"And are you willing to undertake this, Robert? It will be a hard task."
"I'll help him, missis," said Clip, eagerly.
"I shall have Clip to advise me, mother," said Robert.
"No doubt Clip is willing," said Mrs. Burton, smiling faintly; "but after all, it will be only two boys."
"Try us a single year, mother," said Bob, confidently.
Mrs. Burton gave her consent, and Bob at once took his father's place, rising early and going to the field to superintend the farming operations. He seemed to have developed at once into a mature man, though in appearance he was still the same. Clip was his loyal assistant, though, being a harum-scarum boy, fond of fun and mischief, he was of very little service as adviser.
He had mentioned to Bob seeing Aaron Wolverton bending over the body of his father, and exploring his pockets. This puzzled Bob, but he was not prepared to suspect him of anything else than curiosity, until his mother received a call from the real estate agent a month after her husband's decease.
Aaron Wolverton had been anxious to call before, but something withheld him. It might have been the consciousness of the dishonorable course he had taken. Be that as it may, he finally screwed up his courage to the sticking-point, and walked out to Burton's Ranch early one afternoon.
Mrs. Burton was at home, as usual, for she seldom went out now. She had no intimate friends in the neighborhood. All that she cared for was under her own roof.
She looked up in some surprise when Mr. Wolverton was ushered into the sitting-room.
"I hope I see you well, Mrs. Burton," said the real estate agent, slipping to a seat, and placing his high hat on his knees.
"I am well in health, Mr. Wolverton," answered the widow, gravely.
"Yes, yes, of course; I understand," he hastily answered. "Terribly sudden, Mr. Barton's death was, to be sure, but dust we are, and to dust we must return, as the Scripture says."
Mrs. Burton did not think it necessary to make any reply.
"I came over to offer my--my condolences," continued Mr. Wolverton.
"And I thought perhaps you might stand in need of some advice from a practical man."
"Any advice will be considered, Mr. Wolverton."
"I've been thinkin' the thing over, and I've about made up my mind that the best thing you can do is to sell the ranch," and the real estate agent squinted at Mrs. Burton from under his red eyebrows.