The Girls of Hillcrest Farm Part 30

But the two young girls were working very hard. The cooking was becoming a greater burden because of the makeshifts necessary at the open fire.

And the washing of bed and table linen was a task that was becoming too heavy for them.

"If we had a couple of other good paying boarders," mused Lyddy, as she sat resting on the side porch, "we might afford to take somebody into the kitchen to help us. It would have to be somebody who would work cheap, of course; we could pay no fancy wages. But we need help."

As she thus ruminated she was startled by seeing a figure cross the field from behind the barn. It was not Cyrus Pritchett, although the farmer spent most of his Sabbaths wandering about the fields examining the crops.

Corn had not yet been planted, anyway--not here on the Hillcrest Farm.

But this was a man fully as large as Cyrus Pritchett. As he drew nearer, Lyddy thought that he was a man she had never seen before.

He wore a broad-brimmed felt hat--of the kind affected by Western statesmen. His black hair--rather oily-looking it was, like an Indian's--flowed to the collar of his coat.

That coat was a frock, but it was unb.u.t.toned, displaying a pearl gray vest and trousers of the same shade. He even wore gray spats over his shoes and was altogether more elaborately dressed than any native Lyddy had heretofore seen.

He came across the yard at a swinging stride, and took off his hat with a flourish. She saw then that his countenance was deeply tanned, that he had a large nose, thick, smoothly-shaven lips, and heavy-lidded eyes.

"Miss Bray, I have no doubt?" he began, recovering from his bow.

Lyddy had risen rather quickly, and only nodded. She scarcely knew what to make of this stranger--and she was alone.

"Pray sit down again," he urged, with a wave of his hand. "And allow me to sit here at your feet. It is a lovely day--but warm."

"It is, indeed," admitted Lyddy, faintly.

"You have a beautiful view of the valley here."

"Yes, sir."

"I am told below," said the man, with a free gesture taking in Bridleburg and several square miles of surrounding country, "that you take boarders here at Hillcrest?"

"Yes, sir," said Lyddy again.

"Good! Your rooms are not yet all engaged, my dear young lady?" said the man, who seemed unable to discuss the simplest subject without using what later she learned to call "his platform manner."

"Oh, no; we haven't many guests as yet."

"Good!" he exclaimed again. Then, after a moment's pursing of his lips, he added: "This is not strictly speaking a legal day for making bargains.

But we may _talk_ of an arrangement; mayn't we?"

"I do not understand you, sir," said Lyddy.

"Ah! No! I am referring to the possibility of my taking board with you, Miss Bray."

"I see," responded the girl, with sudden interest. "Do you think you would be suited with the accommodations we have to offer?"

"Ah, my dear miss!" he exclaimed, with a broad smile. "I am an old campaigner. I have slept gypsy-fashion under the stars many and many a night. A straw pallet has often been my lot. Indeed, I am naturally simple of taste and habit."

He said all this with an air as though entirely different demands might reasonably be expected of such as he. He evidently had a very good opinion of himself.

Lyddy did not much care for his appearance; but he was respectably--if strikingly--dressed, and he was perfectly respectful.

"I will show you what we have," said Lyddy, and rose and accompanied him through the house.

"You do not let any of the rooms in the east wing?" he asked, finally.

"No, sir. Neither upstairs nor down. We probably shall not disturb those rooms at all."

Finally they talked terms. The stranger seemed to forget all his scruples about doing business on Sunday, for he was a hard bargainer. As a result he obtained from Lyddy quite as good accommodations as Mrs. Castle had--and for two dollars less per week.

Not until they had come downstairs did Lyddy think to ask him his name.

"And one not unknown to fame, my dear young lady," he said, drawing out his cardcase. "Famous in more than one field of effort, too--as you may see.

"Your terms are quite satisfactory, I will have my trunk brought up in the morning, and I will do myself the honor to sup with you to-morrow evening. Good-day, Miss Bray," and he lifted his hat and went away whistling, leaving Lyddy staring in surprise at the card in her hand:

PROF. LEMUEL JUDSON SPINK, M.D.

Proprietor: Stonehedge Bitters Likewise of the World Famous DIAMOND GRITS "_The Breakfast of the Million_"

"Why! it's the Spink man we've heard so much about--the boy who was taken out of the poorhouse by grandfather. I--I wonder if I have done right to take him as a boarder?" murmured Lyddy at last.

CHAPTER XIX

THE WIDOW HARRISON'S TROUBLES

Later Lyddy Bray had more than "two minds" about taking Professor Lemuel Judson Spink to board. And 'Phemie's "You never took him!" when she first heard the news on her return from church, was not the least of the reasons for Lyddy's doubts.

But 'Phemie denied flatly--the next minute--that she had any real and sensible reason for opposing Mr. Spink's coming to Hillcrest to board.

Indeed, she said emphatically that she had never yet expressed any dislike for the proprietor of Diamond Grits--the breakfast of the million.

"My goodness me! why _not_ take him?" she said. "As long as we don't have to eat his breakfast food, I see no reason for objecting."

But in her secret heart 'Phemie was puzzled by what "Jud Spink," as he was called by his old a.s.sociates, was up to!

She believed Cyrus Pritchett knew; but 'Phemie stood rather in fear of the stern farmer, as did his whole household.

Only Lyddy had faced the bullying old man and seemed perfectly fearless of him; but 'Phemie shrank from adding to the burden on Lyddy's mind by explaining to her all the suspicions _she_ held of this Spink.

The man had tried to purchase Hillcrest of Aunt Jane for a nominal sum.

He had been lurking about the old house--especially about the old doctor's offices in the east wing--more than once, to 'Phemie's actual knowledge.

And Spink was interested in something at the back of Hillcrest Farm. He had been hunting among the rocks there until old Mr. Colesworth's presence had driven him away.

What was he after on the old farm where he had lived for some years as a boy? What was the secret of the rocks? And had the mystery finally brought Professor Lemuel Judson Spink to the house itself as a boarder?

These questions puzzled 'Phemie greatly. But she wouldn't put them before her sister. If Lyddy was not suspicious, let her remain so.