of your farm
buildings, Mr. Apgar."

"That's so, he might," agreed the farmer. "Barns has been sot afire
afore this."

"Don't talk that way, Father, you'll scare the young folks," chided
his wife gently, as she looked at Ruth and smiled reassuringly.
"That'll never happen," she added, for, at the mention of the word
"fire," Ruth had glanced nervously at the door, as though the limping
man stood on the other side of it.

"I'll keep an eye open to-night," said Sandy. "If that fellow comes
around I'll be ready for him."

"I'll help you," volunteered Russ, and Paul, too, said he would help
in standing guard.

It was arranged that the three men should take turns in keeping
watch, and, during the night, patrol the barns and other buildings
occasionally, to watch for any signs of the stranger.

At first the girls, and even Mrs. Maguire, were a bit nervous, and
this made little Tommy and Nellie, the latter's grandchildren,
somewhat timid. Then Mr. Pertell suggested that they all consider
their parts in a new drama that was to be started next day, as that
would take their minds off the scare.

Save for the occasional barking of a dog, who bayed at the moon, and
the lowing of the cattle, there was scarcely a sound, except those of
the night insects. The night passed quietly, and there was no sign
of the mysterious man.

"I guess you girls scared him away for good," remarked Paul, at the
breakfast table.

"I hope so," murmured Alice. "I had one look at his face, and if ever
I saw a hard and cruel one I saw it then."

Work and rehearsals of the new play occupied all for the next two
days. Several new things in the way of properties were needed, and
this kept Pop Snooks busy. One of the things he had to provide was a
rickety two-wheeled cart, that was to be hitched to a donkey, one of
the farm animals.

"Who's going to ride in that cart?" asked Mr. Bunn, as he strode
about the place with the new silk hat which, true to promise, Mr.
Pertell had purchased to replace the water-soaked one.

"I think I'll cast Ruth DeVere to ride in the cart," said the
manager. "Someone will have to ride the mule, though, and as I want a
tall man for that act I think I'll take you, Mr. Bunn. You will black
up as a colored man, and----"

"Stop! Stop where you are!" cried the Shakespearean actor, in
stentorian tones. "I shall do nothing of the sort. You may consider
that I have resigned!"

CHAPTER XIV

AN UPSET

Perhaps Wel