her name again except in terms of respect there is going to be trouble."

He laughed, opening and closing his big hands.

"I mean it," I went on soberly. "Don't think I am afraid of you, you
big slob. No, you keep your hands where they are. If it comes to a
draw you 'll find me quick enough to block your game. Now listen."

Had I been less in earnest, or less puzzled as to the real situation, I
would have laughed at the expression upon the man's face. With hat
pulled over his eyes, he sat stiff, staring at me, his fingers
twitching nervously, unable to determine just the species confronting
him. I made no display of a weapon; he could not be sure that I was
armed, yet my right hand was hidden in the side pocket of my coat. I
could read the doubt, the indecision in his mind, as plainly as though
expressed in words. The brute and the coward struggled for mastery.

"I 've told you the truth about who we are, and our purpose in coming
here," I went on slowly and clearly, "because I have decided to fight
in the open. Now I want to know who you are? What authority you have
on the Henley plantation? Speak up!"

The reply came reluctantly, but there must have been a sternness in my
face which compelled an answer.

"I told yer--I 'm the overseer."

"A fine specimen, from the looks of the place; what was you ordered to
grow--weeds?"

"Thet 's none o' your business."

"It 's the business of the lady upstairs, Coombs, and I am representing
her at present. It will be just as well for you to be civil. Who
appointed you to this position--the administrators?"

"I reckon not."

"Ever hear of a man named Neale, P. B. Neale?"

"No."

"Or Justus C. Vail?"

He shook his head.

"No one sent you any word then that we were coming? or gave you any
orders to look after us?"

The blank expression of his face was sufficient answer. I waited a
moment, thinking, endeavoring to determine my next move. This
knowledge made one thing clear--we were playing a lone hand. As well
planned as was the scheme of those two conspirators they had reckoned
without sufficient knowledge of the existing conditions here. But was
this true? Would villains as shrewd as they be guilty of such neglect?
Besides, they had assured me that the overseer would be notified of our
coming. Suddenly there flashed back to my memory a picture of that
murdered man in the rear room. Could he be the connecting link? the
overseer sent by Neale? I