st think nobody lived there; for the new grass ain't been cut, the
flower beds are full of dry weeds left over from last fall, and most of
the green shutters are closed.

There's smoke comin' from the kitchen chimney, though, so we wanders
around front, bringin' up under the big lilac bush. It's just covered
with blossoms--a truck-load, I should say; and it did seem a shame, Vee
bein' so strong for 'em, that she couldn't have one little spray.

"About a quarter a bunch, them would be on Broadway," says I, diggin' up
some change. "Well, here's where Neighbor Shinn makes a sale."

And, before Vee can object, I've snapped off the end of a twig.

I'd just dropped the quarter in an envelop and was stickin' it on the
end of the broken branch, when the front door opens, and out dashes this
tall gink with the rusty Vandyke and the hectic face. Yep, it's a lurid
map, all right. Some of it might have been from goin' without a hat in
the wind and weather, for his forehead and bald spot are just as
high-colored as the rest; but there's a lot of temper tint, too,
lightin' up the tan, and the deep furrows between the eyes shows it
ain't an uncommon state for him to be in. Quite a husk he is, costumed
in a plaid golf suit, and he bores down on us just as gentle as a
tornado.

"I say, you!" he calls out. "Stop where you are."

"Don't hurry," says I. "We'll wait for you."

"Ye will, wull ye!" he snarls, as he comes stampin' up in front of us.
"Ye'd best. And what have ye there, Miss? Hah! Pickin' me posies, eh?
And trespassin', too."

"That's right," says I. "Petty larceny and breakin' and enterin'. I'm
the guilty party."

"I'm sure there's nothing to make such a fuss about," says Vee, eyin'
him scornful.

"Oh, ho!" says he. "It's a light matter, I suppose, prowling around
private grounds and pilfering? I ought to be taking it as a joke, eh?
Don't ye know, you two, I could have you taken in charge for this?"

"Breeze ahead, then," says I. "Call the high sheriff. Only let's not get
all foamed up over it, Mr. MacGregor Shinn."

"Ha!" says he. "Then ye know who I am? Maybe you're stopping up at the
big house?"

"We are guests of Mr. Ellins, your neighbor," puts in Vee.

"He's no neighbor of mine," snaps Shinn. "Not him. His bulldog worries
me cat, his roosters wake me up in the morning, and his Dago workmen
chatter about all day long. No, I'll not own such a man as neighbor. Nor
will I have his guests stealing my posies."