where your horse won't hear any more explosions, I think I had better
drive on myself. I'll go as quietly as I can," he said.

"And I'll hold her horse," offered Grandpa Ford. "As long as she has
come to see me, and is going to stay, I'll see that her horse doesn't
run away."

"You know how to manage horses," said the automobile man. "I don't. But
I can run an auto."

"Yes, I've been among horses for a number of years," replied Grandpa
Ford. "I have three or four on my place, Great Hedge. I'd rather drive a
horse than an auto. But won't you get down and come in, if you want to
see me?" asked Grandpa Ford of the young lady.

"Thank you, no. I'm only going to stay a few minutes, Mr. Ford," she
answered. "I feel almost like calling you Grandpa Ford myself," she
added. "You look just like a grandfather I used to have."

"Call me that as much as you please," laughed Grandpa Ford. "But what
shall I call you? I don't remember meeting you before." And he led her
horse to a hitching post, where he tied the animal fast. By this time
the loud-banging new automobile had rolled around the corner into the
next street, luckily without making any great noise.

"I am Mabel Ripley," said the young lady. "You called to see my father,
the other day, about the Great Hedge place he sold you, but Daddy was
out. However, he got the message you left, and he sent me over to-day
with an answer. It's about the gh----"