ere was a goodly crowd before the little house, or moving idly through
the half-dismantled lower rooms when Lucas halted the ponies to let Harris
and the ladies out.

To Lyddy's surprise, the women present--or most of them--welcomed her
with more warmth than she had experienced in a greeting since she and
her sister had first come to Hillcrest.

But the auctioneer began to put up the household articles for sale very
soon and that relieved Lyddy of some embarrassment in meeting these folk
who so suddenly had veered toward her.

There were only a few things the girl could afford to buy. The Dutch oven
was the most important; and fortunately most of the farmers' wives had
stoves in their kitchens, so there was not much bidding. Lyddy had it
nocked down to her for sixty cents.

Mrs. Harrison seemed very sad to see some of her things go, and Lyddy
believed that every article that the widow seemed particularly anxious
about, young Harris Colesworth bid in.

At least, he bought a bureau, a worktable, an old rocking chair with
stuffed back and cushion, and last of all an old, age-darkened, birdseye
maple desk, which seemed shaky and half-ready to fall to pieces.

"That article ought to bring ye in a forchune, Mr. Colesworth,"
declared the auctioneer, cheerfully. "That's where they say Bob hid his
forchune--yessir!"

"And it looks--from the back of it--that worms had got inter the
forchune," chuckled one of the farmers, as the wood-worm dust rattled out
of the old contraption when Harris and Lucas carried it out and set it
down with the other articles Harris had bought.

"So you got it; did you, young man?" snarled a voice behind the two
youths, and there stood Professor Spink.

He was much heated, his boots and trousers were muddy, and his frock
coat had a bad, three-cornered tear in it. Evidently he had come across
lots--and he had hurried.

"Why--were you interested in that old desk I bought in?" asked Harris with
a grin.

"I'll give ye a dollar for your bargain," blurted out the professor.

"I tell you honest, I didn't pay but two dollars for it," replied Harris.

"I'll double it--give you four."

"No. I guess I'll keep it."

"Five," snapped the breakfast food magnate.

"No, sir," responded Harris, turning away.

"Good work! keep it up!" Lyddy heard Lucas whisper to the other youth. "I
bet I kin tell jest what dad told him. Dad's jest close-mouthed enough
to make the professor fidgetty. He begins to beli