And the old man pined away, too, but he never give in or asked the boy to come back.

Stubborn as all get-out to the end, he was, and willed the place, all he had left, to them Howes folks.

And a nice mess THEY made of it.

Young Cy, he--" "Young Cy!" interrupted Bailey.

"We're always callin' him 'young Cy,' and yet, when you come to think of it, he must be pretty nigh fifty-five now; 'most as old as you and I be.