my father came here."

"Maybe the dead man left your father some money," suggested Laura.

"That is what my mother said to dad. But he thinks not. He thinks it
is more than likely Mr. Enos died in debt and left his affairs all
tangled up, and that the lawyers want my father to help straighten
them out."

"I'd like to be able to paint," said Jessie, with a sigh. "I think
some of those little water-colors are just too lovely for anything."

"Why don't you take it up? There must be some teacher in Crumville,"
returned Dave.

"Let's both do it!" cried Laura. "I used to paint a little before
father and I did so much traveling. I would like to take it up again.
It would be very interesting."

While the young folks were talking, the pair of mettlesome grays had
been speeding over the snow of the road at a good rate of speed. Dave,
however, had them well in hand, so that there was little danger of
their running away.

"We'll be to Benson Crossroads soon, Dave," remarked Ben a while
later, after they had passed over a long hill lined on either side
with tidy farms. "Which road are you going to take--through Hacklebury
or around Conover's Hill?"

"I haven't made up my mind," answered Dave. He looked at Jessie. "Have
you any preference?"

"Oh, let us go up around Conover's Hill!" cried Jessie. "That is
always such a splendid ride. There is so much of an outlook."

"Yes, let us go by way of the hill by all means," added Laura. "It
isn't very nice through Hacklebury, past all those woolen mills."

"All right, the Conover road it is," answered Dave; and forward they
went once more as fast as ever.

They soon passed the Crossroads, and then took the long, winding road
that led around one side of the hill just mentioned. Here travel since
the snow had fallen had evidently been heavy, for the roadway was
packed down until it was almost as smooth as glass. Over this surface
the spirited grays dashed at an increased rate of speed.

"Some team, believe me!" was Ben's comment. "Mr. Wadsworth ought to
put them on a race-course."

"Papa does not believe in racing," answered Jessie. "But he always did
like to have a horse that had some go in him."

"Hark!" cried Laura, a moment later. "What is that sound?"

"It's an auto coming," announced Ben, looking behind them. "A big
touring-car, and whoever is in it seems to be in a tremendous hurry."

"I wish they wouldn't cut out their muffler," was Dave's comment, as
he saw the