Thankful, who had been so far a perplexed and troubled listener, answered.

“Why, yes,” she admitted.  “He was here today and he give me to understand that he wanted this property of mine and was goin’ to have it.  If I wouldn’t agree to sell it to him now then he’d drive me into sellin’ later on.  That’s about what he said.”

Captain Obed struck his fists together.

“The swab!” he exclaimed.  “Well, if that don’t beat all my goin’ to sea!  Humph!  I’d like to know how he cal’lates to do it.”

“Anything more, Daniels?” inquired John.

“Yes, there is something more.  What we want to know from you, Kendrick, is whether or not you, as his legal adviser, propose to help him in this scheme of his.  That is what we wish to know.”

“We?  What we?  Has Mrs. Barnes—­or Miss Howes—­have they engaged you as their attorney, Daniels?”

Before Daniels could reply Emily asked a question.

“Did he—­has he asked you to help him?” she demanded.  “Has he?”

John smiled.  “I doubt if it could be called asking,” he observed.  “He gave me orders to that effect shortly after he left here.”

Emily gasped.  Thankful and Captain Obed said, “Oh!” in concert.  Heman Daniels smiled triumphantly.

“You see, Miss Howes?” he said.

“One moment, Daniels,” broke in Kendrick, sharply.  “You haven’t answered my question yet.  Just where do you come in on this?”

“I—­I—­” began Daniels, but once more Emily interrupted.

“Are you—­” she cried.  “Tell me; are you going to help that man force my cousin into giving up her home?”

Again John smiled.  “Well, to be frank,” he said, “since it is her home and she doesn’t wish to sell it I can’t for the life of me see how she can be forced into selling, with or without my valuable aid.  Miss Howes, I—­”

“Stop!  You persist in treating this affair as a joke.  It is not a joke—­to my cousin, or to me.  Did you tell that man you would help him?”

“No.”

“I knew it!  I was certain of it!  Of course you didn’t!”

“Pardon me, Miss Howes,” put in Daniels.  “We have not heard all yet.  Kendrick, do I understand that you told your cousin and—­er—­benefactor that you would not help him in his infamous scheme?”

John’s patience was nearing its limits.  He smiled no more.

“I don’t know what you understand, Daniels,” he said, crisply.  “Your understanding in many matters is beyond me.”

“But did you say you would not help him?” persisted Emily.

“Why no, not exactly.  He did not wait to hear what I had to say.  He seemed to take my assistance for granted.”

Daniels laughed scornfully.

“You see, Miss Howes?” he said again.  Then, turning to Thankful:  “Mrs. Barnes, I met Mr. Holliday Kendrick on the street just after he had come from the interview with his—­er—­attorney.  He told me that he intended to force you into giving up your property to him and he told me also that his cousin here had the case in his hands and would work to carry it through.  There seemed to be no doubt in his mind that this gentleman,” indicating John, “had accepted the responsibility.  In fact he said he had.”