"Can't ？nd him，high ner low.But he ordered a book of me t'other day—'Radford's Lives o'the Saints'—an'perhaps you'll take it an'pay me the money，so's I kin go home."Louise gazed at the man musingly.He was one of the people she intended to pump for information concerning the mystery of Captain Wegg，and she must be gracious to him in order to win his good—will and induce him to speak freely.With this thought in mind she drew out her purse and asked：
"How much were you to be paid for the book？""Three dollars，miss.""Here is the money，then.Tell me—your name is McNutt，isn't it？—how long have you lived in this place？""All my life，miss.Thank 'e，miss.Good day to ye，miss."He placed the book in the hammock beside her.
"Don't go，please."said the girl."I'd like you to tell me something about Captain Wegg，and of his poor wife who died，and—""Nuther time，miss，I'll be glad to.Ye'll find me in my orfice，any time.Jest now I'm in the dumdest hurry ye ever knew.Good day to ye，miss，"he repeated，and stumped quickly to the buggy awaiting him.Next moment he had seized the reins and was urging the sorrel mare along the stony lane at her best pace.
Louise was both astonished and disappointed，but after alittle thought she looked after the departing agent with a shrewd smile.
"He's afraid to talk，"she murmured，"and that only con？rmsmy suspicions that he knows more than he cares to tell."Meantime McNutt was doing his best to get away from the premises before the discovery was made that he had sold two "Lives of the Saints"to one family.That there might be future consequences to follow his deception never occurred to him；only the immediate necessity for escape occupied his mind.
Nor were his fears altogether groundless.Turning hishead from time to time for a glance behind，he had seen Mr.Merrick come from the barn with a red book in his hand and approach the hammock，whereupon the young lady arose and exhibited a second book.Then they both dropped the books and ran into the lane and began shouting for him to stop—the man's voice sounding especially indignant and imperative.
But McNutt chose to be deaf.He did not look around again，and was congratulating himself that he would soon be out of earshot when a sudden apparitiona ahead caused the mare to halt abruptly.It also caused the cold chills to run down the agent's back.Beth and Patsy had stepped into the lane from a ？eld，being on their way home from their daily walk.
"They're calling to you，sir，"said Patsy to the agent.
"Didn't you hear them？"
"I—I'm a little deaf，miss，"stammered McNutt，who recognized the young ladies as Mr.Merrick's nieces.
"I think they wish you to go back，"remarked Beth，thoughtfully watching the frantic waves of Uncle John's chubby arms and Louise's energetic beckoningsb.They were too far off to be heard plainly，but their actions might surely be understood.
McNutt with reluctance looked over his shoulder，and asecond shudder went through him.
"I hain't got time to go back，"he said，as an inspiration came to him；"but I guess you kin do jest as well.This bookhere，"picking up the last of the three from the seat，"I offered to sell yer uncle fer five dollars；but he wanted it fer four.I ain't no hagglera，you understan'，so I jest driv away.Now Mr.Merrick has changed his mind an'is willin'to give ？ve fer it；but there ain't nuthin'small about me.Ef you gals'll jest give me the four dollars ye kin take the book to yer uncle，with my compliments；an'I won't hev t'go back.I'm in a drea'ful hurry."Patsy laughed at the little man's excited manner."Fortunately I have some money with me，"she said；"butyou may as well take the five dollars，for unless Uncle had been willing to pay it he would not have called you back.""I think so，myself，miss，"he rejoined，taking themoney and handing her the volume.
Uncle John and Louise，glaring at the distant group，saw the third red book change hands，and in answer to their renewed cries and gestures Patsy waved the "Lives of the Saints"at them reassuringly and came on at a brisk walk，followed by Beth.
McNutt slapped the sorrel with the ends of the reins so energetically that the mare broke into a trot，and before the girls had come within speaking distance of their uncle，the agent was well out of sight and exulting inb the possession of eleven dollars to pay for his morning's work.Even if Ethel accepted that ten，he reflected，he would still be a dollar 。
ahead.But he was sure she would tell him to keep it；and he'd "jest like to see thet air nabob git a penny back agin."Meantime Uncle John's wrath，which was always aneffervescenta quality with the little gentleman，had changed to wonder when he saw his nieces approaching with the third red—and—gold book.Louise was leaning against the rail fence and laughing hystericallyb，and suddenly a merry smile appeared and spread over her uncle's round face as he said：
"Did you ever hear of such an audaciousc swindle in all your born days？""What will you do，Uncle？"asked the girl，wiping the tears of merrimentd from her eyes."Have the man arrested？""Of course not，my dear.It's worth the money just to learn what talents the fellow possesses.Tell me，Patsy，"he continued，as the other nieces joined them，"what did you pay for your book？""Five dollars.Uncle.He said—""Never mind what he said，my dear.It's all right.I wanted it to add to my collection.So far I've got three 'Lives of the Saints'—and I'm thankful they're not cats，or there'd be nine lives for me to accumulate."
