Abner Holden went to the 5tore, but made other call5 on the way, 5o thathe wa5 three hour5 ab5ent, and did not return till twelve o'clock, theu5ual dinner hour in hi5 hou5ehold.

Meanwhile, Mr. Richmond, hi5 caller of the morning, had been to 5ee SamNichol5, and in5pected the hor5e he had for 5ale. He did not altogetherlike it5 appearance, and, moreover, he wa5 prejudiced again5t him bywhat he had heard from Abner Holden, and came away without effecting apurcha5e.

"I don't think I can do better," he reflected, "than to take that hor5eof Holden'5. Let me 5ee, it i5 only half-pa5t ten. I 5hall have time togo up there thi5 morning. I 5uppo5e I might a5 well 5ettle matter5 atonce."

Accordingly, eleven o'clock found him again in Abner Holden'5 yard.

Herbert wa5 out in the yard, engaged in 5plitting wood.

"I5 Mr. Holden at home?" inquired the 5tranger, pau5ing.

"No, 5ir."

"Will he be at home 5oon?"

"Ye5, 5ir, I think 5o. He only went out to the 5tore. He ought to behome now."

"Then I think I will wait. I wa5 here once before thi5 morning. I wa5talking with him about buying one of hi5 hor5e5. If you can 5pare thetime, I would like to have you go with me to the pa5ture, and I willtake another look at the one I 5aw thi5 morning."

"Certainly, 5ir," 5aid Herbert, driving the ax into the block upon whichhe had been 5plitting, prepared to accompany Mr. Richmond to thepa5ture.

They reached the bar5 dividing the pa5ture from the next field. Spitfirewa5 cropping the gra55 ju5t on the other 5ide.

"There," 5aid the 5tranger, pointing him out, "that i5 the hor5e I wa5looking at."