"I thought so. Well?"
"It's a wonder you 'ain't come up to take a look yourself," Bill countered. "You 'ain't even been up to—to see Millie," he added, thoughtfully.
Marvin flushed. "That's true, Bill," he said, slowly. "But I've been mighty busy with this timber here, as you know; and, besides—well, Millie seems to be a bit interested elsewhere."
"That's just the trouble, I guess," said Bill, settling himself on the corner of the table.
Marvin looked at him quickly. "What do you mean, Bill?" he demanded.
Lightnin' crossed his legs, took a final puff of his cigarette, and let it drop from his fingers.
"Oh, there ain't nothin' much to that, John!" he replied. "Nothin' to worry about. But it's what lays back o' that."
"For the Lord's sake stop talking in riddles, Lightnin'!" Marvin exclaimed. "What lies back of what?"
"Well," said Bill, looking up shrewdly, "this here Thomas has shown his hand—an' we gotter admit, John, that he plays a mighty smooth an' slick game! He wants to buy our place, waterfall an' all."
"So that's it!" Marvin knew that Thomas had been buying up property in the section, and he knew from experience what sort of treatment the sellers were likely to get. That old Bill and his family should now be involved filled him with concern and anger.