"Not over $400 at the most, and that is no fortune."
"Well, she told you so much that you say proved true that I shall be surprised if she made a mistake in this matter."
"I'll be surprised if she hit the truth, for coming into a fortune in money is the very last thing I dream of at this moment."
They got out of the auto and entered the house. On the following day after dinner, as it was a nice afternoon, Dick proposed to Madge that they take a walk. So they went out and spent a couple of hours strolling along the road. They passed Dick's property and he saw that the gypsies had gone away. On their way back he proposed that they go over to the spring and have a drink.
"I'm not thirsty, but I'll go with you," she said.
The fence rails were wide enough apart for her to get through, while Dick took the customary way and climbed over. The spring was down in a gully near the fence which marked the end of Dick's land in that direction, and taking a silver-plated collapsible cup out of his pocket the boy filled it and offered it to Madge. She took a drink and then he helped himself. The young trees, now well advanced, which we mentioned before as growing at this end of Dick's property were gradually forming a small wood that would occupy about one acre of the five. On their way back they walked through these trees, as Dick was somewhat interested in their growth. They were cedar trees and would ultimately make good railroad ties.
"I wish the whole property was wooded like this," he said. "I would in such a case make a good thing out of the trees."
"As lumber?" said Madge.
"As railroad ties. Those articles are always in demand. Hello!" he exclaimed, stopping, "here's one of the old guard still standing."
He pointed at a hoary-looking old tree that had been dead for years. It showed evidence of having been struck by lightning a long time since. This had killed it, and now it stood like the mummified corpse of some old grizzled veteran of many wars, its two withered arms pointing heavenward at an acute angle that formed the whole trunk into the shape of the letter Y. Dick approached it and struck the tree with the palm of his hand. It gave forth a hollow sound and shook under the blow.