He had not been in the house since, together with
his wife, he had left it after Lettice's death. Sim's
stained felt hat was pushed back from a wet brow,
his gestures were urgent.

"Get your horse in the buggy!" he exclaimed;
"I'll help you. Light out."

"'Light out'?" Gordon's gaze centered upon the
other's excitement, "where?"

"That doesn't make much difference, so's you
light. The County's mad clear through, and it's
pretty near all in the village." Sim turned to the
door. "I'll help you, and then -- drive."

"I ain't agoing to drive anywhere," Gordon told
him; "I'm where I belong."

"You don't belong in Greenstream after that piece
in the _Bugle_," his hand rested on the knob. "Tie
up anything you need, I'll hitch the buggy."

"Don't you touch a strap," Gordon commanded;
"because I won't put a foot in her."

"It'll all settle down in a little; then maybe you
can come back."

"What'll settle down?"

"Why, the deal with the railroad."

"Sim," Gordon demanded sharply, "you never
believed that in the paper?"

"I don't know what to b'lieve," the other replied
evasively; "a good many say those are the facts,
that you have the options."

[[342]]

p341 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p342w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p343

v?