p, Mr. Farr? I think
you are much more than you seem to be," she added, naively.

"They have threatened Etienne?" demanded Farr, a sharp note in his
voice.

"Ah, m'sieu', I have said nottin's to you. I am only poor old man. No
matter."

"Why didn't you say something to me?"

"It's because you might feel bad, m'sieu'. P'raps not, for I'm only poor
man and don't count."

"What have they said to you?"

"It's nottin's," said Etienne, stubbornly. "You shall not think you got
me into trouble. You did not. I would have done it maself as soon as I
thought of it."

"I command you to tell me what has been said to you, Etienne."

"They say that I shall be discharge from the rack. They say I have
talk too much to my compatriots about the poison water. But I shall
talk--yes--jesso!"

"Who says so?"

"The yard boss say to me that. Oh, there's no mistake. He have the
power, M'sieu' Farr. The super tell the yard boss, the mill agent tell
the super, the alderman tell the mill agent, the mayor he tell the
alderman."

"And probably Colonel Symonds Dodd told the mayor," growled Farr. "It's
a great system, Etienne. Nobody too small--nobody too big!"

"But I do not care. I shall talk some more--yes, I shall talk in the
_hotel de ville_ when you shall tell me to talk. I was scare at
first and I tol' you I would not talk; but now I have found out I
can talk--and I am not scare any more, and I will talk." Pride and
determination were in the old man's tones. Since that most wonderful
evening in all his life when he had heard his voice as if it were the
voice of another man ringing forth denunciation of those in high places,
the old rack-tender had referred to that new manifestation of himself as
if he were discussing another man whom he had discovered. The memory of
his feat was ever fresh within him. And his meek pride was filled with
much wonderment that such a being should have been hidden all the years
in Etienne Provancher. Many men had called around to shake his hand and
increase his wonderment as to his own ability.

"We will wait awhile," counseled Farr, understanding the pride and
treating it gently. "Stay at your work and be very quiet, Etienne, and
they will not trouble you. You need your money, and I will call on you
when you can help again."

"Then I will come. I shall be sorry to see somebody have my rake and
pole, but I shall come."

A moment of silence fell between them, and during that moment a young
woman