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the second morning Abner announced he must go his way, but was prevailed upon to wait till after dinner, Stanley’s sprained ankle, thanks to a poultice of beech leaves, was fit for walking and there was no excuse for tarrying longer, except as the pleasure of the Carltons’ society might be considered such.

“We shall surely call here after we’ve finished our business on Flat-Top ridge,” earnestly assured Abner, his eyes roving towards the kitchen, whence emanated savory odors. “In the meantime, I guess I’d better have a talk with ye about my business.”

Withdrawing to a corner Abner produced his map and pointed out the east line of the disputed tract, and said, “Nace seems to have us up a tree. He holds that is our line, while we’re fighting to establish it over here to the west.”

“I know,” quietly said the professor. “I’ve been over all that ground. There are about 235