Barnes?"

They walked on, down the little hill and up the next, and entered the
front yard of the Barnes house. There were the marks in the mud and sand
where the depot-wagon had overturned, but the wagon itself was gone.
"Cal'late Winnie S. and his dad come around early and towed it home,"
surmised Captain Obed. "Seemed to me I smelled sulphur when I opened my
bedroom window this mornin'. Guess 'twas a sort of floatin' memory of
old man Holt's remarks when he went by. That depot-wagon was an antique
and antiques are valuable these days. Want to go inside, do you?"

Thankful hesitated. "I haven't got the key," she said. "I suppose it's
at that Badger man's in the village. You know who I mean, Cap'n Bangs."

The captain nodded.

"Christopher S. H. Badger, tinware, groceries, real estate, boots and
shoes, and insurance," he said. "Likewise justice of the peace and first
mate of all creation. Yes, I know Chris."

"Well, he's been in charge of this property of mine. He collected the
rent from that Mr. Eldredge who used to live here. I had a good many
letters from him, mainly about paintin' and repairs."

"Um--hum; I ain't surprised. Chris sells paint as well as tea and
tinware. He's got the key, has he?"

"I suppose he has. I ought to have gone up and got it from him."

"Well, I wouldn't fret about it. Of course we can't go in the front
door like the minister and weddin' company, but the kitchen door was
unfastened last night and I presume likely it's that way now. You
haven't any objection to the kitchen door, have you? When old Laban
lived here it's a safe bet he never used any other. Cur'ous old critter,
he was."

They entered by the kitchen door. The inside of the house, like the
outside, was transformed by day and sunshine. The rooms downstairs were
large and well lighted, and, in spite of their emptiness, they seemed
almost cheerful.

"Whose furniture is this?" asked Thankful, referring to the stove and
chair and sofa in the dining-room.

"Laban's; that is, it used to be. When he died he didn't have chick nor
child nor relation, so fur's anybody knew, and his stuff stayed right
here. There wa'n't very much of it. That is--" He hesitated.

"But, there must have been more than this," said Thankful. "What, became
of it?"

Captain Obed shook his head. "You might ask Chris Badger," he suggested.
"Chris sells antiques on the side--the high side."

"Did old Mr. Eldredge live here ALL alone?" asked Emily.