I was thankful when he did finally clear out without doing some penitentiary work . '' `` If poor old Stephen had n't been so open-handed to every unfortunate critter he came across , '' said Gabe , `` he 'd have had more for himself today . '' The whistle of the mail train cut short the discussion of Stephen Strong 's case . In a minute the room was vacant , except for the stranger . When left to himself he also rose and walked out . Turning away from the station , he struck briskly into the Greenvale road . About three miles from the station he halted before a house built close to the road . It was old-fashioned , but large and comfortable-looking , with big barns in the rear and an orchard on the left slope . The house itself was in the shadow of the firs , but the yard lay out in the moonlight and the strange visitor did not elect to cross it . Instead , he turned aside into the shadow of the trees around the garden and , leaning against the old rail fence , gave himself up to contemplation of some kind . There was a light in the kitchen . The window-blind was not down and he had a fairly good view of the room . The only visible occupant was a grey-haired old man sitting by the table , reading from a large open volume before him . The stranger whistled softly . `` That 's old Stephen -- reading the Bible same as ever , by all that 's holy ! He has n't changed much except that he 's got mighty grey . He must be close on to seventy . It 's a shame to turn an old man like him out of house and home . But Joe Moore always was a genuine skinflint . '' He drew himself softly up and sat on the fence .
He saw old Stephen Strong close his book , place his spectacles XXXXX it , and kneel down by his chair .
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