When Adin Dunham learns that a stretch of barren pasture he inherited from Uncle Dan is suddenly worth a thousand dollars to a hotel company, the quiet life of the modest Dunham household is shaken at once. His practical wife, Sarah, worries about robbers as much as riches, while their loyal nephew Dean proves himself a steady, good-hearted boy by helping prepare for the trip to Rockmount. But the windfall draws dangerous attention, especially from Squire Renwick Bates, Waterford's wealthy, secretive lawyer, whose unsettling manner, hidden disguises, and probing questions suggest a man far more interested in the money than in Adin's safety. At the same time, Bates's arrogant son Brandon turns his contempt on Dean and the poor, then cruelly strands little Tommy Boyle on an island for sport. Dean's brave rescue exposes Brandon's selfishness and wins him no mercy from the spoiled boy's father. As the story widens, theft and suspicion spread aboard a steamer, where Peter Kirby's suspicious behavior, a stolen gold watch, and a vanished box point to a larger web of deceit. Through class pride, courage, and crime, the mystery gathers force around Waterford and beyond. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.