“Oh, I hope he comes before we begin to harvest. I want him to see our alfalfa standing,” exclaimed Ted.
The mention of the harvest brought up the question of method, and Mr. Jay offered the boys the use of his mowing-machine and reaper in return for their assistance in garnering his crops.
“Why don’t you rent E 2 to Phil and Ted, Jasper?” inquired Chester.
“Mebbe I will—if they ask me to. They’d make a mighty purty farm, E 1 and 2 would.”
This suggestion roused a train of possibilities that the young people discussed until Mrs. Porter declared they would never get up in the morning unless they retired at once. And with brains awhirl with big thoughts, they exchanged “good-nights.”
To Ted it seemed that he had only just closed his eyes when his shoulder was shaken and Margie’s voice sounded in his ear.
“I saw two men at the head gate of our ditch,” she breathed.
“You’re dreaming,” retorted her brother. “How could you see them when you were in bed?”
“But I wasn’t. I got up for a drink of water. Something made me look out the window—and I saw them. I know I did. Shall we wake the others?”
“And have them laugh at us? Not much. We’ll sneak up there ourselves. I’ll make you go as punishment for setting me on such a chase at this time of night. But mind, not a word to any one. I don’t want to be guyed, even if you do. Go dress and wait for me.”