t. "Oh, isn't this nice!" she exclaimed. "And
after we fish let's hunt a frog!"

"I know where there's tadpoles," boasted he. "And long-legged bugs that
can walk on the water, and--"

"Oh, I want to stay here always!"

She had forgotten that there were others about. But now a voice--her
father's--broke in upon her happy chatter:

"Without your _mother?_"

She had been sitting down. She rose, and brushed her hands on the skirt
of her dress. "I'll find my moth-er," she said.

The little old gentleman was beside Johnnie, patting his shoulder and
thrusting something into a riveted pocket. "There!" he half-whispered.
"And tell your father to be sure to keep this nose away from the
grindstone."

Gwendolyn wrinkled her brows. "But--but isn't Johnnie coming with _me?_"
she asked.

At that Johnnie shook his head vigorously. "Not away from _here_," he
declared. "No!"

"No," repeated Puffy. "Not away from the woods and the stream and
fishing, and hunting frogs and tadpoles and water-bugs. Why, he's the
Rich Little Poor Boy!"

"Oh!--Well, then I'll come back!" She moved away slowly, looking over a
shoulder at him as she went. "Don't forget! I'll come back!"

"I'll be here," he answered. "And I'll let you use my willow fishpole."
He waved a hand.

There were carriage-lamps along the stream now. Alternating with these
were automobile lights--brass side-lights, and larger brass
search-lights, all like great glowing eyes.

Again They were in advance. "We can't be very far from the Barn," They
announced. And each waved his right arm in a half-circle.

"Robin Hood's Barn?" whispered Gwendolyn.

The Policeman nodded. "The first people to go around it," said he, "were
ladies who used feather-dusters on the parlor furniture."

"I s'pose it's been built a long time," said Gwendolyn.

"Ah, a _long_ time!" Her father was speaking. Now he halted and pointed
down--to a wide road that crossed the one she was traveling. "Just
notice how _that's_ been worn."

The wide road had deep ruts. Also, here and there upon it were great,
bowl-like holes. But a level strip between the ruts and the holes shone
as if it had been tramped down by countless feet.

"Around Robin Hood's Barn!" went on her father sadly. "How many have
helped to wear that road! Not only her mother, but _her_ mother before
her, and then back and back as far as you can count."

"I can't count back very far," said Gwendolyn, "'cause I never have any
time for 'r