the messenger stopped him.

"I want ye'r answer," he said.

"Tell your master that I shall answer him the first time I meet him,"
Douglas replied.

"But Si will give me hell if I don't take more than that," the man
whined. "He told me to bring him a 'yes' or a 'no'."

"I can't help that. If you're willing to allow Si Stubbles to treat
you like a dog, you must put up with the consequences."

Douglas stood and watched the messenger as he slowly ambled back across
the field.

"Poor wretch," he remarked, "he is afraid to go back to his master.
Who is he, anyway?"

"Oh, he's only Barney Tompkins," Jake replied. "He's a useless feller,
with a big family. He does odd jobs fer Si, runnin' errands, sweepin'
the store, an' sich like. He's got no spunk."

"Like many more in this parish, if I'm not mistaken. Si doesn't want
any one here who shows the least sign of spunk. He's given me notice
to quit already."

"Great punkins! ye don't say so!"

"Yes, listen to this," and Douglas drew forth the letter from his
pocket and began to read:

"JOHN HANDYMAN,

"Sir:--You have made yourself very objectionable in this place, so your
presence is not wanted here any longer. I, therefore, give you notice
to quit at once. This is a fair warning, and, unless you are
altogether a fool, you will heed it.

"SIMON STUBBLES."

It took Jake a few seconds to grasp the full purport of these words.
When he did at last comprehend their meaning, his face darkened and he
stepped over to where Douglas was standing.

"Did Si Stubbles write them words?" he demanded.

"Yes, look for yourself," and Douglas handed him the letter.

Slowly and with difficulty Jake read it through. Douglas watched him
with considerable interest.

"Well, what do you think of it?" he asked. "Are you not afraid of
losing your help?"

"Damn Si Stubbles!" Jake roared. It was only when wrought up to the
highest pitch of fury that Jake swore, and then it was well for his
enemies to beware of him. "No, I'm not afraid of losin' ye, an' Si
Stubbles ain't the man wot kin drive ye away, either. You jist stay
where ye are."

"I intend to," Douglas calmly replied. "But let us get on with our
work."

Though outwardly calm, the letter he had received rankled in his heart.
The idea that one man could rule a whole community was abhorrent and
unnatural. He had no intention of leaving, and he was determined to
meet Simon Stubbles and have it out with hi