"Yes. He recommended him highly for that, and told me he had no serious defect."

"Are you sure this is the horse?" asked Herbert.

"Certainly. I am not likely to be mistaken in it. I suppose it is all as he says?"

Herbert was in a perplexing position. He knew that if he told the truth he should incur Abner Holden's anger, but his conscience revolted at suffering the stranger to be taken in, and thus, perhaps, exposing his wife to serious danger.

"I am afraid I cannot confirm what Mr. Holden says," he answered, reluctantly. "The horse is very ill-tempered, and is blind of one eye."

"Is it possible? Then I have had a narrow escape. You have done me a good service, my boy, in telling me the truth, for I am, myself, unused to horses, and should have taken the animal on your employer's recommendation. Accept this acknowledgment of my indebtedness."

He would have placed a five-dollar bill in Herbert's hand, but our hero firmly refused to receive it.

"I have only done my duty, sir. I cannot accept money for doing that.

Thank you all the same."

"Perhaps you are right, my lad. If I ever have a chance to serve you, don't hesitate to let me know it."

"There'll be a storm if Mr. Holden hears of this," thought Herbert. "But I could not do otherwise."

CHAPTER X

THE CLOUDS GATHER

At twelve o'clock Abner Holden returned home, still in good humor. As he did not antic.i.p.ate another call from his expected customer until the afternoon, he made no inquiries.

"Perhaps he won't hear about it," thought Herbert, and as he did not wish to have any trouble with Mr. Holden, he hoped it might prove so.

Abner was so elated at the thought of his good bargain in prospect, that he could not keep it to himself.

"I've about sold Spitfire, Mrs. Bickford," he said to the housekeeper.

"Sold Spitfire! Who wants to buy him?"

"A man that called here this morning. What do you think he wants him for?"

"To break his neck," suggested the housekeeper.

"He wants him for a good family horse for his wife to drive," and Abner Holden burst into a laugh.

"Perhaps he's anxious to become a widower," said Mrs. Bickford.

"No; the fact is he thinks the horse is gentle."

"You told him so, I suppose?"

"Of course, I did."

"Knowing it to be false?"

"Shut up, Mrs. Bickford. You know all is fair in trade."

"No, I don't, Mr. Holden. To my mind, a lie's just as much a lie in trade as in anything else. I suppose the man trusted to your recommendation."

"Suppose he did. I got cheated on the horse, and I've got to get rid of it, somehow. As it is, I shall make a handsome profit."

"Well, Mr. Holden, all I've got to say is, I am glad I haven't got as tough a conscience as you have."

"You don't know anything about business, Mrs. Bickford."

"Well, manage things your own way. I ain't responsible, but I pity the poor man if he buys Spitfire."

"So do I," chuckled Abner. "That's where you and I agree, Mrs.

Bickford."

Herbert listened in silence. He was disgusted with the utter disregard of fair dealing exhibited by Abner Holden, though he was not surprised at it. He felt glad that he had been the means of saving Mr. Richmond from being overreached, though he know very well that Mr. Holden's rage would be furious when he learned what had interfered with the trade. He did not feel under any obligations to reveal his own agency in the matter, unless direct inquiry was made of him. In that case, he would manfully stand by his acts.

"I'm expecting the man this afternoon, Mrs. Bickford," said Mr. Holden, "and shall stay around home to see him. When he comes, call me at once; and mind, not a word about Spitfire."

"Just as you say. I wash my hands of the whole affair."

"Washing your hands won't do you any harm," said Abner, with a laugh at what he supposed to be a witticism.

Mrs. Bickford took no notice of this remark. It was not quite easy to say why she remained in charge of Mr. Holden's household, for certainly, she had no respect for her employer. However, he did not meddle with her, or, if he did, he got the worst of it, and it was perhaps the independence that she enjoyed which led her to remain in the house.

Knowing Abner's character, she was not particularly shocked at this last evidence of it, but went about her work as usual, with scarcely a thought of what had pa.s.sed.

Abner Holden sat at the window, and looked up the road, awaiting anxiously the appearance of the customer.

"I hope he'll bring the money with him," he thought. "I'd like to have matters all arranged to-day, before he smells a rat. If I get the money once in my hands, he may scold all he pleases about the horse. It won't disturb my rest."

But the old clock in the corner kept ticking--minute after minute pa.s.sed--and still the stranger did not appear.

"He can't have struck a bargain with Sam Nichols," muttered Abner, apprehensively. "If he has, it'll be sort of a swindle on me. Maybe Nichols has been telling him lies about me."

Abner waxed so angry over this supposition, that although it was merely conjecture, he already began to consider in what way he could "come up with Sam Nichols."

"That money would come very handy," thought Abner. "There's a horse worth two of Spitfire, I can get for a hundred and fifty, and that would leave me a hundred. I wish he would come."

He looked out of the window, and, not content with that, went out of the front door, and, shading his eyes with his hands, looked up the road.

But he could see nothing of Mr. Richmond. Abner began to fear that he had lost his bargain.

"I guess I'll put on my hat and go round to the tavern," he said to Mrs.

Bickford. "If the gentleman I spoke of should call while I am away, just send the boy around after me as quick as possible."

"Very well."