ver had.
You'll realize it before long. He not only has saved my life, but he's
going to help me save my business. I want you to know him and to like
him."

A quick smile flashed over the full lips.

"I didn't know, Barry. Pardon me."

Houston turned to the introduction, while Agnes Jierdon held forth a
rather limp hand and while Ba'tiste, knit cap suddenly pulled from
straggly gray hair, bent low in acknowledgment. Thayer, grumbling
under his breath, started away. Houston went quickly toward him.

"You understood me?"

"Perfectly. I'm fired. I was good enough for your father, but you
know more than he did. I was--"

"We won't go into that."

"There's nothing about it that I'm ashamed of."

Still the sneer was there, causing Barry's bandaged arm to ache for
freedom and strength. "I don't have to go around hiding my past."

Houston bit down a retort and forced himself to the question:

"How long will it take you to get out of here?"

"I'll be out to-night. I don't stay where I'm not wanted. Needn't
think I'll hang around begging you for a job. There are plenty of 'em,
for men like me."

"One that I know of, in particular. I asked you when you could get
out."

"An hour, if you're so impatient about it. But I want my check first."

"You'll get it, and everybody else connected with you. So you might as
well give the word."

For a moment, Thayer stared at him in malignant hate, his gnarled hands
twisting and knotting. Then, with a sudden impulse, he turned away
toward the mill. A moment later the whistle blew and the saws ceased
to snarl. Barry turned back to Agnes and Ba'tiste. The woman caught
impulsively at his arm.

"Where on earth am I going to live, Barry?" she questioned. "I don't
want to go back to town. And I can't stay in this deserted place, if
every one is leaving it."

"I'll keep the cook. She can fix you a room in one of the cottages and
stay there with you. However, it would be best to go back."

"But I won't." She shook her head with an attempt at levity. "I've
come all this distance, worried to death every moment over you, and now
I'm going to stay until I'm sure that everything's all right. Besides,
Barry," she moved close to him, "you'll need me. Won't you? Haven't I
always been near you when you've needed me? And aren't you taking on
the biggest sort of job now?"

Houston smiled at her. True, she had always been near in time of
trouble and it was onl