"Nels," said Marsh, stopping and facing the Swede, "you don't think I ought to buy that house next door, eh?"
Nels shrugged his shoulders. "Dat bane your bes'ness," he said.
"But I don't want to buy a place that has a bad name. Will you tell me what you think is the matter with it?"
Nels glanced about him, and standing a little closer to Marsh, said in a lowered, voice, "Aye tenk bad men live dere."
"But," protested Marsh, "I thought the house was closed, and had only a caretaker, or someone like that?"
"No caretaker," answered Nels. "Tree—four—five men. House look close, but men inside." Then he added, shaking his head, "Fonny-fonny."
"How do you know all this, Nels?"
"Aye watch. Aye see you yesterday, with yong lady."
Marsh smiled. This was evidently the man he had seen crouching in the bushes, and who had caused him to hurry Miss Atwood away from the house.
"Yes," said Marsh, "I was going to look over the house, but there seemed to be nobody home."