"Yours truly, "CALEB WRIGHT." "I suppose, from this, that you'd rather have seventy-five dollars than your colt?" Philip said, as he returned the letter. "That's about the size of it; but if you ain't sharp-set for a healthy three-year-old, of the kind they hanker after up to the city, I reckon I can find somebody that is, seein' that Caleb's a good judge an' never over-prices hosses when he thinks he's likely to do the buyin' of 'em." "Come in," said Philip, who quickly made out a receipt for seventy-five dollars for one sorrel horse, aged three years, which the young man signed. "James Marney," said Philip, reading the signature. "I thought I knew every name in the county, but--" "But I come from the next county," said the young man. "Caleb'll be disappointed not to see me, but this young woman says he's gone East. What'll you gimme for the saddle an' bridle? I'm goin' to the city an' can't use 'em there." The equipments named were in fair condition, so after some "dickering" Philip exchanged six dollars for them, and the young man sauntered off in the direction of Claybanks' single "saloon." "'A fool and his money,'" quoted Philip to Grace; "but as he didn't heed Caleb's injunction, I don't suppose any word of mine would have had any effect. Mark my words: I'll clear twenty-five at least on that transaction within a week, for there's a city dealer here now to buy a string of young horses. That forty acres of walnut trees is ours, too, and cheap enough to hold until winter, when labor will be cheap; then I'll have the trees cut and hauled to the creek, to be rafted out when the overflow comes." Grace looked at her husband admiringly, contemplatively, exultantly, and said:-- "Who'd have thought it a year ago?" "Thought what, ladybird?" "Oh, that you would have blossomed into a keen-eyed, quick, successful trader." "It does seem odd, doesn't it? There's more profit in to-day's transactions than my city salary for a month amounted to. Ah, well; live and learn. If you'll keep shop a few minutes longer, I'll put both horses into the barn and go up to the court-house and see if Weefer's title to the forty acres of walnut is clear." In a few moments he returned with some papers in his hands and a countenance more than ordinarily cheerful, so that Grace said:-- "Apparently the title is good." "Oh, yes; but here's something unexpected, and quite as gratifying,--a letter from Caleb. I didn't imagine, till now, how glad I should be to hear from the dear old chap." "Read it--aloud--at once!" Grace said, clapping her hands in joyous anticipation. "Where does he write from?" "New York. H'm--here goes.