CHAPTER VII.
MR. HOWARD IS SURPRISED BY A VISITOR.—OWEN HEARS OF THE GREAT SHOOTING MATCH.
A few minutes after Father Byrne had left the house to visit the sick of the neighborhood a man rode up to the yard gate and called out, "Halloo!"
Mr. Howard, who was sitting on the front porch reading a book which Father Byrne had brought, looked up, and to his surprise saw before him Louis Bowen. The two men had been neighbors for fourteen years, yet they had exchanged but few words; not once during this entire period did Louis Bowen enter the Howard house. As he did not on this occasion dismount from his horse or seem inclined to come nearer, Mr. Howard walked out to the gate to meet him.
"Good morning," said he, approaching the visitor.
"I have been robbed, Howard! Burned out! Lost four hundred bushels of corn!" ejaculated Bowen, without seeming to notice Mr. Howard's welcome.
"I saw the fire early Saturday morning, but it was only to-day that I learned that your corn-crib was burned."
"The thieves first broke into my house, stole a small sack of money, and then set fire to my crib—my new crib, too, and full to the top."
"Truly unfortunate."
"The third time that my crib has been burned!" continued Bowen, growing more enraged.