Dean Dunham; Or, the Waterford Mystery

A modest farmstead near the lake becomes the backdrop for a surprising turn of events when Adin Dunham learns he’ll be paid a thousand dollars for a parcel of land his late uncle left him. His wife, Sarah, is both delighted and uneasy, urging caution as the money passes through the hands of a construction firm eager to build a hotel on the site. Their conversation reveals a community of familiar faces—neighbors, a wary lawyer, and the looming presence of Squire Bates—who each add a layer of intrigue to what should be a simple transaction.

When Adin decides to travel ten miles to collect the cash, he considers taking