by
tracing the pattern of the empty stove with the end of a small cane. He
was a good-looking young man, with very black eyes, and a small black
beard; of middle height and strongly built, and noted in Cacouna as the
boldest rider, the best swimmer, and one of the best shots, in the
neighbourhood.

A little stir, and a loud rough voice speaking in the outer office, was
followed by the entrance of a clerk.

"Here is Clarkson, sir. Says he must see you."

A shaggy head appeared over the clerk's shoulder, and the same rough
voice called out, "Just a minute, Mr. Bellairs; it's only a small matter
of business."

Mr. Bellairs went out, drawing the door together after him, and after a
few minutes dismissed the man, and came back.

"That fellow may give you some trouble," he said as he sat down again.

"Me? How?" asked the Doctor, surprised.

"Some years ago, Mr. Latour bought a hundred acres of wild land on
Beaver Creek. He took no trouble about it, except what he was actually
obliged; never even saw it, I believe; and about a year before his
death, this Clarkson squatted on it, built a house, married, and took
his wife to live there. Mr. Latour heard of all this by chance, and went
to see if it were true. There, he found the fellow comfortably settled,
and expecting nothing less than to be turned out. The end of the matter,
for that time, was, that Clarkson promised to pay some few dollars rent,
and was left in possession. The rent, however, never was paid. Mr.
Latour died, and when his affairs came into my hands I tried again to
get it; threatened to turn Clarkson out, and pull down his house if he
did not pay, and certainly would have done it, but for Bella, to whom I
should tell you the land belongs. Mrs. Clarkson came into town, and went
to her with such a pitiful story that she persuaded me to wait. The
consequence is that nothing has been done yet, though I believe it is
altogether misplaced kindness to listen to their excuses."

"I have no doubt it is."

"Clarkson is a great scamp, but I hear his wife is a very decent woman,
and naturally Bella was humbugged."

"Naturally, yes. But I hope it is not too late to get rid of such
tenants, or make them pay?"

"I would rather you undertook the task than I, except, of course, in the
way of business. Professionally, a lawyer has no tenderness for people
who can't pay."

"And in what condition is the rest of the land?"

"Much as it always was. The Indians are