ent on, though George noticed that only a
few strangers made any purchases. At length, when the small sundries
had been cleared off, there was a curious silence as the land was put
up. It was evident that the majority of those present had been warned
not to bid.

The auctioneer made a little speech in praise of the property, and
paused when it fell flat; then, while George wondered what
understanding the creditors had arrived at with Grant, a brown-faced
stranger strode forward.

"I've been advised to let this place alone," he said. "I suppose you
have a right to sell?"

"Yes, sir," replied the auctioneer. "Come along, and look at my
authority, if you want. It's mortgaged property that has been
foreclosed after the creditors had waited a long while for a
settlement, and I may say that the interest demanded is under the
present market rate. Everything's quite regular; no injustice has been
done. If you're a purchaser, I'll take your bid."

"Then I'll raise you a hundred dollars," said the man.

There was a growl of dissatisfaction, and the stranger turned to the
part of the crowd from which it proceeded.

"This is an open auction, boys. I was born in the next province, and
I've seen a good many farms seized in the years when we have had
harvest frost, but this is the first time I ever saw anybody try to
interfere with a legal sale. Guess you may as well quit yapping,
unless you mean to bid against me."

There was derisive laughter, and a loafer from Sage Butte threw a clod.
Then another growl, more angry than the first, broke out as Grant,
moving forward into a prominent place, nodded to the auctioneer. His
rugged face was impassive, and he ignored the crowd. A number of the
farmers strolled toward him and stood near by with a resolute air which
had its effect on the others, though George saw by Grant's look of
surprise that he had not expected this. Another man made a bid, and
the competition proceeded languidly, but except for a little mocking
laughter and an occasional jeer, nobody interfered. In the end, the
stranger bought the land; and soon afterward Grant walked up to George.

"I want the team, if I can get it at a reasonable figure; they're real
good beasts with the imported Percheron strain strong in them," he
said. "It will be a while before they're put up, and I'd be glad if
you could ride round and let Flora know what's keeping me. I'd an idea
she expected there might be some trouble