This wholesale disregard of people's rights had been going on for years--long before the present owners had bought Tamawaca. From his observations Jarrod concluded that the former owners, of whom there had been several sets or combinations, had all come to a realization that their vandalism had rendered their positions unsafe, for which reason they had presently shifted the burden to the shoulders of their successors, who now were Easton and Wilder. Perhaps these two men, because their predecessors had with impunity occupied public lands, had become more careless or more grasping than any of the others, for their usurpations were on a larger scale. Easton, for example, had impudently placed a cottage directly in a public street, disregarding all rights and protests. One day, during his rambles, Jarrod came upon a fine cottage perched high on the hill overlooking the bay. On the porch was seated an old gentleman whom the lawyer recognized as Colonel Kerry. "Come up and sit down," called the colonel, hospitably. So Jarrod sat down to rest. "I'm glad to learn you're a new resident," said Kerry. "You have bought Lake View, I understand." "Yes," acknowledged Jarrod. "There was nothing to rent, so I had to buy a cottage or go elsewhere." The colonel smiled. "Plenty of places to rent," he observed. "Wilder said not." "He may have said so. See that cottage across the way? It's a very nice place; belongs to Grant of St. Louis; has been for rent all this spring." "Oh. Wilder said it was rented. I tried to get it, you know." Again the colonel smiled, and his smile was the sardonic kind that is sometimes exasperating. "Wilder wanted to sell Lake View," he exclaimed; "but he's been holding the place for seventeen hundred and fifty, which is more than it's worth. Perhaps you whittled the price down to where it belonged." Jarrod did not reply. He felt rather uncomfortable under the colonel's shrewd glance. "Tamawaca's a beautiful place," said he, glancing over the wonderful scene spread out before him--a scene with few rivals in America. Framed by the foliage of the near-by trees, Tamawaca Pool lay a hundred feet below him, its silver bosom dotted here and there with sailing craft, launches, or pudgy ferry-boats speeding on their way, while the opposite shore was lined with pretty cottages nestled in shady groves. "Glad you like it, sir," said the colonel, following his gaze. "I'm fond of the place myself." "But your public affairs are in a terrible condition, Colonel Kerry." "I agree with you." "Why don't the people rise up, and demand their rights?" enquired Jarrod, curiously. "Simply because they're here for rest and enjoyment, and not to get mixed up in law-suits and contentions." "But their vested rights are being disregarded."