“What timber be they goin’ to cut?” Scattergood poked a chubby finger at Johnnie, who shook his head.

“The Goodhue tract, back of Tupper Falls.  Uh-huh!  Because there hain’t no other sizable tract that I hain’t got strings on.  And the mills, whatever kind they be, will be at Tupper Falls.  Mills got to be there.  Can’t git timber out to no other place.  And, Johnnie, buyin’ timber is a heap more important and difficult than buyin’ mill sites.  Eh?...  Johnnie, you ketch the first train for Tupper Falls.  I own a mite of land along the railroad, Johnnie, but you buy all the rest from the falls to the station.  Not in my name, Johnnie.  Git deeds to folks whose names we’re entitled to use—­and the more deeds the better.  Scoot.”

“Now, Scattergood, don’t go actin’ hasty,” said Mandy.  “You don’t know—­”

“The only thing I don’t know, Mandy, is whether Johnnie ’s too late to buy that land.  Knowin’ nobody else wants it, and it hain’t no good for nothin’ but what they want it for, these folks may not have bought yit....”

Scattergood shouted suddenly at the passing drayman.  “Hey, Pete....  Come here and git a cookin’ range and take it up to Sam Kettleman’s house.  Git a man to help you.  Tell Mis’ Kettleman I sent it, and she’s to try it a week to see if she likes it.  Set it up for her and all.”

Scattergood settled back to watch with approval, while two men hoisted the heavy stove on the wagon and drove away with it.  Presently Sam Kettleman appeared on the porch of his grocery across the street, and Scattergood called to him:  “Well, Sam, glad you decided to git the woman a new stove.  Shows you’re up an’ doin’.  It’s all set up by this time.”

Sam stared a moment; then, smitten speechless, he rushed across the road and stood, a picture of rage, glaring at Scattergood.  “I didn’t buy no stove.  You know dum well I didn’t buy no stove.  I can’t afford no stove.  You jest git right up there and haul it back here, d’you hear me?”

“Well, now, Sam, don’t it beat all—­me makin’ a mistake like that?  Sure I’ll send after it, right off....  Now I won’t have to order one special for Locker.”  Locker was the rival grocer.  “I kin haul this one right to his house, and explain to him how he come to git it so soon.  I’ll say:  ’Locker, we jest hauled this stove down from Sam Kettleman’s.  Had it all set up there and then Sam he figgered it was too expensive a stove for him and he couldn’t afford it right now on account of business not bein’ brisk.’”

“Eh?” said Kettleman.

“’Twon’t cause a mite of talk that anybody’ll pay attention to.  Everybody knows what Locker’s wife is.  Tongue wagglin’ at both ends.  And I’ll take pains to conterdict whatever story she goes spreadin’ about you bein’ too mean to git your wife things to do with in the kitchen, and about how you’re ’most bankrupt and ready to give up business.  Nobody’ll b’lieve her, anyhow, Sam, but if they do I’ll explain it to ’em.”