. It was the beginning of a new week, indeed, to him. He
had turned over a new leaf of experience. He hoped that he was pretty
near to the end of his harsh city existence.

He hurried downstairs, long in advance of the other boarders, and Mrs.
Atterson served him some breakfast, although there was no milk for the
coffee.

"I dunno where that plague o' my life, Sister's, gone," sputtered the
old lady, fussing about, between dining-room and kitchen. "I sent her
out ten minutes ago for the milk. And if you want to get that first
train to Scoville you've got to hurry."

"Never mind the milk," laughed the young fellow. "The train's more
important this morning."

So he bolted the remainder of his breakfast, swallowed the black coffee,
and ran out.

He arrived at Scoville while the morning was still young. It was not his
intention to go at once to the Atterson farm. There were matters which
he desired to look into in addition to judging the quality of the soil
on the place and the possibility of making it pay.

He went to the storekeepers and asked questions about the prices paid
for garden truck. He walked about the town and saw the quality of
the residences, and noted what proportion of the townsfolk cultivated
gardens of their own.

There was a big girls' boarding-school, and two small, but
well-patronized hotels. The proprietors of these each owned a farm;
but they told Hiram that it was necessary for them to buy much of their
table vegetables from city produce men, as the neighboring farmers did
not grow much.

In talking with one storekeeper Hiram mentioned the fact that he was
going to look at the Atterson place with a view to farming it for its
new owner. When he walked out of the store he found himself accosted
by a lean, snaky-looking man who had stood within the store the moment
before.

"What's this widder woman goin' to do with the farm old Jeptha left
her?" inquired the man, looking at Hiram slyly.

"We don't know yet, sir, what we shall do with it," the young fellow
replied.

"You her son?"

"No. I may work for her--can't tell till I've looked at the place."

"It ain't much to look at," said the man, quickly. "I come near buying
it once, though. In fact--"

He hesitated, still eyeing Hiram sideways. The boy waited for him to
speak again. He did not wish to be impolite; but he did not like the
man's appearance.

"What do y' reckon this Mis' Atterson would sell for?" finally demanded
the man.