“Then you’ll have hopes of striking the metropolis here occasionally?” queried Mr. Todd facetiously. “I wouldn’t want to get too far away.” David’s eyes were still fixed and frowning. “What do you think of a man of my experience settling down in a place like this to raise apples?” he asked. “Sometimes I think I’m several kinds of a fool for doing it.” Mr. Todd spat thoughtfully over the rail. “That depends,” he said tentatively, but with a keen look at the other. David flicked the ash off his cigarette, then flung it impatiently away and lighted a fresh one. “Yes, of course,” he said; “but take it anyway you like, is the game worth the candle? Once I’m tied up here, I suppose I’ll have to stand by the rest of my life. Do I want to do it? Would you want to do it? Honest now.” The small spare gentleman who had introduced himself to Barford society under the name of Albert Todd smiled thoughtfully. “Well, it strikes me as a bit slow for my taste. What do you say to a game of cards to pass away the time?” David shook his head. “I don’t take much to cards,” he said. “The other chap generally wins, and I like to be on the winning side.” He tramped up and down the piazza a few times; impatiently kicking at the railings as he paused to turn. “There’s a man in this town I’ve got to see on rather disagreeable business,” he said at last. “I’ve been putting it off for several days; but I believe I’ll do it now. So long. See you in the morning.” Left to himself Mr. Todd elevated his feet to the railing, as if to indulge in a prolonged period of post-prandial meditation. In the gathering twilight he watched David’s muscular figure swinging along the street. He was walking like a man with a purpose. After a minute or two of keen-eyed watchfulness Mr. Todd quietly arose, clapped his hat on his head, and strolled toward the steps. “Goin’ out t’ take in the town?” inquired a voice from the rear. The insurance man glanced at the slim youth in the rather untidy white apron who stood in the doorway. “W’y, yes,” he replied, very pleasantly indeed. “I thought I might as well.” “I’d advise you not to have much to do with that fellow you was talkin’ to,” pursued the youth sulkily. “He’s one of our customers, but I don’t care. Talk ’bout cards; he cleaned me out of a month’s wages one night last week; then laughed at me for bein’ mad. I ain’t got no use fer him.” “I don’t know about that,” Mr. Todd said pacifically. “He seems like a nice sort. Nothing really vicious, or——” “He’s a durned, good-fer-nothin’ blowhard; that’s what he is,” said the bartender rancorously. “An’ that’s what I tell Jennie. But she—— I’d like t’ punch his head; that’s all!” “Who’s Jennie?” “She waited on your table t’ supper. She’s the prettiest girl in this town.” “Oh,” said Mr. Todd understandingly. “She’s prettier ’n that Preston girl ever thought of bein’—that’s his girl. He’s engaged t’ her. But some folks want the earth.”