ed,
retired precipitately, and the whole countryside laughed long and loud
over the victory.

He returned to the farm many times, but Tom seemed always to be on
hand. Finally Mr. Martin declared, after they had come to blows the
second time, that he would have the law. Mr. Teeter joyfully invited
him to have all he could get of it; but the enemy hesitated. He knew
his case was not looked upon with favor by his neighbors, and he
dreaded to fly in the face of public opinion. For a lawsuit, as
everyone in the countryside knew, was held as a disgrace, no matter how
righteous one's case might be. And besides, the lawyers were apt to
take so much money that a thrifty man like Jake naturally hesitated
before approaching them.

So all autumn he went on making ineffectual efforts to remove the
obstructions from his property, and times were very lively indeed; so
lively that Auntie Jinit McKerracher, who led public opinion, declared
it was clean scand'lus to have such goin's on in a Christian land; and
Granny Teeter wrung her hands and said "Wirra wurra" many times a day
over the Orator's waywardness.

At last, to save his reputation, Mr. Martin compromised. He would
graciously allow Sandy to remain on his lawful property, he announced,
till springtime. But, just as soon as the snow was gone, Tom Teeter
had better watch out. For it was a penitentiary job he'd been at, and
if there was any law in Canada, Mr. Martin was going to have the
benefit of it.

So the countryside settled down for the winter, and as Christmas
approached the Martin-Teeter conflict ceased to occupy the public mind.
Even in the schoolroom it was soon forgotten, and this was a great
relief to Elizabeth. For, of course, Eppie's trouble could not but
directly affect her. Elizabeth and Rosie had both stood loyally by
Eppie, declaring it was a dreadful shame the way Jake Martin and the
lawyers acted. But this loyalty entailed an estrangement from poor,
hard-working Susie; and Elizabeth's tender heart was torn between her
two friends. She realized that Susie was right in taking her father's
side. For, of course, one must stand by a father, no matter how bad he
was, she argued. Elizabeth's position was a difficult one, and she was
vastly relieved when the matter was dropped, and she and Rosie, with
Eppie and Susie as their opponents, played puzzle during school hours
and tag during recess, as of yore.

But all outside affairs of whatever moment w