too great temerity.

X

Sadly enough, it was all too true. Judge Martin, while forced to admit
the fact, cursed Mr. Barlow in no measured terms. "The damned old
pachyderm!" he exclaimed; "suppose it is the letter of the law, by
every sense of equity, justice, and decency, the place belongs to you,
and if he tries to take it, damme, I 'll head a movement to tar and
feather him."

Checkers went back in utter dejection.

Mandy had a tempting dinner ready, but he barely touched it. All the
afternoon he sat under the shade of the trees, thinking deeply. Mr.
Barlow he knew too well to believe that he could be dissuaded from any
purpose once formed, if he had the law on his side, and there was any
question of money in it. He was already miserable; but to be forced to
live with the old man, even with the mitigating circumstances of his
wife--to have him around all the time--would be wholly unbearable.

Then, too, stronger than this was the feeling that such an invasion of
the house would be a profanation. Every ornament, every chair, was
standing just as Pert had left it. No vandal hand should move or break
them, devoting them to secular use--not if he had power to help it; and
he believed he had.

He jumped up and hurried into the house. For two hours he worked in
eager haste, opening and closing drawers, and sorting articles into
different piles on the floor.

As night approached he entered the Kendall store, and related the whole
affair in a quiet tone to Mr. Bradley. That good old soul could hardly
contain himself for righteous indignation; but Checkers cut him short
by telling him he was in a hurry.

"There 's two things I want to ask of you, Mr. Bradley," said Checkers.
"I want that package of bonds you have for me in the safe, and I want
you to cash a check for two hundred dollars--it's just the balance I
have in the bank here. I 'm going away to-night--for a while, at
least."

Mr. Bradley gave him the package, and luckily had enough money on hand
to cash his check. "Thank you," said Checkers, "for this and for all
your other kindness to me. Good-bye."

"Good-bye, my son, and God bless you!" and Mr. Bradley wrung Checkers'
hand, while the tears welled up in his kind old eyes and trickled down
his wrinkled cheeks.

Outside, Checkers met Tobe, lumbering along with a pair of mules and a
lumber wagon.

"Tobe, you 're the very man I want!" he exclaimed; "come, turn round,
and drive up to my