.

"Who is that?" she asked, as an excuse for not going out until Ingua's
grandfather had passed from sight.

"That? Why, that's Ol' Swallertail, otherwise Hezekiah Cragg, one o'
our most interestin' citizens," replied Sol, glad of the chance to
talk.

"Does he own Cragg's Crossing?" asked Mary Louise.

"Mercy, no! He owned a lot of it once, though, but that were afore my
time. Sold it out an' squandered the money, I guess, for he lives like
a rat in a hole. Mebbe, though, he's got some hid away; that's what
some o' the folks here whispers--folks that's likely to know. But, if
that's a fact, he's got a streak o' miser in him, for he don't spend
more'n the law allows."

"He may have lost the money in speculations," suggested the girl.

"Say, ye've hit the nail square on the head!" he exclaimed admiringly.
"Them's my own opinions to a T. I've told the boys so a hunderd times,
but they can't git it. Wasn't Ol' Swal-lertail hand-in-glove wi' that
slick Mister Joselyn, who they say has run away an' left his pore wife
in the lurch? That's how you got a chance to rent the Kenton house.
Joselyn were slick as butter, an' high-strung. Wouldn't hobnob with any
o' us but Ol' Swallertail, an' that's why I think Cragg was investin'
money with him. Joselyn he came down here three year ago, havin'
married Annabel Kenton in the winter, an' the way he swelled aroun'
were a caution to snakes. But the pore devil run his rope an' lit out.
Where he skipped to, I dunno. Nobuddy seems to know, not even his wife.
But they say she didn't hev enough money left to count, an' by the glum
looks o' Ol' Swallertail I'm guessin' he got nipped too."

"How long ago was that?" asked Mary Louise.

"Some time 'bout last Christmas, they say. Anyhow, that's when his wife
missed him an' set up a hunt that didn