ase. "Famous in more than one field of effort, too--as you may
see.

"Your terms are quite satisfactory, I will have my trunk brought up in
the morning, and I will do myself the honor to sup with you to-morrow
evening. Good-day, Miss Bray," and he lifted his hat and went away
whistling, leaving Lyddy staring in surprise at the card in her hand:

PROF. LEMUEL JUDSON SPINK, M.D.
Proprietor: Stonehedge Bitters
Likewise of the World Famous
DIAMOND GRITS
"_The Breakfast of the Million_"

"Why! it's the Spink man we've heard so much about--the boy who was taken
out of the poorhouse by grandfather. I--I wonder if I have done right to
take him as a boarder?" murmured Lyddy at last.

CHAPTER XIX

THE WIDOW HARRISON'S TROUBLES

Later Lyddy Bray had more than "two minds" about taking Professor Lemuel
Judson Spink to board. And 'Phemie's "You never took him!" when she
first heard the news on her return from church, was not the least of the
reasons for Lyddy's doubts.

But 'Phemie denied flatly--the next minute--that she had any real and
sensible reason for opposing Mr. Spink's coming to Hillcrest to board.
Indeed, she said emphatically that she had never yet expressed any dislike
for the proprietor of Diamond Grits--the breakfast of the million.

"My goodness me! why _not_ take him?" she said. "As long as we don't have
to eat his breakfast food, I see no reason for objecting."

But in her secret heart 'Phemie was puzzled by what "Jud Spink," as he
was called by his old associates, was up to!

She believed Cyrus Pritchett knew; but 'Phemie stood rather in fear of
the stern farmer, as did his whole household.

Only Lyddy had faced the bullying old man and seemed perfectly fearless
of him; but 'Phemie shrank from adding to the burden on Lyddy's mind by
explaining to her all the suspicions _she_ held of this Spink.

The man had tried to purchase Hillcrest of Aunt Jane for a nominal sum.
He had been lurking about the old house--especially about the old doctor's
offices in the east wing--more than once, to 'Phemie's actual knowledge.

And Spink was interested in something at the back of Hillcrest Farm. He
had been hunting among the rocks there until old Mr. Colesworth's presence
had driven him away.

What was he after on the old farm where he had lived for some years as a
boy? What was the secret