Ford Foster, of New York."

"Come over here to buy goods?" suggested Dab. "Or to get something to
eat?"

Ford Foster was apparently of about Dab's age, but a full head less in
height, so that there was more point in the question than there seemed
to be, but he treated it as not worthy of notice, and asked: "Do you
know of a house to let anywhere about here?"

"House to let?" suddenly exclaimed the voice of Mrs. Kinzer, behind
him, much to Dab's surprise. "Are you asking about a house? Whom for?"

If Ford Foster had been ready to "chaff" Dick Lee, or even Dab Kinzer,
he knew enough to speak respectfully to the portly and business-like
lady now before him.

[Illustration: "IS YOUR NAME DABNEY KINZER?"]

"Yes, madam," he said, with a ceremonious bow. "I wish to report to my
father that I've found an acceptable house in this vicinity."

"You do!"

Mrs. Kinzer was reading the young gentleman through and through as she
spoke, but she followed her exclamation with a dozen questions, and
then wound up with:

"Go right home, then, and tell your father the only good house to let
in this neighborhood will be ready for him next week, and he'd better
see me at once. Get into the buggy, Dabney."

"A very remarkable woman!" muttered Ford Foster to himself as they
drove away. "I must make some more inquiries."

"Mother," said Dabney, "you wouldn't let 'em have Ham's house?"

"No, indeed; but I don't mean to have our own stand empty." And, with
that, a great deal of light began to break in on Dabney's mind.

"That's it, is it?" he said to himself, as he touched up the ponies.
"Well, there'll be room enough for all of us there, and no mistake.
But what'll Ham say?"

It was not till late the next day, however, that Ford Foster completed
his inquiries. He took the afternoon train for the city, satisfied
that, much as he knew before he came, he had actually learned a good
deal more which was valuable.

He was almost the only person in the car. Trains going toward the city
were apt to be thinly peopled at that time of day, but the empty cars
had to be taken along all the same, for the benefit of the crowds who
would be coming out, later in the afternoon and in the evening. The
railway company would have made more money with full loads both ways,
but it was well they did not have one on that precise train. Ford had
turned over the seat in front of him, and stretched himself out with
his feet on it. It was almost like lying