d not had wood
enough, and to try and get wood out of the snowy forest in winter for
immediate use in the stoves was a task that Hiram did not enjoy.

He had Henry to help him saw a goodly pile before the first snow fell;
and Mr. Camp split most of it and he and Sister piled it in the shed.

"We've got to haul up enough logs by March--or earlier--to have a wood
sawing in earnest," announced Hiram. "We must get a gasoline engine and
saw, and call on the neighbors for help, and have a sawing-bee."

"But what will be the use of that if we've got to leave here in
February?" demanded Mrs. Atterson, worriedly. "The last time I saw that
Pepper in town he grinned at me in a way that made me want to break my
old umbrel' over his dratted head!"

"I don't care," said Hiram, sullenly. "I don't want to sit idle all
winter. I'll cut the logs, anyway, and draw 'em out from time to time.
If we have to leave, why, we have to, that's all."

"And we can't tell a thing to do about next year till we know what
Pepper is going to do," groaned Mrs. Atterson.

"That is very true. But if he doesn't exercise his option before
February tenth, we needn't worry any more. And after that will be time
enough to make our plans for next season's crops," declared Hiram,
trying to speak more cheerfully.

But Mrs. Atterson went around with clouded brow again, and was heard to
whisper, more than once, something about "Mr. Damocles's sword."

CHAPTER XXXII. THE CLOUD IS LIFTED

Despite Hiram Strong's warning to his employer when they started work
on the old Atterson Eighty, that she must expect no profit for this
season's, work, the Christmas-tide, when they settled their accounts for
the year, proved the young fellow to have been a bad prophet.

"Why, Hiram, after I pay you this hundred dollars, I shall have a little
money left--I shall indeed. And all that corn in the crib--and stacks of
fodder, beside the barn loft full, and the roots, and the chickens, and
the pork, and the calf----"

"Why, Hiram! I'm a richer woman to-day than when I came out here to the
farm, that's sure. How do you account for it?"

Hiram had to admit that they had been favored beyond his expectations.

"If that Pepper man would only come for'ard and say what he was going to
do!" sighed Mother Atterson.

That was the continual complaint now. As the winter advanced all four
of the family bore the option in mind continually. There was talk of the
railroad going before