usand times too good to
me. But you can't help here. I'm up agin it alone, but put this in your
pipe, and smoke it good and brown, if you go, I go. I don't stay here
without you."

"Then it's up to ye na to make it impossible for me to stay," said
Dannie. "After this, I'll try to be carefu'. I've had no guard on my
lips. I've said whatever came into my heid."

The supper bell clanged sharply a second time.

"That manes more Hivin on the Wabash," said Jimmy. "Wish I had a bracer
before I face it."

"How long has it been, Jimmy?" asked Dannie.

"Etarnity!" replied Jimmy briefly.

Dannie stood thinking, and then light broke. Jimmy was always short of
money in summer. When trapping was over, and before any crops were
ready, he was usually out of funds. Dannie hesitated, and then he said,
"Would a small loan be what ye need, Jimmy?"

Jimmy's eyes gleamed. "It would put new life into me," he cried.
"Forgive me, Dannie. I am almost crazy."

Dannie handed over a coin, and after supper Jimmy went to town. Then
Dannie saw his mistake. He had purchased peace for himself, but what
about Mary?

Chapter VI

THE HEART OF MARY MALONE

"This is the job that was done with the reaper,
If we hustle we can do it ourselves,
Thus securing to us a little cheaper,
The bread and pie upon our pantry shelves.

Eat this wheat, by and by,
On this beautiful Wabash shore,
Drink this rye, by and by,
Eat and drink on this beautiful shore."

So sang Jimmy as he drove through the wheat, oats and rye accompanied
by the clacking machinery. Dannie stopped stacking sheaves to mop his
warm, perspiring face and to listen. Jimmy always with an eye to the
effect he was producing immediately broke into wilder parody:

"Drive this mower, a little slower,
On this beautiful Wabash shore,
Cuttin' wheat to buy our meat,
Cuttin' oats, to buy our coats,
Also pants, if we get the chance.

By and by, we'll cut the rye,
But I bet my hat I drink that, I drink that.
Drive this mower a little slower,
In this wheat, in this wheat, by and by."

The larks scolded, fluttering over head, for at times the reaper
overtook their belated broods. The bobolinks danced and chattered on
stumps and fences, in an agony of suspense, when their nests were
approached, and cried pitifully if they were destroyed. The chewinks
flashed from the ground to the fences and trees, and back, crying
"Che-wink?" "Che-wee!" to each other, i