The little building shivered in all its timbers, and the sound with which it reacted to the blow seemed something between a groan and a sob. Joyce stood still with horror in her eyes, and then the man raised the heavy iron and swung it back for another blow. But Joyce, without knowing what she was doing, was all at once by his side: “Oh!” she cried putting out a detaining hand upon the exact spot where the iron must strike, “Oh! _Don’t!_” The man paused in his motion and looked at her in wonder, his iron on his shoulder: “Ma’am?” he said astonished, “Did you speak?” “Yes,” said Joyce shyly, “Why are you doing that? You will ruin the little house.” “Them was the boss’ orders, ma’am. Wreck it. That’s what I’m here for.” “But--Why? It’s a perfectly good little house.” “He wants to clear this here corner, ma’am, and set the hedge out all the way around like the rest. He don’t want no office here any more, he’s bought the place. He said to get this out of the way the easiest way we knowed how. I’m obeyin’ orders, ma’am!” The man raised his arm for another blow and intimated by his glance that he would be pleased if the lady would move a little further away and give him more room to strike. But Joyce only stepped nearer in her earnestness: “Wouldn’t he, do you think he might--perhaps--_sell_ it?” she asked eagerly. The two men looked at one another amusedly. This was a queer, new kind of a girl. But they were dwellers near a great city and there were all kinds in a city. Their problem was to get rid of this one and go on with their work as soon as possible. The second man took the initiative: “Lady,” he said stepping up with authority, “The boss is on his way to Europe an’ we gotta git this here building out o’ this piece of ground before we quit tonight. That’s my contract, an’ I generally manage to keep my contrac’s. That’s how I keep my reputashun--gettin’ things done when I say I will.” Joyce drew her brows together thoughtfully: “What are you going to do with this building?” she asked. “Break her up an’ cart her off. Got a man cornin’ in an hour to clean her up fer the kindlin’ wood. We ain’t got no time to waste, lady.” “Then the house is yours? To do as you please with?” Her eyes persisted, looking at the men earnestly. “Wal, it amounts to that. Yas, it’s ourn.” “Well, then, wouldn’t you sell it?” “But I tell you lady, the house has gotta git off’n this here piece o’ ground before tomorra mornin’ ’r I lose my big contract on the rest o’ this job.” “Couldn’t it be moved?” persisted Joyce. “They move houses even bigger than that. I’ve seen them.” “Aw, yes, she could be moved. A course she could be moved ef you had a place to put her.” “I will get a place,” said Joyce decidedly. “What will you sell the building for?” The men looked at one another nonplussed: “I guess we’d take five bucks apiece, wouldn’t we, Tom?” said the older of the men winking slowly.