opinion as ever; the only
change to be detected in his manners and conversation thereafter was
the enigmatical assertion at times that he was a "ransomed saint,"
followed by a low chuckle of enjoyment. Those who heard this often
made bold to say to one another that he "didn't act like it," and this
opinion was shared by the sheriff who futilely sought some information
from him touching the lair of the horse-thieves, looking to brilliant
exploits of capture. Such details as he could secure were so uncertain
and contradictory as to render him suspicious that the truth was
purposely withheld.

"Ye oughter remember these men air crim'nal offenders agin the law,
Mr. Sneed," he said.

"Mebbe so," assented Persimmon Sneed, "mebbe so;" but the situation of
Con Hite's still was the only locality which he had visited of which
he was sure, and in gratitude to his rescuer he held his peace.

That he was not so softened to the world at large was manifested in
the fact that he threatened to plead usury against the money-lender,
and forthwith brought him down with a run to the beggaries of the
legal rate. He was wont, moreover, to go to the teller of the bank at
Colbury and demand of that distracted man such of his papers as were
from time to time lost or mislaid, having learned from his wife that
she had made the official the custodian of his valuables, these being
his bank-book, the ancient returned checks, and the unused check-book.

The points which he had so laboriously made plain to the jury of view
proved a total loss of perspicacious reasoning, for the land was
forthwith condemned and the road opened, any oil-boring company being
allowed by law a right of way thirty feet wide. The heavy hauling of
the oil company had already made a tolerable wagon track, and the
passing back and forth of the men and teams and machinery added an
element of interest and excitement to the thoroughfare such as
Narcissa's wildest dreams had never prefigured. She had no heart for
it now. When the creak of wheels on the frozen ground, and the cries
of the drivers, and the thud of the hoofs of the straining four-horse
teams heralded an approach, she was wont to draw close the batten
shutter of the window and sit brooding over the fire, staring with
moody eyes into the red coals, where she saw much invisible to the
simple Ben. He knew vaguely that her grief was for the fair-haired
stranger, but he could not dream in what remorseful wise. She had n