n's front door and escaped by other exits.
Officers of the law had, more than once, traced their quarry to the
dreary cabin and demanded entrance for search. This was always promptly
given, but never had a culprit been found on the premises! White
understood and admired the old woman; he always halted justice, if
possible, outside her domain, but, being a hill-man, Jim had his
suspicions which he never voiced.

"So now, honey, what yo' coming to me fo' this black night?" said Lois
Ann to Nella-Rose after the evening meal was cleared away, the fire
replenished, and "with four feet on the fender" the two were content.
"Trouble?" The wonderful eyes searched the happy, young face and at the
glance, Nella-Rose knew that she was compelled to confide! There was no
choice. She felt the power closing in about her, she found it not so
easy as she had supposed, to explain. She sparred for time.

"Tell me a right, nice story, Miss Lois Ann," she pleaded, "and of
course it's no trouble that has brought me here! Trouble! Huh!"

"What then?" And now Nella-Rose sank to the hearthstone and bent her
head on the lap of the old woman. It was more possible to speak when she
could escape those seeking eyes. She closed her own and tried to call
Truedale to the dark space and to her support--but he would not come.

"So it is trouble, then?"

"No, no! it's--oh! it's the--joy, Miss Lois Ann."

"Ha! ha! And you've found out that the young scamp is back--that
Lawson?" Lois Ann, for a moment, knew relief.

"It--it isn't Burke," the words came lingeringly. "Yes, I know he's
back--is he here?" This affrightedly.

"No--but he's been. He may come again. His maw's always empty, but I
will say this for the scoundrel--he gives more than he takes, in the
long run. But if it isn't Lawson, who then? Not that snake-in-the-grass,
Jed?" Love and trouble were synonymous with Lois Ann when one was young
and pretty and a fool.

"Jed? Jed indeed!"

"Child, out with it!"

"I--I am going to tell you, Miss Lois Ann."

Then the knotted old hand fell like a withered leaf upon the soft
hair--the woman-heart was ready to bear another burden. Not a word did
the closed lips utter while the amazing tale ran on and on in the gentle
drawl. Consternation, even doubt of the girl's sanity, held part in the
old woman's keen mind, but gradually the truth of the confession
established itself, and once the fact was realized that a stranger--and
_such_ a one--had been h