"Lemuel Judson Spink," explained 'Phemie. "He's a man who used to live here with grandfather when he was a boy--when _Spink_ was a boy; not grandfather."
"He's a rich man now," said Lyddy. "He owns a breakfast food."
"He's rich enough," grunted Trent. "Rich enough so't he can loaf around Bridleburg for months at a time. Been here now for some time."
"Why, could that be the Spink your Aunt Jane told me once made her an offer for the farm?" asked Mr. Bray, thoughtfully.
"For Hillcrest?" cried 'Phemie. "Oh, I hope not."
"Well, child, if she could sell the place it would be a good thing for Jane. She has none too much money."
"But why didn't she sell to him?" asked Lyddy, quite as anxious as her sister.
"He didn't offer her much, if anything, for it."
"Ain't that like Jud?" cackled Trent. "He is allus grouching about the old doctor for being as tight as the bark to a tree; but when it comes to a bargain, Jud Spink will wring yer nose ev'ry time--if he can. Glad Mis' Hammon' didn't sell to him."
"Perhaps he didn't want Hillcrest very much," said Mr. Bray, quietly.
"He don't want nothin' 'nless it's cheap," declared Trent. "He's picked up some mortgage notes, and the like, on property he thinks he can foreclose on. Got a jedgment against the Widder Harrison's little place over the ridge, I understand. But Jud Spink wouldn't pay more'n ha'f price for a gold eagle. He'd claim 'twas second-hand, if it warn't fresh from the mint," and the mail-carrier went off, chuckling over his own joke.
Both Lyddy and 'Phemie forgot, however, about the curious actions of Mr. Spink, or his desire to buy Hillcrest, in their interest in the coming of the only people who had, thus far, answered their advertisement for boarders.
Lucas met the 10:14 train on Saturday morning, and before noon he drove into the side yard with an old gentleman and a young man on the rear seat of the buckboard.
Before this the two girls, working hard, had swept and garnished the whole lower floor of the big farmhouse, save the east wing, which was locked. Indeed, Lyddy had never ventured into the old doctor's suite of offices, for she couldn't find the key.
A fire had been laid and was burning cheerfully in the dining-room--that apartment being just across the square side entrance hall from the kitchen. Lyddy was busy over the cooking arrangements when the visitors arrived, and 'Phemie was giving the finishing touches to the table in the dining-room.