erplexed, and whispered into Lottie's
ear:

"What does the woman want? Is she going to take our things away
from us?"

Before Lottie could reply, the man who had been loitering around the
barn and outside premises, came up to the door, and, with a smile meant
to be ingratiating, bade them good-morning.

Lottie started at the sound of his voice. She thought she recognized it,
but was not quite sure. She rose from her chair and returned the
greeting.

"I'm one of your new neighbors," continued the visitor, planting himself
in the doorway and resting a hand upon the frame upon either side. "The
old woman an' me thought we'd come over an' git acquainted. I reckon she
has told you who we air?"

Lottie listened to this speech with intent ears. Yes, the voice was the
same she had heard that evening, weeks before, plotting to deprive them
of their home.

She did not doubt that it was he who had persuaded Jimmy to run away;
that he was the "friend" who had promised the boy work and wages and
independence, and so had gotten him out of his way.

Lottie crossed the room, Eva still clinging to her hand, and, when but a
few steps distant from the man in the doorway, stopped, and, looking him
straight in the eye, said:

"Yes, Mr. Highton, I know who you are. Will you please tell me where my
brother Jimmy is?"

Mr. Highton's hands dropped from the door-frame, and he took a step
backward. A dark flush spread over his countenance; his eyes wavered and
fell. But he recovered himself almost instantly, and, with a harsh,
disagreeable laugh, made answer.

"Tell you where your brother Jimmy is? Why, miss, I didn't know you had
a brother Jimmy. Has the young man been gittin' himself lost?"

"No, he has not been getting himself lost; but _some one_, pretending to
be his friend, has persuaded him to leave us, promising him money and
good times. And, Mr. Highton, I believe that _you are the man!_"

Mr. Mart Highton laughed again, more harshly and boisterously than
before. Then he said, still pretending to be amused:

"I declare I didn't expect to be treated this way, or I shouldn't 'a
come to see you. I'll send one o' the _boys_ next time, an' mebbe you'll
treat 'em better. You hain't so much as invited me in to take a seat!"

Lottie turned indignantly away, and, without giving the solicited
invitation, retreated to the sitting-room.

Here she found Mrs. Highton, seated in the big arm-chair, looking about
her with a self-satis