"Looks like one of those woebegone city dens, with its green plush
curtains so you can't see what's going on inside. All it needs is fly
specks on the windows and a strong smell at its side door. That'll
come with time. I hear you can play billiards and pool in there and
there's some slot machines for those too young to take a hand at cards."

So said Jake Tuttle, who now that he was a deputy sheriff on the watch
for diseases threatening his and his neighbors' cattle, suddenly
realized that there might be such a thing as a deputy sheriff to look
out for the physical and moral health of humans.

Green Valley listened to Max Longman's announcement and Jake's comment
and made up its mind to go around and see. Sam Ellis' withdrawal from
business made Green Valley folks a little uneasy. The hotel in other
hands might become a strange place. For a moment an uncomfortable
feeling gripped those who heard. Sam, an old friend and a neighbor,
with his genial good sense and old-fashioned hotel was one thing. A
stranger from the big and wicked city was another.

Green Valley almost began to worry a bit. But on the way home this
feeling wore off. How could things change? Why, there were the
Spencer boys taking turns at the ice-cream freezer on the back porch.
There was Ella Higgins coming out with a saucer of milk for her cat.
Downer's barn door was open and any one could see by the new buggy that
stood in it that Jack Downer's brother and family had driven in from
the farm for a Sunday dinner and visit. Williamson's dog, Caesar, was
tied up,--a sure sign that Mel and Emmy had gone off to see Emmy's
folks over in Spring Road. The chairs in Widow Green's orchard told
plainly that her sister's girls had come in from the city for the
week-end. On the Fenton's front porch sat pretty Millie Fenton,