"And stingy! He's so stingy he won't let nobody come in the house--scared they'll wear the furniture out looking at it." "How long has he lived here ?" "There ain't nobody in this town old enough to say.

Why, mister, I'll bet that old man's a thousand years old.

Wait'll you see him." That was all.

They went on as indicated.
"The very type of man who would scrimp and starve to put all his money in something like diamonds," mused Chief Arkwright.

"The usual rich old miser who winds up by being murdered." They passed the "Widow Gardiner's hog-lot" and came into a pleasant country road, which, turning, brought them to a shabby little cottage, embowered in trees.