"Then," said his son darkly, "you see that you stand up for me if something busts. I'd jest like to get a good smash or two at that four-eyed fool!" and he doubled his fist threateningly. "I'd be sure I could do that afore I started anything," said his father. "Helmford looks kinder like a hick'ry knot to me." "Aw, I c'd lick him with one hand," growled Tom, the confident. When Sarah came home from the Ladies' Aid Society her son and husband were ready for her. They met her in the lane and in the deepening twilight and with the chill December wind whining around them, they told the woman the amazing tale of Cap'n Jonah's fortune. "A hundred thousand dollars?" commented Sarah Petty coolly. "Why, that's more'n we had any reason to expect." "Say!" exclaimed Tom. "Jest _one_ of his investments might amount to more than that. He said so himself. The Little Sandy Oil and Coal Comp'ny. Cost him two thousand dollars for two thousand sheers, and mebbe they air wuth now a _hundred dollars apiece_!" "Goshamighty!" ejaculated Orrin. "Them's the ile sheers he told me about, once't." Sarah sighed ecstatically. Her face lighted with the glory of expectation. "We'll be _rich_," she murmured. "Hoh!" cried Tom. "You're countin' your chickens in the aig, Sarah Petty," warned Orrin. "You leave it to me," his wife said with immense confidence. "I told you I could trim my sails to a change of wind. All you need do, Orrin, you and Tom, is to foller my lead. He's a Hand, after all, Uncle Jonah is. He don't calc'late to divide up his property if he can help it. It'll all come to us in the end." "But Pearly, Marm?" Tom said faintly. "Do jest as I say. Treat her nice. Make up to her. Let your Uncle Jonah see you air nice to her. That'll fix him. If he thinks she'll in the end get some of his money I guarantee he won't will her none to speak of. He's a Hand, I tell you, and they was always cautious." "Uh-huh!" grunted Orrin, but not altogether convinced. Once confident that Uncle Jonah was possessed of a bona fide fortune, Sarah Petty's determination would admit no possibility of defeat. Before supper time Sarah had Orrin and Tom carry some of the heavier pieces of furniture out of the parlor. A generous walnut bureau with a good mirror was brought down from one of the upper chambers. Orrin and Sarah's own brass bed--a magnificent piece of furniture according to local report and which Sarah had kept unscarred for three years by enveloping the posts in canton flannel--was taken down and set up again in the front room. It was fitted with the best mattress in the house and with monogrammed linen. For Sarah Petty took vast pride in her household possessions. When Orrin had first been allowed to sleep in that brass bed he confessed that he "didn't feel as though he belonged in the blasted contraption!"