rm.
But it will come hard on pa and ma--it surely will."

Mr. Pertell said nothing. There was little he could say to make the
sad lot of the Apgar family any easier. The manager wished he could
provide the money himself, but, as he had said, he had invested all
his surplus cash in the moving picture business. The taking of the
rural dramas was going to cost considerable, too, and there would be
the added expense of burning the barn.

Mr. Pertell was paying a fair price for the use of the farm, and for
the board and lodging of his company. This would, in a measure, help
the Apgars, but it would not be anywhere near enough to save the
place.

"Well, it certainly is too bad," agreed the manager. "When I see
Squire Blasdell to ask permission to burn the barn, I'll see if he
won't wait a bit about foreclosing. Then perhaps we can think up some
other plan--or we may even help you find the money," he added,
hopefully.

"There ain't much chance of that," returned Sandy. "We've hunted high
and low for that money, or for any papers to tell where it might be.
As for Squire Blasdell, he's harder than flint. He wouldn't wait a
day after th' money was due. No, we've got to lose the farm."

Truly there seemed no way out, but Mr. Pertell was not one to give up
easily. He made up his mind that when he got the chance he would see
some of his friends in New York. He might be able to induce one of
them to provide the money, and take up the mortgage, holding it until
it could be paid off gradually. But he said nothing of this now, for
he did not want to raise false hopes.

"Well, I reckon I'll turn in," announced Sandy, after a bit. "I'm not
used to staying up late. Is everything all right?"

"Oh, yes, indeed--very nice," replied the manager. "I'm going to
start in planning to-morrow."

Sandy arose to go in, and, as he did so he peered out toward the
road. The moon had risen and it was quite light. Mr. Pertell saw a
dark figure slouching along the highway.

"That you, 'Bige?" called Sandy, evidently thinking he saw some
neighbor. But the man in the road did not answer. Instead he broke
into a run, as though frightened.

"That's queer!" exclaimed Sandy. "I'm going to see who that is."

"I'm with you!" declared the manager, and they hurried down the
gravel path.

CHAPTER VI

THE BUTTING BULL

Speeding to the front gate the theatrical man and the young farmer
darted down the moonlit road. It was a straight highway,