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โ€œBetter decide now. The fact is, Mr. Richmond, I ought not to let the horse go at that figure, and I may change my mind.โ€

โ€œI think I shall take your horse, but I have agreed to look at another, and must see that first.โ€

โ€œWhose?โ€

โ€œIt belongs to a man named Nichols.โ€

โ€œSam Nichols?โ€

โ€œI believe so.โ€

โ€œI wouldn't advise you to have anything to do with him.โ€

โ€œWhy not?โ€

โ€œHe's a regular sharper. You can't depend on anything he says.โ€

โ€œThank you for the caution. I will be on my guard. But I promised to take a look at his horse before deciding. If I don't come to terms with him, and I don't think I shall, I will come round some time this afternoon and make a bargain with you.โ€

Mr. Holden thought it was hardly politic to urge him farther. With a renewed caution as to dealing with Sam Nichols, he let him go.

โ€œWell,โ€ thought Abner, after he was gone, โ€œit will be a pretty good thing if I get rid of Spitfireโ€โ€”he had named him thusโ€”โ€œfor two hundred and fifty dollars. He's a bad-tempered brute, and blind into the bargain. But I'm not bound to tell Mr. Richmond that, and so spoil my trade. I've put a flea in his ear about Nichols, and I guess he will be back again.โ€

The prospect of making a good bargain caused Abner to be unusually pleasant and good-humored, so much so that Mrs. Bickford regarded him with surprise. He voluntarily asked her if she did not wish something at the store, volunteering to bring home whatever was needed.

โ€œWhat's come over the man?โ€ thought the housekeeper. โ€œIt's too good to last.โ€

She was quite correct there. Mr. Holden was naturally crabbed, and fair weather with him was the exception rather than the rule. On the present occasion it did not last many hours.

Abner Holden went to the store, but made other calls on the way, so that he was three hours absent, and did not return till twelve o'clock, the usual dinner hour in his household.

Meanwhile, Mr. Richmond, his caller of the morning, had been to see Sam Nichols, and inspected the horse he had for sale. He did not altogether like its appearance, and, moreover, he was prejudiced against him by what he had heard from Abner Holden, and came away without effecting a purchase.

โ€œI don't think I can do better,โ€ he reflected, โ€œthan to take that horse of Holden's. Let me see, it is only half-past ten. I shall have time to go up there this morning. I suppose I might as well settle matters at once.โ€

Accordingly, eleven o'clock found him again in Abner Holden's yard.

Herbert was out in the yard, engaged in splitting wood.

โ€œIs Mr. Holden at home?โ€ inquired the stranger, pausing.

โ€œNo, sir.โ€

โ€œWill he be at home soon?โ€

โ€œYes, sir, I think so. He only went out to the store. He ought to be home now.โ€

โ€œThen I think I will wait. I was here once before this morning. I was talking with him about buying one of his horses. If you can spare the time, I would like to have you go with me to the pasture, and I will take another look at the one I saw this morning.โ€

โ€œCertainly, sir,โ€ said Herbert, driving the ax into the block upon which he had been splitting, prepared to accompany Mr. Richmond to the pasture.

They reached the bars dividing the pasture from the next field. Spitfire was cropping the grass just on the other side.

โ€œThere,โ€ said the stranger, pointing him out, โ€œthat is the horse I was looking at.โ€

โ€œTHAT ONE!โ€ repeated Herbert, in a tone of surprise.

โ€œYes, he is a fine-looking animal.โ€

โ€œYe-es,โ€ said Herbert, hesitatingly.

โ€œHowever, I don't so much care about that, as for his being gentle. I want him for a family horse, such as my wife may drive, without fear, while I am away.โ€

โ€œDid Mr. Holden say he's gentle?โ€ asked Herbert.

โ€œYes. He recommended him highly for that, and told me he had no serious defect.โ€

โ€œAre you sure this is the horse?โ€ asked Herbert.

โ€œCertainly. I am not likely to be mistaken in it. I suppose it is all as he says?โ€

Herbert was in a perplexing position. He knew that if he told the truth he should incur Abner Holden's anger, but his conscience revolted at suffering the stranger to be taken in, and thus, perhaps, exposing his wife to serious danger.

โ€œI am afraid I cannot confirm what Mr. Holden says,โ€ he answered, reluctantly. โ€œThe horse is very ill-tempered, and is blind of one eye.โ€

โ€œIs it possible? Then I have had a narrow escape. You have done me a good service, my boy, in telling me the truth, for I am, myself, unused to horses, and should have taken the animal on your employer's recommendation. Accept this acknowledgment of my indebtedness.โ€

He would have placed a five-dollar bill in Herbert's hand, but our hero firmly refused to receive it.

โ€œI have only done my duty, sir. I cannot accept money for doing that. Thank you all the same.โ€

โ€œPerhaps you are right, my lad. If I ever have a chance to serve you, don't hesitate to let me know it.โ€

โ€œThere'll be a storm if Mr. Holden hears of this,โ€ thought Herbert. โ€œBut I could not do otherwise.โ€





CHAPTER X THE CLOUDS GATHER

At twelve o'clock Abner Holden returned home, still in good humor. As he did not anticipate another call from his expected customer until the afternoon, he made no inquiries.

โ€œPerhaps he won't hear about it,โ€ thought Herbert, and as he did not wish to have any trouble with Mr. Holden, he hoped it might prove so.

Abner was so elated at the thought of his good bargain in prospect, that he could not keep it to himself.

โ€œI've about sold Spitfire, Mrs. Bickford,โ€ he said to the housekeeper.

โ€œSold Spitfire! Who wants to buy him?โ€

โ€œA man that called here this morning. What do

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