ty feet, and the lake back of it is nearly a mile long, and a half
mile wide."

The rumble of the train again drowned the voices of the two men, but Jack
had heard enough. "It's old Uncle Joe Potter--his farm," he said with
indignation. "Now I understand. The old farmer apparently doesn't know
its value as an electric power plant site, and Burke is trying to get
hold of it for a song."

"Let us put the old man onto him," Alex immediately suggested.

"I'll talk the matter over with Father, and see what he says," said Jack.

"But here comes the good old town," he broke off with boyish enthusiasm.
"Look, there is the creek, and the old swimming-hole at the bend. I'll
bet I've been in there a thousand times. And see that spire--that's our
church. Our house is just beyond.

"Come on, let's be getting out."

Catching up their suitcases, the boys passed down the aisle. As they
halted at the door, they glanced back and saw that their neighbors of the
next seat were following them. The two men were still talking; and coming
to a stand behind the boys, the latter caught a further remark from Burke
apparently referring to the Potter farm deal.

"... wrote asking him to town this evening," he was saying. "I'll give
him a bit of a good time to-night, and put him up at one of the
hotels--and, unless something unexpected happens, I'll guarantee I'll
have the thing put through by noon to-morrow."

"I hope you do," responded his companion.

"And I hope you don't!" exclaimed Jack beneath his breath. "And I may do
something more than hope."

* * * * *

Twenty minutes later, after a joyous welcome from his father and mother,
and sister Kate, and the cordial reception extended Alex, Jack was seated
at his "old corner" of the vine-hidden veranda, recounting the
conversation they had overheard between the two real estate men. Before
Mr. Orr had ventured an opinion in the matter, however, the subject was
temporarily thrust aside by the appearance of a party of Kate's girl
friends, evidently much disturbed over something. When on running forward
Kate's voice was quickly added to the excited conversation, Jack followed
to greet the girls, and learn the cause, and returned with the party to
the veranda.

"Now what do you think of this?" he exclaimed with tragic horror.
"Professor Robison, the world renowned mind reader (though I never heard
of him before), owing to his inability to arrive,