“What is it you want to know?” Mrs. Lear asked, smiling wisely.
“Why is Mrs. Burmaster so disliked in the community?”
“Because she’s a scheming, trouble maker if there ever was one!” the old lady replied promptly. “Mr. Burmaster ain’t so bad, only he’s pulled around by the nose by that weepin’, whinin’ wife of his.”
“Mrs. Burmaster seems to think that the valley folk treat her cruelly.”
“She should talk about being cruel!” Mrs. Lear’s dark eyes flashed. “You know what them Burmasters done?”
“Only in a general way.”
“Well, they come here, and forced folks to git off the land.”
“Didn’t Mr. Burmaster pay for what he bought?”
“Oh, it was done legal,” Mrs. Lear admitted grudgingly. “You see, most o’ this valley was owned by a man in the East. He rented it out in parcels, an’ never bothered anyone even if they was behind in their payments.”
“Then Mr. Burmaster bought the entire track of land from the Eastern owner?” inquired Penny.