In spite of the poor-mouth everyone talked, it promised to be very much like other winters, even after word passed around that more than one farmer of small private acreages had “lost” his farm to the bank, because of this year’s price failures; they had proved decisive and fatal when added to accumulated small debts and loans of years past.

In one such case, a family named Ralston—man, wife, a son and daughter not babes nor grown—lost their place, but it was over on the far edge of the county, and no one seemed to know them, although everyone knew of them. The bank put their farm up for sale, and Roscoe Elk bought it. Mr. Guthrie, the lawyer who had managed his interests in the Anderson Place before it became his, stood for him in sale. People might feel and whisper that it didn’t seem quite right somehow, but no one could call it suspect legally. In any event, it was not the surprise the Anderson affair had been. And what on earth, they asked one another, would Roscoe Elk do with a farm way over yonder?

The Ralston house stood empty, the family having loaded what they were able to in a wagon and set off west for Alabama, it was said. A week after their departure, the old house burned to the ground, no knowing by whose hand, if any hand had done the deed. The next time Roscoe rode over to look at his new property, only the black chimney remained of the house where Ralstons had lived for three generations.

15

One day soon after, Roscoe asked Leon to see him on particular, private business, and Leon set a time for him to come to the office. After some hesitation, he told Sarah and suggested that she join him at the time appointed, before she could suggest it herself. However he might chafe under the strong opinions she held on the running of the plantation; he knew that her presence would prevent him from being too easy in the matter of whatever it was Roscoe wanted. It would also make later explanation unnecessary, thereby avoiding a quarrel. It was certain Roscoe wanted something, or he would not have been so formal. In the general way of things, they might see each other half a dozen times a day when any ordinary question could be put and answered on the spot.