hat, Ben?" he asked, in the tone of a man who felt
that another had trespassed upon his rights.

"It is Mr. Halpin's," was replied.

"Halpin, who owns the next farm?"

"Yes, sir."

"He takes a liberty with my premises that I would not like to take with
his," said Mr. Bolton, who was annoyed by the circumstance. "And there
he is himself, as I live! riding along over my ground as coolly as if
it belonged to him. Verily, some men have the impudence of old Nick
himself!"

"They always go by that road," replied Ben; "at least, it has been so
ever since I have worked on the farm. I think I once heard Mr. Jenkins,
from whom you bought, tell somebody that Mr. Halpin's farm had the
right of way across this one.

"The right of way across my farm!" exclaimed Mr. Bolton, with
strongly-marked surprise. "We'll see about that! Come! go with me. I
want to take a look at that part of my forty acres."

And Mr. Bolton strode off, accompanied by Ben, to take more particular
note of the extreme south edge of his beautiful tract of land. The
shape of this tract was somewhat in the form of a triangle, with the
apex at the southern boundary, near the verge of which ran a stream of
water. Beyond this stream was a narrow strip of ground, some thirty
feet wide, bounded by the fence enclosing the land belonging to another
owner; (sic) it length was not more than two hundred feet. It was along
this strip of ground that Mr. Bolton had observed the wagon of Mr.
Halpin pass. The gate opening upon his premises was at one end, and
now, for the first time, he discovered that there was a gate at the
other end, opening from his farm to that of Mr. Halpin, while the
ground was cut up with numerous wheel-tracks.

"Upon my word, this is all very fine!" said Mr. Bolton. "The right of
way across my farm! we'll see about that! Ben, do you get four good
rails and put them firmly into the gate-posts on Mr. Halpin's side.
Throw the gate over into his field."

Ben looked confounded at this order.

"Do you understand me?" said Mr. Bolton.

"Yes, sir; but"--

"But what?"

"There's no other way for Mr. Halpin's folks to get to the public road."

"That's none of my business; they've no right to make a public highway
of these premises. You heard what I said?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then let it be done."

"Obey orders, if you break owners," muttered Ben, as Mr. Bolton turned
and marched away with long and hasty strides. "But if there isn't a
nice tea-party