"Oh, there ain't nothin' much to that, John!" he replied. "Nothin' to worry about. But it's what lays back o' that." "For the Lord's sake stop talking in riddles, Lightnin'!" Marvin exclaimed. "What lies back of what?" "Well," said Bill, looking up shrewdly, "this here Thomas has shown his hand--an' we gotter admit, John, that he plays a mighty smooth an' slick game! He wants to buy our place, waterfall an' all." "So that's it!" Marvin knew that Thomas had been buying up property in the section, and he knew from experience what sort of treatment the sellers were likely to get. That old Bill and his family should now be involved filled him with concern and anger. "But surely you're not going to sell, Bill!" Lightnin' looked up, then down. "The property belongs to mother, John; an' this here Thomas person sure knows how to go after what he wants! He made himself solid with mother an' Millie some time ago, as you know. They think he's Santa Claus, or somethin'. Why, he's got mother an' Millie all het up so's they don't know whether they're standin' on their head or feet! Mother's kinder simple about some things, John--but Millie oughter have more sense! He's been tellin' them that this here hotel idea won't pay for long, an' that he's willin' to buy the place at once for a good price. He tells 'em as how they can enjoy themselves an' live comfortable on the proceeds--an' I can have a nice, easy old age! He 'ain't said much to me, o' course--I don't give him a chance to find me around, much. But he's got the womenfolk all fed up, eatin' out o' his yaller gloves, an' crazy to sell. An'--an' mother an' Millie is kinder sore at me 'cause I ain't takin' much interest in the proposition. Say, what was the name o' that feller what acted as agent for the railroad an' bought your property from Thomas when he done you out of it?" "Hammond, Everett Hammond," said Marvin. "Go on, Bill--I'm listening!" "Hammond, eh? To--be--sure. Well, Mister Everett Hammond is up at the hotel now, John, with Thomas--Hammond come up in a hurry, an' they got a deed to the property all ready fer mother an' me to sign. Mother's crazy to sign, but I ain't--not yet. An' it seems they gotter have my name on it, to make sure." "What--you mean to say it has gone that far!" exclaimed Marvin. "Sure thing," said Bill, rolling another cigarette. "An' say, I happen to think them two--Hammond an' Thomas--has been in cahoots fer some time--got an idea they is actually partners." "What makes you think that?" "I was a detective once," said Bill, with a sudden return to his usual manner, as he lighted the cigarette. Marvin made an impatient gesture. "Hang it! This is really too bad, Bill! Look here, I'll see if I can do anything! I'm going to come up to the hotel to-morrow as soon as I can get away from here! You're not going to sign that deed, are you, Lightnin'?"