"You see, my dear sir," drawled the man in the road, "I am out in search
of peace of mind. If I should go on my way without understanding what
this means my itching curiosity would never allow me another good
night's sleep. A word from you to soothe curiosity, and then I go!"

"Thee has seen me knocking into pieces a coffin. Is there anything
strange in seeing me knock into pieces a coffin I have made with my own
hands?"

"No, sir. That is quite within your rights. But why? From what little I
saw of it it seemed to me to be a mighty fine piece of work."

"It was," stated the old man, a bit mollified. "Walnut with bird's-eye
maple inlaid."

"May I ask if it was made for anybody who died lately?"

"I made it for myself--I have had it by me for twenty years! Seeing that
thee must stick thy nose into my business!" His tone was pettish and
he stooped down and began to toss splinters and broken boards upon the
woodpile.

"Then I suppose it was--er--sort of out of date," suggested Farr,
blandly.

"I see thee is minded to tease me--the world is full of fools." He
straightened as best he could, propping hands on his hips, and divided
angry gaze between the man at the fence and the armored figure. "I am
not going to die--I have decided to stay alive. I have a fool on my
hands."