“That’s our business,” answered Joe, before anybody else could speak. “Have you—er—have you any stores you—er—want to sell?” “Don’t be a fool!” whispered Marcy. “They won’t let us have a thing. If we want anything we’ll have to take it by force.” “Thanks, but we are not in business here,” came from Fred. “You—er—might let us have a few things. I’ll pay you a fair price for them,” went on the real estate dealer. It galled him to ask the favor, but he wanted the goods very much. “Haven’t you got anything?” asked Runnell. “We have—er—some deer meat, but that is all.” “And that is meat you stole from us,” put in Harry. “Don’t say ‘stole,’ my boy. We——” “Don’t call me your boy, Mr. Skeetles. I wouldn’t be your boy for a million dollars.” “Don’t grow abusive, Westmore. I took the deer because I found it on my property. If I had wished to be mean I could have kept all of your stores and traps also.” “Not without a hot fight,” came from Joe. “Then you—er—won’t sell me anything?” said Hiram Skeetles, disappointedly. “Wait, I’ve got a scheme,” whispered Fred to his two chums. “What is it?” both questioned, in return. He told them, and both grinned and then laughed outright. “Just the thing!” cried Harry. “That will make him either eat humble pie or starve.” “What are you going to do?” questioned Joel Runnell. “I’ll show you,” answered Fred, and advanced a little closer to the lodge window. “Well, what do you say?” demanded Hiram Skeetles. “We’ll let you have some stores on one condition, Mr. Skeetles.” “And what is that?” “That you will start for home as soon as it is safe to do so, and will leave us in undisputed possession of this lodge until our hunting tour comes to an end.” CHAPTER XV A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Hiram Skeetles’ surprise was great when Fred made his declaration, and for several seconds he felt unable to reply. “You—er—want me to let you use this lodge after all?” he said, slowly. “That is what I said, Mr. Skeetles. And let me add that it will be a good bargain for you to make with us.” “I don’t see it. I came here a-purpose to make ye leave.” “Well, ‘circumstances alter cases,’ you know. You didn’t expect to be caught in a blizzard, did you?” “No, if I had known it was going to snow like this I’d stayed home.” “We will do the lodge no harm,” put in Joe. “Fact is, we’ve already mended the roof and the window, as you can see.” “Yes, I know, but——” “But what?” came from Harry. “Never mind now.” Hiram Skeetles had been on the point of mentioning his missing pocketbook and the papers, but he checked himself. “How long do you intend to stay?” “Not over two or three weeks at the most.” “Hum!” The real estate dealer paused and scratched his head in perplexity. “What do you say, Dan?” he questioned of Marcy.