"Is he going to bring suit?" Obadiah's uneasiness increased. He did not care to be at the mercy of a South Ridgefield jury. He usually was stuck. "Yes, it's my opinion that he intends to bring an action against you. He displayed marked animus." "He displayed what?" "Animus--unfriendliness," Hezekiah interpreted. Obadiah's uneasiness affected his temper. "Why don't you speak English?" he demanded, the pitch of his voice getting higher. For an instant there was a flash in Hezekiah's eyes but when he spoke he was perfectly calm. "I beg pardon, I failed to make allowances for--your understanding." Obadiah regarded his attorney angrily but made no reply. Years of experience had warned him against verbal combat with this man. Usually he did not awaken to the danger until he rankled under one of Hezekiah's darts. Disregarding the exchange of compliments, the lawyer went on, perfectly unruffled, "Is there a reason for this young man to entertain ill will against you?" "I never heard of the fellow before," protested Obadiah. "Is he acquainted with your daughter?" "No." Obadiah hesitated after his denial and modified it. "She helped to take him to the hospital and she has visited him since, I understand." "Ah!" Comprehension lighted Hezekiah's face. "You told me," he suggested, "that your daughter considered herself to be to blame for the accident." "Yes," Obadiah agreed with reluctance. "Virginia has a silly idea that she was at fault. She felt very badly over the matter." "And went to the hospital to express her regret and conceded responsibility for the accident to the injured man. He told me that he could rely on your daughter as a witness in his behalf." "I'll be hanged," cried Obadiah, the tone of his voice reminding one of Hennie's likening of him to a mosquito. "You'll be stung with a fat verdict if he gets you into court with your own daughter testifying against you. That's what will happen to you. Probably she admitted responsibility in the presence of witnesses," Hezekiah pointed out with deepest pessimism. "I won't have my daughter dragged into court as a witness against me," groaned Obadiah. "How are you going to stop it? Ship her out of the state?" Hezekiah suggested with a promptness which displayed unethical resourcefulness in the suppression of embarrassing witnesses. "Can't you arrange a compromise?" begged Obadiah. "Not after this mistake." Hezekiah returned the check for twenty-five dollars. "I'm as popular as a mouse in a pantry with that young fellow after attempting to pass that on him." He gave the mill owner a glance of curiosity. "How far would you let me go now?" "Use your own judgment, only keep Virginia out of court." Both men were silent for a time and then the lawyer spoke. "I tried to sound young Curtis. I endeavored to discover if he had any settlement in mind. All I found was a pronounced hostility to you personally and," Hezekiah smiled reminiscently, "to me as your representative."