`` Mrs. Charley Cropper 's husband was Isaac 's brother . They never got on well together , and when Charley died there was a tremendous fuss about the property . Isaac acted mean and scandalous clear through , and public opinion has been down on him ever since . But Mrs. Charley is a pretty smart woman , and he did n't get the better of her in everything . There was a strip of disputed land between the two farms , and she secured it . There 's a big plum tree growing on it close to the line fence . It 's the finest one in Maitland . But Mrs. Charley never gets a plum from it . '' `` But what becomes of them ? '' asked Esther . `` They disappear , '' said Mr. Baxter , with a significant nod . `` When the plums are anything like ripe Mrs. Charley discovers some day that there is n't one left on the tree . She has never been able to get a scrap of proof as to who took them , or she 'd make it hot for them . But nobody in Maitland has any doubt in his own mind that Isaac Cropper knows where those plums go . '' `` I do n't think Mr. Cropper would steal , '' protested Esther . `` Well , he does n't consider it stealing , you know . He claims the land and says the plums are his . I do n't doubt that he is quite clear in his own mind that they are . And he does hate Mrs. Charley . I 'd give considerable to see the old sinner fairly caught , but he is too deep . ''
`` I XXXXX Mr. Baxter is too hard on Mr. Cropper , '' said Esther to herself later on .
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