iffly and with a certain repellent dignity
that forbade his neighbors to address him. He seemed to see no one. He
lived in a world known only to himself and neither demanded nor desired
association with his fellows.

"An eccentric; bigoted, sullen and conceited," reflected Josie, in
considering his character. "Capable of any cruelty or crime, but too
cautious to render himself liable to legal punishment. The chances are
that such a man would never do any great wrong, from cowardly motives.
He might starve and threaten a child, indeed, but would refrain from
injuring one able to resent the act. Nevertheless, he quarreled with
Joselyn--and Joselyn disappeared. There was some reason for that
quarrel; some reason for that disappearance; some reason why a man like
Edward Joselyn made Old Swallowtail his confidential friend. A business
connection, perhaps. Before daring a conjecture I must discover what
business Cragg is engaged in."

She soon discovered that Ingua was as ignorant of her grandfather's
business life as were all others. One day, as the two girls were
crossing the stepping-stones to reach the pavilion, after "doing" the
morning housework, Josie remarked:

"In winter one could cross here on the ice."

"Oh, no," replied Ingua, "the water don't freeze. It runs too fast. But
sometimes it gits over the top o' the stones, an' then you has to step
keerful to keep from fallin' in."

"Did you ever try to cross at such a time?"
"Once I did, an' I was skeered, you kin bet. But I says to myself: 'If
Ol' Swallertail kin make the crossin', I kin--dark or no dark--an' by
cracky I tackled it brave as a lion."

"You tried to cross in the dark, on a winter's night? What for, Ingua?"

Ingua, walking beside her up the bank, paused with a startled
expression and grew red. Her eyes, narrowed and shrewd, fixed
themselves suspiciously on Josie's face. But the other returned the
look with a bland smile that surely ought to disarm one more
sophisticated than this simple child.

"I mustn't talk 'bout that," said Ingua in a low voice. "Jes' fergit as
I said it, Josie."

"Why?"

"Do ye want me choked, or killed?"

"Who would do that?"

"Gran'dad would, if I blabbed."

"Shucks!"

"Ye don't know Gran'dad--not when he's got the temper on him. If ye'd
seen what I seen, ye'd know that he'd keep his word--'to, kill me if I
talk too much."

Josie sat down on top the bank.

"What did you see, Ingua?"

"Ye'll hev to guess it