When I reached the Lane I looked over at the Colton mansion. The rain had given the carpenters and painters an enforced holiday, and, except for the chauffeur, whom I could see through the open door of the garage, there was no one in sight. I think I was a little disappointed. If “Big Jim” had appeared and hailed me with another offer for the land I should not have dodged. I was ready for him. But neither he, or any one else, appeared and I walked on. At the Corners, Sim Eldredge shouted to me from the platform of his store. “Hi, Ros!” he shouted. “You! Ros Paine! come here a minute, will you?” I did not want to see him. I had intended avoiding the post-office altogether. But I crossed to the platform. “Say, Ros,” he asked eagerly, “what's this about you and Mr. Colton?” I was annoyed. “What do you mean?” I asked. “Why, you know, don't you? He come to see you and you went to see him over to his house. You had a reg'lar argument, I understand. About the Shore Lane, wan't it?” “Who told you that?” I inquired, sharply. “Why, nobody told me, exactly. Lute Rogers and Cap'n Jed was here last night and they got a-goin' as usual. The Cap'n does love to stir up Lute, and he commenced hintin' about somethin' of the kind. I don't know as they was hints, either, but Lute thought they was.” He grinned. I understood. “I see,” I said. “Well, what did Lute say?” “I suppose he'd say he never said a word, but after he'd gone there was a kind of general sentiment that Colton wanted to buy the Shore Lane land off you, and that you and he had some words about it. Anyhow, you didn't sell the land, did you?” “Suppose I did, or didn't; what of it?” “Why, nothin', nothin'. Only, I tell you, Ros--” he looked carefully about to make sure no one was listening; “I tell you; it's just this way. I can understand how you feel about it. You know Dean and some of the others are sore on Mr. Colton 'cause he's got more money than they have, and they want to make all the trouble for him they can. Jed's got an idea that he's after that Lane, to close it off, and he's stirrin' up sentiment against its bein' closed. He's talkin' about the town buyin' it. Now of course I know your position. You want to get just as high a price as you can afore you sell.” “That's my position, is it?”