the money they received through your kindness. We were thus
enabled to pay the interest on the mortgage, as well as our grocery
bill at the store. You little realise how grateful we are to you for
what you did for us."

"I have never been so thankful for anything I ever did," Douglas
earnestly replied. "Little did I realise that night when I stopped to
watch your father play, what the outcome of my act would be. But now
that the interest is paid, how is it that you are in danger of losing
your home?"

"Simply because Mr. Stubbles wants the money. It is only a small
amount now, and by another summer we could have it all paid."

"But surely Stubbles doesn't need the money. I understand that he is
very rich."

"I am not so certain about that. There have been rumours abroad for
some time now that he is not as rich as people imagine, and that he is
having some difficulty in carrying on his business. Anyway, when I
went to see him about the mortgage, he told me in no gentle way that he
must have the money and at once. If not, he said he would foreclose
and sell the place. But he has not done so yet."

"Why?" Douglas asked the question eagerly. He believed that he knew
the reason now, and if his surmise were true it would explain something
which had puzzled and worried him for days past.

"He has been waiting, that is all," Nell's voice was low as she spoke.
Her eyes were fixed upon the ground, and a deep, rich flush was
mantling her cheeks and brow. Then she lifted her head and spoke with
considerable embarrassment. "Yes, he has been waiting," she repeated,
"waiting for something to happen. It all depended upon that."

"I know. He has been waiting to see what answer you would give to Ben.
Is that it?"

"Yes, that's it."

"And you have refused him?"

"Couldn't you tell that by what happened this afternoon?"

"Certainly. But I wished to hear it from your own lips. And so you
think Stubbles will be very angry and will foreclose at once?"

"There is no doubt about it. I am sure that he will. Ben will see to
that. I am afraid you do not know the Stubbles yet. They will stop at
nothing, especially the men."

"I think I know something, more perhaps than you realise," and a slight
smile flitted across Douglas' face. "And I believe I know now," he
added, "why you met Ben by the old tree. There was so much at stake
that you did not wish to offend him."

"You have guessed right. Oh, it was terr