off Harris, abruptly,
"never mind what he pointed at. He died before he could finish what he
was saying."

"Is that the truth, Harris Colesworth?" demanded 'Phemie, regarding him
seriously.

"I got it from Lucas. Then I asked his father. That is just the way the
story was told to me," declared the young fellow, warmly.

"And--and they never found anything?" asked Mr. Bray.

"No. They searched. They searched the old pieces of--of furniture, too.
But Mrs. Harrison gave it up when it was found that Bob had been such a--a
prevaricator."

"He probably lied about the fortune," said Mr. Bray, quietly.

"Well--maybe," grunted Harris.

But Lyddy remembered that Harris had already told her that he proposed to
go to the vendue and buy in several pieces of the widow's furniture. Did
that mean that Harris really thought he had a clue to the hidden treasure?

CHAPTER XXIII

THE VENDUE

Lucas Pritchett drove into the yard with the two-seated buckboard about
nine o'clock the next forenoon. And, wonders of wonders! his mother sat
on the front seat beside him.

'Phemie ran out in a hurry. Lyddy was getting ready to go to the vendue.
She wanted to bid in that Dutch oven--and some other things.

"Why, Mrs. Pritchett!" exclaimed the younger Bray girl, "you are welcome!
You haven't been here for an age."

Mrs. Pritchett looked pretty grim; but 'Phemie found it was tears that
made her eyes wink so fast.

"I ain't never been here but onct since you gals came. And I'm ashamed
of myself," said "Maw" Pritchett. "I hope you'll overlook it."

"For goodness' sake! how you talk!" gasped 'Phemie.

"Is it true you gals have saved that poor old critter from the farm?"
demanded Mrs. Pritchett, earnestly, and letting the tears run unchecked
down her fat cheeks.

"Why--why----"

"Widder Harrison, she means," grunted Lucas. "It all come out yesterday
at church. The widder told about it herself. The parson got hold of it,
and he put it into his sermon. And by cracky! some of those folks that
treated ye so mean at the schoolhouse, Saturday night, feel pretty cheap
after what the parson said."

"And if my Sairy ever says a mean word to one o' you gals--or as much as
_looks_ one," cried Mother Pritchett, "big as she is an',--an', yes--_old_
as she is, I'll spank her!"

"Mrs. Pritchett! Lucas!" gasped 'Phemie. "It isn't so. You're making it up
out of whole cloth. We haven't really done a thing for Mrs. Harrison----"

"You've