"He is supposed to have come this way."
"I might say that lots of people drive this way—especially in summer."
"He would probably have been walking," said the bespectacled man confidently.
"Not many strangers walk by here, I admit."
"And if he came this way—as seems probable—it was months ago. Early last spring, to be more exact."
"Why," laughed Hiram, "I would not be likely to remember anybody who passed here so long ago."
"Suppose he asked for work?" put in the bearded driver of the carryall. "He'd be likely to. Ted wasn't lazy."
"You may remember the men who asked you for work last season?" repeated the more professional looking man with emphasis.
Hiram began to think this man was a lawyer. An inquiry of importance was being made, and he grew interested. He put his head back into the house door and asked Jim Larry to get his umbrella. In a moment, when the boy had brought it, Hiram went out to the carriage to discuss the matter more at his ease.
"You do remember the fellow, hey?" asked the bearded man, his little blue eyes sparkling. "I bet you do!"