"Larry, I wouldn't say nothing about your mother," replied Mop
earnestly. "I think your mother's a bully good woman. She was awfully
good to my mother last winter, I know."

The spring went out of Larry's body. He backed away from Mop and the
boys.

"Who said your mother was a coward?" inquired Mop indignantly. "If
anybody says so, you bring him to me, and I'll punch his head good, I
will."

Larry looked foolishly at Ben, who looked foolishly back at him.

"Say, Mop," said Larry, a smile like a warm light passing over his face,
"come on up and see my new rabbits."



CHAPTER IV

SALVAGE


Another and greater enterprise was diverting Mr. Gwynne's attention from
the delinquencies of his debtors, namely: the entrance of the National
Machine Company into the remote and placid life of Mapleton and its
district. The manager of this company, having spent an afternoon with
Mr. Gwynne in his store and having been impressed by his charm and power
of persuasive talk, made him a proposition that he should act as agent
of the National Machine Company. The arrangement suggested was one that