e wasteful
chopping as possible, toppling in endless billowy furrows.

Old man Gifford came inquiringly up between the long rows of corn to
the far edge of the grove. He was bent and weazened, and more gnarled
than any of his trees, and even his fingers seemed to have the knotty,
angular effect of twigs. A fringe of gray beard surrounded his
clean-shaven face, which was criss-crossed with innumerable little
furrows that the wind and rain had worn in it; but a pair of shrewd old
eyes twinkled from under his bushy eyebrows.

"Morning, 'Ennery," he said, addressing the chauffeur with a squeaky
little voice in which, though after forty years of residence in
America, there was still a strong trace of British accent; and then his
calculating gaze rested calmly in turns upon the other occupants of the
machine.

"Good morning, Mr. Gifford," returned the chauffeur. "Fine day, isn't
it?"

"Good corn-ripenin' weather," agreed the old man, squinting at the sky
from force of habit, and then, being satisfied that there was no
threatening cloud in all the visible blue expanse, he returned to a
calm consideration of the strangers, waiting patiently for Mr. Turner
to introduce himself.

"I understand, Mr. Gifford, that you are open to an offer for your
walnut trees," began Mr. Turner, looking at his watch.

"Well, I might be," admitted the old man cautiously.

"I see," returned Sam; "that is, you might be interested if the price
were right. Let's get right down to brass tacks. How much do you
want?"

"Standin' or cut?"

"Well, say standing?"

"How much do you offer?"

Miss Stevens' gaze roved from the one to the other and found enjoyment
in the fact that here Greek had met Greek.

Sam's reply was prompt and to the point. He named a price.

"No," said the old man instantly. "I been a-holdin' out for five
dollars a thousand more than that."

Things were progressing. A basis for haggling had been established.
Sam Turner, however, had the advantage. He knew the sharp advance in
walnut announced that morning. Old man Gifford would not be aware of
it until the rural free delivery brought his evening paper, of the
night before, some time that afternoon. In view of the recent advance,
even at Mr. Gifford's price there was a handsome profit in the
transaction.

"The reason you've had to hold out for your rate until right now was
that nobody would pay it," said Sam confidently. "Now I'm here to talk
spot cash. I