“And the fellers down to Cale Schell's are always stirrin' up trouble. They think it is sport. Why, Pete got so mad last night he could ha' chewed tacks!” “I have said nothing about Pete to anybody,” said Hiram, firmly. “That don't matter. They say you have. They tell Pete a whole lot of stuff just to see him git riled. “And last night he slopped over. He said if you reported around that he put fire to Mis' Atterson's woods, he'd put it to the house and barns! Oh, he was wild.” Hiram's face flushed, and then paled. “Did Pete try to bum the woods, Hiram?” queried Henry, shrewdly. “I never even said I thought so to you, have I?” asked the young farmer, sternly. “Nope. I only heard that fire got into the woods by accident, when I was in town. Somebody was hunting through there for coon, and saw the burned-over place. That's all the fellers at Cale's place knew, too, I reckon; but they jest put it up to Pete to mad him.” “And they succeeded, did they?” said Hiram, sternly. “I reckon.” “Loose-mouthed people make more trouble in a community than downright mean ones,” declared Hiram. “If I have any serious trouble with the Dickersons, like enough it will be because of the interference of the other neighbors.” “But,” said Henry, preparing to go on, “Pete wouldn't dare fire your stable now--after sayin' he'd do it. He ain't quite so big a fool as all that.” But Hiram was not so sure. He had this additional trouble on his mind from this very hour, though he never said a word to Mrs. Atterson about it. But every night before he went to bed be made around of the outbuildings to make sure that everything was right before he slept. CHAPTER XXIV. “CORN THAT'S CORN” Hiram caught sight of Pepper in town one day and went after him. He knew the real estate man had returned from his business trip, and the fact that the matter of the option was hanging fire, and troubling Mrs. Atterson exceedingly, urged Hiram go counter to Mr. Strickland's advice. The lawyer had said: “Let sleeping dogs lie.” Pepper had made no move, however, and the uncertainty was very trying both for the young farmer and his employer. “How about that option you talked about, Mr. Pepper?” asked the “youth. Are you going to exercise it?” “I've got time enough, ain't I?” returned the real estate man, eyeing Hiram in his very slyest way. “I expect you have--if it really runs a year.” “You seen it, didn't you?” demanded Pepper. “But we'd like Mr. Strickland to see it.” “He's goin' to act for Mrs. Atterson?” queried the man, with a scowl. “Oh, yes.” “Well, he'll see it-when I'm ready to take it up. Don't you fret,” retorted Pepper, and turned away. This did not encourage the young farmer, nor was there anything in the man's manner to yield hope to Mrs. Atterson that she could feel secure in her title to the farm. So Hiram said nothing to her about meeting the man.