's my secret," snapped the old lumberman. "If I don't witness for
you, be glad I don't harm you."

"You dare!" cried Raffer, shaking his fist at the other as he leaned
from the buggy seat.

"You hearn me say I wouldn't go inter court one way or 'tother,"
repeated Toby, gloomily.

"Wal," snarled Raffer, "see't ye don't see't ye don't. 'Specially for
any man but me. Ye 'member what I told ye, Tobe. Money's tight and I
oughter call in that loan."

Toby was silent for half a minute. Then Nan heard him sigh.

"Well, Ged," he observed, "it's up to you. If you take the place it'll
be the poorhouse for that unforchunit boy of mine and mebbe for the ol'
woman, 'specially if I can't strike a job for next winter. These here
lumber bosses begin to think I'm too stiff in the j'ints."

"Wal, wal!" snarled Raffer. "I can't help it. How d'ye expec' I kin help
you ef you won't help me?"

He clucked to the old horse, which awoke out of its drowse with a start,
and moved on sluggishly. Toby stood in the road and watched him depart.
Nan thought the old lumberman's to be the most sorrowful figure she had
ever seen.

Her young heart beat hotly against the meanness and injustice of Gedney
Raffer. He had practically threatened Toby with foreclosure on his
little farm if the old lumberman would not help him in his contention
with Mr. Sherwood. On the other hand, Uncle Henry desired his help; but
Uncle Henry, Nan knew, would not try to bribe the old lumberman. Under
these distressing circumstances, which antagonist's interests was Toby
Vanderwiller likely to serve?

This query vastly disturbed Nan Sherwood. All along she had desired much
to help Uncle Henry solve his big problem. The courts would not allow
him to cut a stick of timber on the Perkins Tract until a resurvey of
the line was made by government-appointed surveyors, and that would be,
when?

Uncle Henry's money was tied up in the stumpage lease, or first payment
to the owners of the land. It was a big contract and he had expected to
pay his help and further royalties on the lease, from the sale of the
timber he cut on the tract. Besides, many valuable trees had been felled
before the injunction was served, and lay rotting on the ground. Every
month they lay there decreased their value.

And now, it appeared, Gedney Raffer was doing all in his power to
influence old Toby to serve as a witness in his, Raffer's, interests.

Had toby been willing to go into court and swear