He and Orrin started back for Sunnyside. The latter asked Hiram: "Where do you suppose that Ad Banks did go, Strong?" "I haven't the least idea." "Do you really think he had nothing to do with that fire?" "At least, Battick can show no proof. Suspicion only, breeds trouble. I am inclined to blame the field mouse instead." "Humph! Well, maybe," grumbled Orrin Post. "At any rate it will do no good to spread abroad any suspicions you may feel about it." "We-ell." "Promise me you will not speak of Banks in connection with the fire." "Oh, all right! If you don't want me to," said Orrin promptly. "It's a bargain," Hiram rejoined, and they dropped the subject for the time being. CHAPTER XXI A PARTNERSHIP IS FORMED Not until morning was the full result of the tornado revealed on and about Sunnyside. Most of the buildings being comparatively new, Hiram found that few had suffered. The sheds were under the break of the hill, anyway; therefore he looked for little misfortune there. The silo had suffered despite the efforts they had made to stay it with the wire ropes. It had a decided list to the east and was no longer set true upon its cement foundation. The neglect of the carpenters in not staying it firmly before the storm came was a matter that would have to be settled between them and Mr. Bronson. Hiram was glad it did not come under his jurisdiction. The young farm manager had enough trouble of his own. The heavy rain which had preceded the gale of wind had beaten some of the corn on the lowlands almost flat to the ground. It was about two feet high and the sun of Sunday, the day following the tempest, began to revive the corn. But it was evident that it would be impossible to get into those fields with the cultivators for several days. At this stage of the corn crop continual cultivation was necessary. Hiram had always followed a system of cultivation not altogether approved of by corn raisers in this vicinity. All cultivation, Hiram had previously held, should not be shallow. It was all right to use a two- or three-horse hoe as most of the corn-belt farmers do, until the plant is half-leg high. But after that Hiram believed in using the fluke harrow. "Now we've seen something of what can be done to a field of corn by a big wind and rain. If such another baby tornado comes in August or September," Hiram said to Orrin Post, "and knocks the corn down, it never will recover unless the area of rootage is very wide and strong. "In the South they plow corn in July to hold up the stalk through heavy winds and rains; but that leaves the land in bad shape for the following tillage. I like to use a fluke harrow and cultivate deep. Tear right through the small roots and rip them apart. That more than doubles the root-system and finally gives the plant a hold on the soil that will enable it to stand up under almost any kind of blow and rain."